Blt Pasta Bake Bacon Leeks And Tomatoes Recipes

BLT PASTA BAKE: BACON, LEEKS, AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. When the water reaches a boil, add some salt and the pasta, and cook until al dente.
• While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and chopped bacon and cook until crisp.
• While bacon is cooking, split the trimmed leeks in half lengthwise, lay the leeks cut side down and thinly slice into half-moons. Fill a large bowl with water and mix the leeks into the water.
• Allow the water to settle and the dirt and the grit to settle to the bottle of the bowl. Using your hands, draw the leeks from the water, taking care not to unsettle the dirt.
• Drain the cleaned leeks on a kitchen towel, pat dry and, and then add to the pan with the bacon. Season the leeks with salt and pepper. Cook until leeks are tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• To start the cheese sauce, heat a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Add the butter and melt, then add the flour, cayenne, and paprika and whisk together over the heat until the roux bubbles; cook for 1 minute more.
• Whisk in the milk and stock and raise the heat a little. Bring the sauce to a quick boil and simmer to thicken, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and whisk in 3 cups of the grated cheese and the mustard. Set aside.
• Add the cherry tomatoes to the leeks and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Drain the pasta and add it back to the pasta pot. Combine the reserved leek mixture and the cheese sauce with the pasta. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer the pasta to a baking dish. Combine the remaining ½ cup of grated cheese with the bread crumbs.
• Top the pasta with the mixture. Place the dish under the broiler until the cheese melts and the bread crumbs are brown.

PASTA WITH BACON AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water; drain the pasta.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings from the skillet.
• Add the leeks to the drippings in the skillet. Season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream and cook until it begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the skillet along with the parmesan, half of the bacon and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat, adding enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen. To serve, top with the remaining bacon, more parmesan and parsley.

BLT & P (BACON, LEEK, TOMATO AND POTATO) SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat.
• Add a small amount of EVOO and the bacon.
• Cook the bacon until brown and crisp.
• Remove the bacon to drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Drain all but 2 tablespoons of remaining fat from pot then add the chopped celery.
• Take peeled carrots and lay flat on cutting board.
• Holding each carrot at root end, use the vegetable peeler to make long, thin strips of carrot.
• Chop the thin slices into small carrot bits (or chips), approximately 1/2 inch wide.
• Add the chips to celery and continue to stir.
• Cut leeks lengthwise and then into 1/2 inch half moons.
• Place dirty slices into colander and run under rushing cold water, separating all the layers so you can wash away all the trapped dirt.
• When the leeks are separated and clean, shake off water and add to celery and carrots.
• Stir these veggies together, adding a bay leaf and seasoning with salt and pepper.
• While the leeks cook (until they wilt 3-4 minutes), slice the potatoes.
• Cut each potato into thirds across.
• Stand each potato third upright and slice it thinly(The pieces will look like raw potato chips).
• Now adding stock to vegetables, bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat then add potatoes and tomatoes.
• Cook 8-10 minutes until potatoes are tender and starting to break up a bit.
• Add bacon and parsley, stirring.
• Adjust seasonings to taste (don't forget to remove bay leaf).
• Serve immediately.
• Enjoy!;).