Butternut Squash Penne with Bacon and Sage

Almost like macaroni and cheese...but healthier! (cause bacon and pasta are totally healthy....)

1 Butternut Squash
1/2 Box of Penne Pasta
Salt
Pepper
5 Slices Bacon
8 Fresh Sage Leaves
1/2 C. Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 C. Panko Bread Crumbs
Crushed Red Pepper

Preheat oven to 375. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and place cut side down on pan. Roast for 30 minutes. Remove the squash from the oven and set aside. Cook the pasta per directions and drain. Once the squash has cooled enough to handle, scoop/cut out the insides. It doesn't matter if they are neat, but bite-sized. Place in 13x9 dish and season liberally with salt and pepper. Add the pasta and stir. Drizzle with olive oil.

Cook the bacon and then blot dry. In the hot grease, drop the sage leaves and fry. Remove and blot as well. Crumble the bacon and sage over the pasta, and stir. Top with cheese, bread crumbs, crushed red pepper and broil for 2 minutes on high.

This is a fairly light dish- the butternut squash makes it creamy, the parmesan adds tang and the bacon has the final crunch!

Enjoy,
e