Bacon, Leek, and Crème Fraîche Tagliatelle--An Easy Weeknight Dinner

In my house, my husband and I normally split the cooking. We don't split it the way couples normally do--by which nights we're free--but by which cultural food we're better at cooking. My husband is generally in charge of Asian and Italian. I'm generally in charge of American, Mexican, Spanish, French, and whatever else I feel like experimenting with. My husband just has a great ability to come up with the right flavors for Asian and Italian, and can cook without a recipe most of the time for these. Since he's been too busy to cook much this semester, I've taken over at least the Italian part of his repertoire. I have two dishes that I think I've nailed--Pasta alla Puttanesca and Bacon, Leek, and Crème Fraîche Tagliatelle. The former takes some time to prep, but the tagliatelle is an easy, flavorful weeknight dinner that can be thrown together quickly along with a salad for those busy nights. Buon appetito!

Bacon, Leek and Crème Fraîche Tagliatelle
adapted from Urban Foodie
Serves 2

1/2 packet bacon
1 leek
butter and/or olive oil
Handful of peas (fresh or frozen)
5-6 tagliatelle nests
2-3 tablespoons creme fraiche
Pepper

Cut the bacon into strips and place in a large hot pan. Cook until crispy and remove from pan onto a paper towel. While the bacon is cooking, cut the leek in half lengthwise and then slice into half-moons. Place in a bowl of cold water to clean them, and when cleaned, place on a paper towel to drain.

When the bacon is done cooking, add a little butter and/or olive oil to the same pan and add the leeks. Sauté gently in the pan with olive oil and a little butter. Turn the heat down and cook, covered, very gently for about 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Try not to brown the leeks.

About 5-10 minutes before the leeks are done, cook the pasta in boiling water for 5 or so minutes, and then add the peas to the cooking pasta for another two minutes. Drain the pasta and peas and mix all ingredients in the leek pan, dolloping in crème fraîche. Add pepper to taste.

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