My earliest cooking memories with my mama were right around the holidays, so a day in the kitchen with her always seems like a special occasion.  One Saturday a few summers ago, we went to the Farmer's Market and I told her that whatever we found, I'd make up a recipe with it when we got home. We just so happened to find the most beautiful and unique zucchini, squash, and eggplant - such odd colors and shapes - so when we got home I cooked up a pasta for my parents. They said it was the best pasta they ever had, so I wrote down the recipe and called it my Farmer's Market Pasta!

Grocery list:

• 2-3 cups of fresh veggies (any will work but I use eggplant, squash, zucchini, tomatoes)
• 4 slices of bacon + the bacon grease
• 1 tbsp olive oil 3 garlic cloves - minced
• 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese - fresh grated
• 1 lb penne pasta (or any bite sized pasta)
• Basil - chopped

Dressing:

• 1 tbsp garlic - minced
• 1/2 a lemon - juiced
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 cup good, fruity olive oil

Directions

Step 1:
Heat oven to 450. Fry bacon and set aside the bacon strips and the grease.
Step 2:
Cut the veggies into 1 inch cubes and place on a baking sheet. Toss together with bacon grease, olive oil, minced garlic, Kosher salt, and pepper. Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
Step 3:
Boil pasta in a large pot with water and a handful of salt. Boil for 6-7 minutes or until al dente. While pasta boils, make dressing. Combine the garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, and Dijon mustard in a bowl. Whisk in the olive oil.
Step 4:
Put cooked pasta directly into a serving bowl with about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Crumble bacon directly into the pasta. Add Parmesan, roasted veggies and all their juices, and dressing. Toss together to combine. Top with more Parmesan and chopped basil.

CHEERS TO HAPPY EATING!!!

Andrea LeTard is the author of Andrea's Cooktales: A Keepsake Cookbook. She’s a personal chef, blogger, and recipe writer. Andrea has been featured on Food Network, Cooking Channel, Today Show and was chosen as a Top 100 Contestant on MasterChef. Follow Andrea’s blog and video series on Instagram at @andreas_cooktales.