Angel Hair in a Parmesan and Red Pepper Cream Sauce

I was amazed that this dinner came together in about 15 minutes. I was in a hurry and wanted to make a light dinner and I always have pasta on hand - partly because it's free and because it one of the things I know how to cook best. I really like the delicate texture of angel hair and was looking to make a sauce that was lighter than an alfredo or a carbonara with as much flavor. I just grabbed a few ingredients out of my fridge and this time I came out with a winner.

My husband isn't really a fan of angel hair but this meal was so good, there were no leftovers and he actually raved about it. Very affordable to make and perfect when you've forgotten to thaw something for dinner...like I did. If you're looking to make this a little lighter, you can swap out the bacon for ham - you're mostly looking for the depth of flavor from the smoky meat. And a little goes a very long way in this dish.

Next time you're thinking of going out to dinner - stay home and toss together this recipe. For the cost of less than $2-$3 to feed 2-4 people, you can have a restaurant quality meal and not be weighed down by a heavy dinner.

8 oz. angel hair pasta (free)
2-3 slices of bacon ($.20)
1/2 medium red bell pepper ($.15)
1 clove garlic, minced ($.05)
1 T. olive oil ($.10)
1/2 C. heavy cream ($.40)
2 T. sour cream ($.10)
1/8 C. grated parmesan ($.35)
salt and pepper ($.05)
1 T. parsley ($.05)

Prepare pasta according package directions. Cook pasta al dente.

Chop bacon and finely chop the red bell pepper. Add bacon to a nonstick skillet and cook over medium heat - once some of the fat has rendered from the bacon, add red bell pepper pieces and cook until bacon is cooked through and slightly crispy. Drain off excess fat and add garlic, reduce heat to low and saute for 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic.

Add sour cream, let melt and add heavy cream. Whisk in the parmesan, and cook oer medium low heat until sauce has thickened and is glossy. Season with salt and pepper, add half of the parsley. Add 1 ladle full of pasta water and add all the pasta, toss together over low heat and cook for 1-2 minutes. Top with additional parmesan and remaining parsley.

Serve with salad and bread.

Yields = 2 main dish servings or 4-5 side dish servings
Cost: $1.45
Cost per serving: $.73 for an entree or $.29 for a side dish