Redneck Spaghetti

I got this recipe from my Floridian coworker. He invited a bunch of people over for "redneck spaghetti" one night and I tried asking what it was but he said not to worry. It turned out to be really yummy and I ended up asking for the recipe so I could make it myself.

Ingredients [serves 4]:

1/2 lb. pasta

3 slices of bacon, roughly chopped

1/2 lb. sweet Italian sausage

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 cup diced bell pepper

1/2 cup chopped mushrooms

1 jalapeno pepper (optional)

2 cans of Ro*tel tomatoes with green chiles

salt & pepper, to taste

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Start by heating a saucepan with the olive oil and then add in the bacon. Over low heat, render the fat out of the bacon for a few minutes. **Meanwhile, boil a huge pot of water and get the pasta cooking (salt the boiling water before adding the pasta!).

Then add in the sausage.

Break it up with a wooden spoon.

Keep cooking until it gets some nice brown color.

Next, add in the garlic, onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers.

Once the vegetables have started to cook through, add in both cans of Ro*tel tomatoes.

After it comes to a boil, add in the jalapenos for some extra spice. (Sorry for the blurryness of the photo - blame it on the steam!). Give the sauce a taste and add in salt and pepper if necessary.

Once the sauce is done, toss it with the pasta and cheese and serve. The sauce should be kind of spicy from the Ro*tel and jalapeno, the bacon adds a lot of smokiness and salt, and the sweetness of the sausage and onions makes for a really interesting dish for the palate. It's just a really different take on regular spaghetti and it's a great dish for everyone, including kids.