Bacon Herb Pasta

Seeking inspiration, I picked up a copy of Sara Perry's Everything Tastes Better With Bacon -- which does offer a nice variety of recipe ideas. I tweaked one a tiny bit for last weekend's dinner (added more olive oil, added the butter and tomatoes).



BACON HERB PASTA WITH WHITE BEANS

Zest of 1 large lemon
1 T fresh lemon juice (convenient, what with the zesting)
1 T minced garlic
2 T olive oil
1 T butter
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
6 thick slices of bacon, cut into pieces (I used some slab bacon I bought at a German grocery store in the big city)
Pasta of your choice
1 1/2 C chopped fresh parsley
1/4 C chopped sage
3 T chopped rosemary
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
Salt and pepper
Grated parmesan

In a small bowl, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, beans and tomatoes. Set aside.

Cook the bacon pieces until crispy, reserving the drippings.

Cook pasta until al dente (whatever the directions are for your specific pasta). Combine pasta, beans, tomato, bacon and marinade.

Heat bacon drippings and add butter. Add sage, rosemary and parsley and saute for several seconds. Pour entire mixture into pasta, then toss.





Serve with parmesan, fresh pepper and coarse salt.