Campsite cooking #1: Bacon Pasta

As we spend around five hours per day cycling, eating well is very important to us. The food we choose needs to be high energy, cook quickly and will be prepared on a single camp stove. This means we sometimes have to think creatively so we don't end up eating the same thing every night.

We promised to include a couple of our favourite recipes on this blog, and first up is something we eat at least twice a week, bacon pasta. Pasta is great as it supplies lots of energy and it's cheap. Bacon provides salt and fat, both of which we crave with the high levels of exercise we're doing. We add whatever vegetables are available and eat, preferably in front of our tent with a view of the mountains.

Bacon Pasta (for two people)

250g pasta - whatever type cooks the most quickly
Approx 50g bacon/pancetta
1 medium courgette / other vegetables as available (onion and garlic would be good)
1 x 400g tin tomatoes
Salt, pepper, pinch of sugar, chilli powder

Fry the bacon over a medium heat with the lid on, so the fat melts. Chop the vegetables small so they cook more quickly - we're always keen to reduce the amount of stove fuel we need to use. Add the vegetables to the pan. Fry until soft, then add the tomatoes. Cook for five minutes or so on a low heat, then season to taste with salt, pepper, chilli and sugar (sugar helps reduce the acidity in the tomatoes). Put to one side while you boil the pasta. Once the pasta is drained, add the sauce back to the pan, heat if needed, then eat and enjoy. Add cheese on top if you're really craving the fat!