BLT Spaghetti

I LOVE spaghetti! So when I found this recipe online a few years ago, it has been a personal favorite of mine ever since! The name was obviously the first thing that caught my eye...but after seeing how quick and easy it was to put together and tasting the combination of flavors afterwards - I was hooked! It was definitely hard to keep my fork out of the pan before serving this pasta! Bacon. Leeks. Tomatoes. Fresh Basil. Garlic. Parmesan cheese. Oh yes. This stuff is good! This recipe brings together some of the most enticing ingredients known to man into an easy, irresistible dish. So I just wanted to share it with all of you pasta lovers out there who are looking for a super easy dinner to throw together. So let me show you how its done...

First you'll need the following ingredients:

2 Leeks

2 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

8 slices of bacon (thinly sliced)

3 cloves of garlic, very thinly sliced or chopped

Salt and Pepper

1 28-ounce can of italian whole tomatoes

1 lb of spaghetti

Freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

Preparation

1. Trim tough tops and root ends of the leeks. Halve them lengthwise and thinly slice. Fill sink or large bowl with water and wash leeks, separating layers and swishing them around in the water. Dry in a salad spinner or on a kitchen towel and reserve.

2.Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta

3. Heat a deep skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil. Add bacon and crisp. Add reserved leeks and garlic, cook 2-3 minutes to soften. Season with black pepper.

4. Add tomatoes to the pan and mash them together. (I like to use a potato masher instead of chasing the tomatoes around with my spoon.) Bring up to a simmer and let thicken over low heat while you cook the pasta.

5. Salt pasta water and cook pasta to al dente. Drain pasta and toss with sauce for a minute or so. Serve in shallow bowls. (or plate)

6. Sprinkle some fresh Parmesan cheese on top and enjoy! You can also garnish with some fresh basil or some chopped parsley if you'd like as well. Plus you can use any type of pasta with this recipe you don't just have to use spaghetti - So get creative! :)

If you're a pasta lover like I am...You've got to try this out! 

Hope you enjoy it! :)