Bacon, Asparagus & Spinach Pasta

Description

I've said use this for snack/other as it's really something that you could adapt as a side or a main depending on how you feel and what you want to put in it.

Ingredients

Pasta (1/2 pack of your choice but I used Angel Hair, snapped in half before cooking)
Olive oil (or cooking oil of your choice)
Garlic to taste (fresh or jar)
Bacon roughly diced - Approx 4-5 shortcut or 3-4 middle
Asparagus - fresh, 1 bunch woody ends removed cut into thirds
English Spinach 9 - bagged variety. I had 1 and 1/2 bags. Use what you want ** It wilts heaps
Parmesan - please try to use freshly grated not that horrid stuff on the supermarket shelf
Squeeze of lemon (I used half a medium size)
Cream (around 200mls of what you have to hand. I had thickened but philly cream for cooking would work as would single whipping cream)
Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

Bring to the boil a pot of salted water big enough to accommodate your pasta quantity.
In a large frypan or saute pan, cook the bacon for about 4-5 mins until cooked but not crisp.
Add garlic and asparagus, toss together for about 1 minute.
Add spinach, salt & pepper and toss to wilt the vegetable. Add the lemon juice, combine and then turn off the heat at this point.

Once your water is boiling, add your desired pasta. Cook until al dente, drain but leave a little of the water in the bottom of the pan if you can.

Once the pasta is cooked to your liking, turn on the heat (moderate/low) in the pan with the other ingredients and add the pasta, including the water (We are only talking about a 1/4 cup at most but even a tablespoon or so is good)

Incorporate the pasta with the other ingredients using tongs and a spoon.

Once mixed, add parmesan and cream to taste. DO taste at this point. Be sure to check for seasoning and add more if necessary. Best to under season at first :)

Heat until warmed through and serve with extra parmesan and freshly chopped parsley if desired.

Notes

As with all my recipes, this one can be adapated for your own likes and tastes. If something doesn't sit well with you in the recipe, change it for something else. Imbellish it with perhaps some cooked chicken for a main meal. Omit the bacon and add some smoked salmon at the end?

It's all up to you, your tastebuds and your experimentation.

Some added heat to this dish would lend itself to prawns (perhaps some harissa infused oil or diced chilli).

You get the drift..... :)

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