quick and easy meals for 1 or 2

Pasta, Spinach and Bacon, and/or shrimp

½- 2/3 lb. pasta I like the bite sized non twisty kind like penne or farfalle for this, but any pasta will do.
A couple of handfuls of prewashed baby spinach
3 slices of pancetta or bacon
1 small or half a large red pepper
1 small onion chopped
1 large clove of garlic minced
olive oil
grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
Red pepper flakes (optional)

Start the water for the pasta and cook it al dente.

Heat med high a med large frying pan with a turn or two of olive oil. Put in the pancetta (or bacon). Cook it ‘til it starts to get crispy. Add the onions, garlic and red pepper and cook a few minutes until the veggies are smellin good. Add the spinach and cook until the spinach starts to wilt. Turn it often. As soon as it starts to wilt take it off the stove and add the salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to your taste and a few good shakes of the grated parmesan. Mix it up. The pasta should be done by now. Drain it and save a little of the water Mix up the pasta and the veggie bacon stuff. Use a little of the pasta water if it looks a little dry. As an option when you put the onions etc. in the pan you could put in some peeled and deveined shrimp. Gammy and I like it that way.

SERVE IT UP!! With some crusty pop pop’s homemade bread and some white wine!