Cape Cod Pasta

This recipe is worth saving on your computer, writing down in a cookbook, sharing with your friends and cooking as often as possible. This pasta dish is not as healthy as I'd prefer, but I think that's why it tastes so darn good.

I served the pasta with a side salad and some whole wheat bread and butter. 

Cape Cod Pasta
                                          

1/2 package center cut bacon, chopped
14 ounces of veggie pastaHalf yellow onion, chopped2 cloves of garlic, chopped16 ounces heavy creamBay leaf (if you have it)
1/2 cup low sodium chicken brothChopped basil, at least two tablespoons for cooking and some for garnish

*you could add peas, corn, broccoli...anything you like.
*you can sub pancetta for the bacon

Place a large pot of salted water on the stove.

While you are waiting for the water to boil cook the chopped bacon in a non-stick pan over med-high heat and crisp it up. Be sure to not burn or on't overcook.

Once the bacon is crispy, take a few paper towels and some tongs and sop up some of the bacon grease and throw away. But make sure to leave about two tablespoons of grease in the bottom of the pan. Then add the chopped onions, salt and pepper and cook until they are soft, about 10 minutes. Add your garlic and let cook for another two minutes, or so.


Add noodles to your boiling water. ( I used orecchiette pasta instead of the veggie pasta) 


Add the cream and two tablespoons basil.  Allow for the cream reduce by half. Taste it. Does it need something else? If so, add something else that may flavor your sauce! (salt, crushed red pepper, parmesan cheese, the options are endless) Finally, add chicken broth to lighten it up the sauce. Let it simmer until it thickens a bit. 

At this point the sauce is done. ( unless you plan to add peas, broccili or some type of vegatble) 

In another pot bring water to a boil, then add two large breasts of chicken. Cook until there is no pink in the center. (I don't own a meat thermometer, so I just slice it and half to check). Once the chick is cooked, shred it using two forks.

Then add the chicken, (vegetables) and cooked pasta to the sauce. 

Give it all a good stir and let it simmer for just a few more minutes, and then you are done!

Simple. Easy. Delicious.

** My dad couldn't stop talking about how much he liked it. It was so good, we even ate the leftovers again the very next night!

 -original recipe from Heidi Darwish

Capturing my dad in the moment.

Just a view from our window that evening.