Most groups have a store cupboard which can be assembled into something edible on the evening that no one has done the shopping, its raining and pay day is but a distant memory. A good set of basics to have around is pasta, tinned tomatoes, tomato ketchup/puree, frozen peas, bacon, onions, a few herbs and olive oil. Sooner or later, some combination of the above will become a favorite as did this one. A word on bacon, it should be bought sliced from a butcher or market trader and not in 454 gm sealed packs. Unpacked bacon is 30% to 50% of the price of the sealed version and may have a lower water content.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
1 lb (500 gm) of bacon (smoked/unsmoked according to taste)
1 Onion
1 450 gm Tin of chopped tomatoes
A generous dollop of ketchup (HP sauce
also works)
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
3 Tablespoons of oil for frying
1 lb (500) gm fusilli or similar pasta (its sold in metric packs)
Equipment
Deep 10-12 inch frying pan for sauce and 5 liter pan for pasta
Method
Start by boiling a large pan of water, when this boils, add the pasta and cook for 10 to 12 minutes. Whilst this is going on, chop the onion and fry in two/thee tablespoons of oil, cut the bacon into strips and add this to the onion. The water content of bacon varies, keep cooking at a high heat until any water has boiled off and the meat is frying add the tinned tomatoes, herbs and ketchup and keep heating until the whole pan is bubbling. With a bit of practice, the whole process can be completed in 15 minutes.
Comment
Serve with salad, rough red wine.
Page Created: 18th December 2000