Dad’s Bacon and Kale Pasta

by ALEXA

 

Since HH (Honorable Husband) created this dish—one of my new favorites—he gets to write the introduction. So here goes…

Alexa wasn’t home one evening to make dinner for us troops so the privilege fell on my shoulders. While necessity may be the mother of invention, this one was based upon availability; pasta in the pantry, kale in the crisper, bacon in the freezer and sunflower seeds on the shelf. That is it, no long intro for me! Hope you enjoy.

Dad’s Bacon and Kale Pasta

Gluten-Free | Casein-Free | Citrus-Free | Corn-Free | Dairy-Free | Egg-Free | Fish-Free | Nightshade-Free | Peanut-Free | Potato-Free | Shellfish-Free | Soy-Free | Tree Nut-Free | Wheat-Free | Sesame-Free | Yeast-free | GFCF

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups Tinkyada brown rice penne PASTA
1 package gluten-free BACON (around 12-ounces), chopped (we like Applegate)
2 packed cups chopped KALE
2 tablespoons WATER
1/4 cup raw SUNFLOWER SEEDS (roasted will do if that’s what you have on hand)

Directions:

  1. Cook pasta al dente. Drain, rinse, set aside.
  2. In large frying pan, cook bacon until crisp. Remove with slotted spoon, drain, set aside.
  3. Reserve 1/4 cup of bacon fat and set aside. Discard remaining fat.
  4. Sauté kale with water (just enough to soften kale).
  5. Add bacon, pasta, and sunflower seeds to sauteed kale. Toss to combine and heat through.
  6. Drizzle with 3-4 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat and give it one final toss.
  7. Serve.

A Good Laugh

Well, my husband had one anyway when Lexie’s Kitchen was contacted by First for Women magazine asking to feature HIS recipe in their November 12, 2012 issue. I mean, hello, it’s MY blog and HIS recipe gets selected? Okay … just don’t tell him, but I was pretty tickled and am grateful for a husband who has skills in the kitchen.

More Good Stuff

10 comments

Cara June 28, 2012 - 1:58 am

If my husband were left to eat dinner on his own with those ingredients… I think he might just munch on sunflower seeds. I'm impressed!

Reply
Tessa Domestic Diva June 28, 2012 - 3:46 am

umm…no you DIDN'T!!! I am thinking for my grain free month, this will be a knock out even without the pasta!

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Ali Williams June 28, 2012 - 2:25 pm

Yum Lexie! give HH a high five! I have Kale in the garden and will try this soon. Ali

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Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy June 28, 2012 - 5:20 pm

sounds delicious! and that photo is gorgeous! love kale:)

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Beth @ Tasty Yummies June 28, 2012 - 5:51 pm

YUM! I absolutely LOVE this kind of dish. Simple, delicious, fresh and PASTA!! When we got our 1/2 pig from our local farmer last fall, I made humble pasta dishes like this ALL the time with the bacon. Of course I also have to load my pasta with garlic and red pepper flakes 🙂

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Kelly June 28, 2012 - 8:05 pm

Way to go HH! Sounds yummy!

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Alisa June 29, 2012 - 4:18 am

Wow, that dish looks so amazingly fresh! And you can't go wrong with bacon!

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Lexie June 29, 2012 - 2:54 pm

Ali — I’ll pass on that high five!!

Tessa — Sorry to tempt you during your grain-free month : )

Cara — Brent would get a talkin’ to if he were feeding the kids just sunflower seeds. Ha! If it were just him, well fine by me : )

Beth — how was your experience purchasing 1/2 a pig? I’d like to do that with a cow but not sure if you get too much of one thing? Bacon would be okay if it was a pig and THAT one thing, ha!!

Caralyn — Thanks!

Alisa — right, can’t go wrong with bacon!

xoLexie

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Shirley @ gfe July 8, 2012 - 8:04 pm

Bravo for Dad! Those "based on availability" creations are always my favorites. 🙂 Plus, I agree with everyone else on the bacon irresistibility factor! I need lessons from him on his brevity, too. 😉

xo,
Shirley

Reply
hannah July 18, 2012 - 3:49 am

Way to go Brent! I will be making this next week for dinner 🙂 bravo dad!

Reply

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