tasty pasta!

Pasta with Sweet Peas and Bacon Bread Crumbs

Serves 4.  This is from relish.com, I saw it in the newspaper insert (Relish) and was intrigued at 374 calories per serving. Yummy!

            3 slices bacon

            1 Tbs. butter

            2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

            ⅔ c. panko bread crumbs

            ½ c. fresh grated Parmesan cheese, divided

            8 oz. uncooked penne pasta]

            1¼ c. frozen green peas

            2 oz. baby spinach (about 2 c.)

            ½ tsp. kosher salt

            ¼ tsp. fresh ground black pepper

Cook bacon in a heavy skillet over medium heat until crisp.  Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, and reserve 2 Tbs. drippings in pan.  Add butter and garlic to drippings; stir until fragrant.  Add panko and cook, stirring constantly until golden, about 2 minutes.  Let cool.  Crumble bacon into panko mixture.  Add 2 Tbs. Parmesan. 

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.  Add peas in final 2 minutes of cooking.  Drain, reserving ⅔ c. cooking water.  Return pasta and peas to pot.  Stir in ½ c. reserved water, spinach, remaining cheese, salt and pepper.  Stir ¼ c. panko mixture into pasta.  If mixture looks dry, add remaining reserved water.  Divide among serving bowls; top with remaining panko mixture.