Linguine with Bacon, Baby Spinach, and Sage

I've mentioned before that I'm married to and gave birth to bacon lovers. I happen to love fresh veggies and herbs, myself. The marriage of the two? A very good thing, indeed! I cut this recipe (well, almost this recipe... I adapted it just a touch!) off of a package of Ronzoni pasta awhile back...

Linguine with Bacon, Baby Spinach, and Sage

1 pkg linguine (or other long pasta- I ended up using Ronzoni Smart Taste thin spaghetti)

1/4lb bacon, cut in small pieces

1 onion, finely diced (I used a red onion because it's what I had.)

1 1/3 cups chicken stock

about 1/4 cup chopped fresh sage leaves

1/2 lb baby spinach leaves

salt and pepper, to taste

Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions- you'll want to follow the "firm" or "al dente" guidelines.
.Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until slightly crispy.

Add onion and saute about five minutes until tender.

Add chicken stock and sage; simmer for a few minutes.

Add baby spinach and cook just until spinach wilts.

.Add salt and pepper. Toss pasta with sauce and serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. (I think it's worth it to use the "good cheese" on something like this, but if you've got the green canned stuff, it will taste fine too.)

Delicioso! The whole fam loved it. This would be a great one to make the same week as Scrambled Eggs with Bacon since each recipe only uses a portion of a pound.

This post is linked to:

Tasty Tuesday

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Menu Plan: 5/30- Spinach, Spinach Everywhere!

I scored packages of organic baby spinach** for 50 cents a piece this week (the stuff in my garden needs another month or so) ... hence its triple appearance in the menu plan!

B-Cereal, Apples, Milk

L-Lynn's Baked Blueberry Granola, Hard-boiled Eggs, Juice

D-Linguine w/ Bacon, Baby Spinach, & Fresh Sage (recipe coming tomorrow!)

Monday:

B-Corn Tortilla w/Egg, Milk

L-PB&J, Applesauce, Water

D-Memorial Day cookout- hot dogs on the grill and yummy sides!

Tuesday:

B-Oatmeal, Yogurt, Juice
L-Noodles, Apples, Milk
D-Pork, Potatoes, Green Beans

Wednesday:

B-Berry Muffins, Cheese, Milk

L-Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans, Juice

D-French Toast, Mandarin Oranges (I just started making Laura's recipe, and it's just as tasty as my old one. It's more frugal, though, since it only requires two eggs.)

Thursday:

B-Berry Muffins, Yogurt, Juice

L-French Toast, Grapes, Milk

D-Pork Fried Rice

Friday:

B-Oatmeal, Apples, Milk

L-Rice & Beans, Juice

D-Spinach & Chicken White Pizza

Saturday:

B-Eggs Florentine on Toast Points
L-Ramen Noodles (again, for the hubs), Buttered Corn

D-Loaded Nachos

I'm really looking forward to this week's "Pizza & A Movie Night"... I love a good white pizza every now and again!

**Now can I just admit how hard it is for me to spell "spinach" correctly? I'm forever trying to stick an "e" on the end... what word trips you up?**

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday.

Seventh Generation Winner!

The winner of the Seventh Generation prize pack is...

Sherry! Congrats!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:11Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Lessons From the Field

-They cheer excitedly for each other, even when they're not "friends"...

-They all pursue the goal enthusiastically, even when it seems out of reach and there are obstacles in their way...

-They don't roll their eyes at someone's third or fifth attempt to succeed...they just keep on chanting, "Let's go, {...}, let's go..."

-Some of them have fancy equipment and some don't, but they all love their cheap red shirts the best because it shows they're a team...

-They can be seen talking to, laughing with, and helping up the opponent...

-They don't keep score and, no matter how far or how short they fall, they all get to come home in the end...

We could learn a lot from a t-ball team.

This post is linked to Finer Things Friday.

The King

"I am the KING!" my 5 year old son declared as he held his toy up high.

"I am the KING and I will rule this place!!"

My husband (who fancies himself the king of this castle, naturally) raised one ebony brow at me and gave me a crooked smile, "Where does he come up with this?"

I really don't know.

"I am the KING!"

Then Daddy interjected, standing tall...

"Hold on there, buddy... WHO'S the king?"

He thought....

"Jesus."

Good answer, buddy.

Scrambled Eggs With Bacon

My family loves bacon. They love it. (I can honestly take it or leave it but, since I have a troop of bacon lovers in my home, I definitely make it!) We all adore eggs. Eggs and bacon are a standard breakfast for so many people, but I find that bacon can get pricey. My three children are all young but, between them and my husband, it's pretty easy to kill off a pound of bacon. That's not something our budget can afford to do with great regularity.

How to get that same egg and bacon taste and keep it easy on the wallet?

Scrambled Eggs With Bacon

5-6 strips of bacon, cut into small pieces before cooking (I prefer a sharp knife for this job, but kitchen shears work well too)

10-12 eggs

pepper, to taste

Brown up your bacon bits over medium heat until most fat is rendered.

.
Drain off about 2/3 of that fat and reserve for later use. (Keep that fat, people! Nothing is yummier for cooking up eggs or for starting your sausage gravy!)

While bacon is cooking, scramble up your eggs and season with a little pepper.

No salt is needed, as the bacon is salty enough.

Pour eggs over bacon pieces and remaining grease and cook through, turning frequently with a spatula.

Because the bits of bacon are scattered throughout your egg, you get to enjoy the flavor throughout the meal. Since eggs are far less expensive than bacon (at least in my neck of the woods), you'll save money by only using a third to a half a pound of meat.

Enjoy!

This post is linked to:
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
$5 Dinner Challenge

Frugal Friday

Menu Plan Monday: 5/23/10- Making It Easy On Myself

When I find myself feeling tired and worn down-- like this week after losing many precious hours of sleep up with a sick baby last week-- I don't necessarily reach for the easiest recipes to make... I reach for the recipes that are consistently and universally well-received. I have no problem whatsoever with insisting my children eat what I serve... but when I'm exhausted? I just don't feel like fighting those battles. As a result, this week's plan is heavy on the corn, apples, and cheese...

B-Cereal, Yogurt, Juice

L-Scrambled Eggs w/Bacon, Apple Slices

D-Supper at Bama & Papa's

Monday:

B-Banana Muffins, Applesauce, Milk

L-Cheese Pizza, Water

D-Ground Turkey Mexican Rice Bake

Tuesday:

B-Pancakes, Grapes, Milk
L-Mexican Rice, Milk
D-Pigs in Blankets, Oven Fries, Corn

Wednesday:

B-Banana Muffins, Blueberry Smoothies

L-PB&J, Pretzels, Corn, Milk

D-Hot & Sour Peanut Noodles

Thursday:

B-Cereal, Yogurt, Juice

L-Peanut Noodles, Apples, Milk

D-Mushroom Swiss Burgers, Spinach & Cheese Potatoes

Friday:

B-Oatmeal, Apples, Milk

L-Egg Sandwiches, Yogurt, Juice

D-Ham & Orange Pepper Pizza (the green peppers at my store looked lousy!)

Saturday:

B-Ham & Cheese Crepes (link will take you to Seafood Crepes- I just substitute diced ham)
L-Leftovers

D-Chicken & Bean Soft Tacos

I'm really looking forward to those crepes! What's the yummiest looking thing on your menu this week?

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday.