Pasta bake

I'm not usually a big fan of pasta bakes, I prefer fresh pasta with a simple sauce, but I thought this was more interesting with the butternut squash and the creme fraiche.

Squash and bacon pasta bake

1 butternut squash
Olive oil
3 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
400 g pasta
100 ml creme fraiche
100 g cheddar cheese (or your choice of grated cheese)
12 slices of bacon

Peel the squash and chop into small cubes.

Heat a splash of olive oil in a pan and fry the garlic over a medium heat until it starts to brown.

Add the squash and a small glass of water. Cover with a lid and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the butternut squash is soft. Then uncover and cook until the water has almost disappeared.

Remove from the heat and mash the squash. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, then drain.

Mix the pasta with the mashed squash and the creme fraiche on a bowl. Stir in most of the cheese and then spoon into a baking dish. Top with the rest of the cheese and the bacon slices.

Bake in the oven at 200C for 30 minutes, until the bacon is crispy.