Wholemeal pasta with smoked bacon and shiitake mushroom

I am... a mushroom; On whom the dew of heaven drops now and then. ~ John Ford 

Even my youngest cannot resist the pasta I made. He doesn't want to eat anything except for this one. The bacon and mushrooms create a wonderful blend and texture into this pasta dish. Shiitake mushroom is known for it's rich and earthy flavor and when it is cooked in the bacon fat, the taste is incredibly amazing! It's like you're eating a pork fat. I'm sure you'll gonna love it! 

I used wholemeal pasta for this dish. It has grainy texture and harder than the regular pasta. Just cook it according to package direction because wholemeal pasta takes longer time to cook and it needs more water. If you don't like wholemeal, you can use any kind of pasta you have. Bon Appetit!


INGREDIENTS:
250 grams wholemeal pasta
100 grams hickory smoked bacon, chopped
10 pcs shiitake mushroom, sliced and de-stemmed
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup reserved pasta liquid
2-3 Tbsp basil pesto, bottled or home made *
1/4 to 1/3 cup cheese
salt and pepper to taste.

* If you want to make home made pesto, follow my step by step instructions HERE. Just substitute it with basil.

PROCEDURE:
1. Cook the pasta according to package direction. It should be al dente (tender but firm). Drain and set aside.
2. Put the bacon in a pan and fry it in the rendered fat until starting to brown.
3. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent and then stir in the garlic. Cook for a couple of seconds.
4. Add the mushrooms and cook for a minute or two.
4. Put the pasta in the pan and add the pasta liquid.
5. Add cheese and pesto. Toss the pasta.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Serve. Share and enjoy!

QUICK NOTES:
1. You can use dried shitake mushroom if you can't find one. Just rehydrate it first into hot water until soft.
2. To clean the fresh mushroom, just wipe it using a tissue or damp cloth. I don't usually wash my mushrooms but if you want to wash it, just give it a quick rinse and dry them using a clean cloth.

Serving: 3-5 person


Happy day always,

Rhea

Spinach Pesto Pasta

There is no love sincerer than the love of food. ~George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman

I am truly, madly, deeply in love with this pasta. I like the traditional basil pesto but I like the spinach pesto even more. It has a milder flavor, delicate aroma, and delightful fresh flavor which will tickle your palate. Start your day with this healthy dish. Bon Appetit!

INGREDIENTS:

Spinach pesto:

handful of spinach

1 clove garlic, grated

2 Tbsp chopped cashew nuts

2 Tbsp cheese (any hard cheese), grated

olive oil*

salt and pepper

Pesto pasta:

200 grams angel hair** 
1/2 to 3/4 cup reserved pasta cooking liquid 

1/2 cup water

4 cloves of garlic, minced
cheese, grated or sliced

olive oil

* I don't usually measure the oil. It depends on how thick or thin I want my pesto to be. I drizzle more oil if I'll be using the pesto for pasta, less oil if I will use it as a spread on breads and pizzas.
** Angel hair pasta cooks quickly, about 3-5 mins (see the package instruction). To ensure that your pasta won't become soggy. Test it by removing a piece of pasta from the pan and take a bite, it should still have a tiny crunch when you bite it.

PROCEDURE:

Spinach pesto:

1. Wash thoroughly the spinach then drain.

2. In a blender or food processor, put the spinach, garlic, cashew nuts and cheese. Blend it to roughly chopped the ingredients. While the blender is running, add the oil until you reach the consistency you want. Since I will be using it for my pasta, I added more oil.

3. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Put the pesto in a small bowl or container.

Pesto pasta:

1. In a pan, put some olive oil and saute the garlic.

2. Just before the garlic turns to golden brown, add the cooked pasta. 
3. Add the reserved liquid and cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Toss until cheese has been completely mixed and the liquid has been absorbed by the pasta. 
5. Turn off the heat and add the spinach pesto. Toss.

QUICK NOTES:

1. Since olive oil is expensive in our country, you can use canola oil as a substitute. This is also a heart healthy oil.
2. Try to use other nuts like walnut or our very own pili nut. I tried it and loved it!
3. If you want basil pesto, use basil instead of spinach.
Happy day always,

Rhea

Linguine Alfredo with Smoked Bacon

"Friends are the bacon bits in the salad bowl of life" ~ Homer Simpson

Good pork + Good fat = Extremely Good for the heart BACON

Whenever I eat bacon, my heart smiles like a young lady who fell in love for the first time... the satisfaction I get when I eat this good stuff is undoubtedly priceless! So when my hubby requested for a pasta dish, I gladly welcome the thought of having bacon in my dish.