Cabbage with Mushrooms and Bacon

Mmmmm.  Bacon.  Mmmmm.  Mushrooms.  As always, use a scissors to cut up your uncooked bacon -- way easier than trying to use a knife!

Cabbage with Mushrooms and Bacon

1 small cabbage -- chopped
1/2  lb. thick-sliced bacon -- cut into 1" pieces
8 cloves garlic -- sliced thin
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 lb. sliced mushrooms
1 cup water
1/2  lb. Penne Rigate

In stewpot, sauté bacon and garlic until bacon is almost done. Add crushed red pepper and cook and stir 1 minute. Add salt, mushrooms and half of cabbage. Cover and simmer 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining cabbage and 1/2 cup of water. Simmer covered for 20 minutes. Start cooking Penne Rigate according to package. Add 1/2 cup water and simmer 20 more minutes. Uncover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add pasta and stir to mix.