Pasta dishes are a mainstay for many families across America. Even if you have picky kids around the dinner table who turn up their noses at meat and potatoes meal, it’s usually a safe bet they will eat spaghetti, linguine or “bow ties.”
I had already graduated from high school the first time I ate spaghetti with a sauce made with ground beef. All we ever had when I was a kid was spaghetti with bacon and tomato sauce. It tasted as good as spaghetti with meat sauce made with a ground beef or spaghetti and meatballs, but it was different.
When I ran across the following recipe, it brought back memories of the way my mom fixed spaghetti, only with a more powerful flavor since the dish includes roasted garlic. So, of course, I tried it, and my family loves it.
This is a great main dish to fix if you’re in a hurry, or if you forgot to get ground beef out of the freezer the night before. It only takes about half an hour to prepare and get on the table.
If you end up with any left over, it’s even tastier the next day since the flavors have more time to blend. Since most kids love pasta, as well as bacon, this dish may become a favorite at your house, too, especially if it’s served with thick chunks of garlic toast.
BACON AND TOMATO BOW TIES
5 slices of bacon cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion (about 1/2 cup), finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with roasted garlic and onion, undrained
1 (14-ounce) can chicken broth
3 cups (about 6 ounces) uncooked bow ties (farfalle) pasta
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
In a 12-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until bacon is brown. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion; and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion and garlic are tender.
Stir in tomatoes, broth, uncooked pasta and pepper. Heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cook uncovered 10 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently until pasta is tender and mixture is as thick as you like. If it becomes too thick before pasta is tender, you can add a little more chicken broth.
Put pasta in a serving dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Note: Depending on the kind of bacon you use, you may have to drain the fat before adding the tomatoes and chicken broth. But, some bacon is leaner than others, and if yours is lean, there’s no need to drain the fat.
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