Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Sun-Dried Tomato Bacon Parmesan Pasta



Hello Red Couch Readers!  We have been making this pasta, on and off last summer and this summer.  It was a recipe that my daughter Talley and I came up with last summer.  It is filled with some of my favorite ingredients.  Even those that don't like fresh tomatoes, love the sun-dried tomatoes in this pasta.  The sun-dried tomatoes just gives the pasta a wonderful zing.

Here is a close-up of the pasta.



Sun-Dried Tomato Bacon Parmesan Pasta

1 (16 - ounce) package of pasta -- we used Rotini, but any pasta will do
1-1/2 cups sun-dried tomatoes, cut in small pieces -- we use the tomatoes in a plastic pouch (not in oil)
1-1/2 cups onion, diced -  we used a sweet onion
2 cloves garlic, diced
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1 (12-ounce) package bacon, cooked until brown and then crumbled
1 (5 ounce) container shredded Parmesan -- we use the kind from the deli.
Basil, for garnish, optional


In a large pot, cook pasta according to directions, drain and set aside.  In a large dutch oven, put sun-dried tomatoes, onion, garlic, and olive oil.  Saute the onion, sun-dried tomato, garlic, and olive oil in the dutch oven for about 6 minutes, or until the onion is soft.  Add the ground pepper and the red pepper flakes.  Add the bacon and heat thoroughly.  Remove from heat.  In a large serving bowl, add pasta and sun-dried tomato mixture.  Cool, then add Parmesan cheese and garnish with basil.  Serve hot or cool.

Note:  This is a really, no-fuss recipe, and it can be adapted to your needs --  add less oil or more sun-dried tomatoes.



Thank you for dropping by our Red Couch.

Lemon and Lime Cookies



Hello, I thought I would share a few pictures of some cookies that I made.  Making lime or lemon slices are just about the easiest cookies to make, using the wet-on-wet technique, and I think that they are so cute!  

The lime cookies have a sad tale.  My daughter wanted to bring some to a friend.  So we had a few errands to attend to before bringing them to a friend,  It was a hot day, and we left them in the car.  You guessed it!  They got soft and mushy and they kind of melted!  Lesson:  Do not leave cookies in the car.






We also made some lemon ones.  



I just haven't posted in months, and all of a sudden today, I thought I would make a post.  I am sorry for not posting more often.  It is not that I haven't been up to things, it is just a factor of time and priorities.  I hope that you are well.

Thanks for dropping by the Couch.

Engageya