My boss gave me a recipe last week that she had made over the weekend and said that is was phenomenal. She had brought in leftovers for us on Monday, but unfortunately I was sick with the flu, so I didn't get to try any of it. I'm so glad that she shared the recipe with me though. :)
I finally got around to making it last night, and it was AMAZING!!!!! I didn't have one of the ingredients, but I substituted and I will tell you what I did as well.
SMOKEHOUSE BACON ZITI
INGREDIENTS:
1 Lb. Ziti; cooked el dente
6 Slices of Bacon (I used the precooked in the box, and used the whole box)
8-10 Oz. Fresh Mushrooms; cleaned and sliced (I bought already sliced mushrooms)
3 Cloves Garlic; minced (I had minced in my fridge and used about 1/2 tsp. of that)
1-2 C. Fresh Baby Spinach (I used a little more)
3 Tbs. Butter
3 Tbs. Olive Oil
2 C. Heavy Whipping Cream
1 C. Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 C. Mozzarella Cheese
1 tsp. Smoky Paprika (I couldn't find this, so you could use regular Paprika. I used a Smoky BBQ Rub from Pampered Chef)
1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
Cook Pasta according to package directions. Cook the Bacon in a large skillet. Remove. (If you buy the pre-cooked you can skip this step.) In the large skillet, heat 1 Tbsp. Oil over medium heat. Cook Mushrooms until tender. When Mushrooms are just about done, add in the Garlic and cook for 1 minute. Remove the Garlic and Mushrooms from the pan and set aside. Melt 3 Tbs. Butter in the skillet. When melted, add in 2 Tbs. Oil. Whisk in Heavy Whipping Cream and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. Stir in the Parmesan Cheese and simmer for 8-10 minutes, making sure to stir frequently. After 8-10 minutes, the sauce will start to thicken. Reduce to low. Add in Mozzarella Cheese, Smokey Paprika, and Black Pepper. Stir in Bacon, Fresh Spinach, then add in the Cooked Mushrooms and Garlic. Stir in the cooked Pasta and serve immediately with additional Parmesan Cheese.
I also made up some Garlic Knots, and they were so good with this! This recipe will make a lot of food. I am planning on taking a large dish to my Mom and Bro at their house tonight for their dinner. It's date night for me, so I get to have dinner out with my guy! :) I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend. Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!
