Although I love spending time in the kitchen, there are nights when I’m short of time and need to cook up something quick and tasty with very little effort. We all have those nights in our week, late home from work or needing something quick and healthy for the kids following the after school activities. A nice easy pasta dish that suits everyone is usually what I make and just because it’s quick to make it doesn’t mean that it’s any less tasty.
The supermarket shelves are laden with pasta sauces but it is so easy to make your own and at least you know it’s full of flavour and goodness. This is one of my favourites and all it needs to accompany is a green salad and bread
Creamy Chilli and Bacon Penne
500g Penne
560g bottle of Passatta ….I used Cirio Tuscan creamed tomatoes.
1 tbsp olive or rapeseed oil
2 red or green chillies – finely chopped
3 garlic cloves – crushed
2 180g packs of lardons. Use 1 packet if you prefer less bacon
2 heaped desert spoonfuls of Light Philadelphia cream cheese with garlic and herbs
A wee pinch of sugar!
Chopped flat leaf parsley or basil leaves and grated parmesan to serve.
Cook the lardons until the pieces start to brown, add the chilli and garlic and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes. Add the passata and cook for approx 10 minutes.
Meanwhile cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet.
Stir the cream cheese in to the tomato sauce, do this one spoonful at a time, mixing each thoroughly through the sauce.
Add the pasta to the sauce and mix to combine. Sprinkle with parsley or basil and serve with parmesan cheese, a green salad and some nice crusty bread.
Variations.
Make it veggie by omitting the bacon.
Use different Flavours of Philadelphia.
Serve with a crisp topping ….sprinkle with grated cheese and brown under the grill for a few minutes.