Penne Pasta with Tomatoes and Bacon

This recipe was a tweak from Chef Michael Symon's recipe in The Chew aired 8/10/12 (http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Bacon-Corn-Cavatelli-Michael-Symon).  I just wanted to feel like an iron chef. 

As I watched the show and witness his mouth-watering recipe I wanted to create my own.

Tweak....Tweak....Tweak-ing I must.....

...I switched from Cavatelli pasta to Penne Rigate.
...I omited the corn...not by choice...but completely forgot about my corn in the freezer...
...Omitted the parsley...there was no parsley at home...but decided on using dried Italian seasoning...A+
...Added garlic, scallions and asparagus to the ingredient list....THINK Healthy!


This recipe can easily serve 3-4.  Cooks in 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

-half a box  penne pasta                                -5 slices of bacon
-half a pint of sweet cherry tomatoes             -1 T butter
-half of 1 scallion                                           -mixed Italian grated cheese
-1T olive oil                                                   -6 asparagus spears

OK...so this is the procedure I followed:

1.  Cook pasta for 8-10 minutes.  This is less time as directed in the box.  Save a cup of the pasta water to later add to pasta pan.  This adds flavor back into the pasta, and the starch in the water helps with thickening of the final dish.
2. Cut tomatoes in half lengthwise, chopped garlic, asparagus and scallions.
3.  You can really omit the bacon or substitute for something else.  Chop the bacon and then cook it to a crisp in a medium size sauce pan.  Once your bacon is crispy, transfer the bacon to a separate container.  Remove the extra fat from the sauce pan.
4.  Using the same sauce pan, add the butter and the olive oil and your vegetables.  Sautee for about 2 minutes.
5.  Add the bacon and the pasta.  Sprinkle the Italian dressing, some cheese and add the pasta water.  Cook for an additional 5 minutes at low heat, just for the pasta to absorb all the liquid.

Well that's all the cooking for this week.  I need to go back to my books and study...
For now...take some time to know your kitchen equipment.  Create art in the kitchen.

Rub a belly!!!