Monday, January 3, 2011

Spaghetti Carbonara for a weekend luncheon - yum!


The table was set with my holiday dishes for lunch with a good friend



A simple snack of cream cheese topped with red pepper jelly and crackers to catch up on world events!


Spaghetti Carbonara 

Ingredients 
1 pound spaghetti
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 slices bacon, diced (I used pancetta)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)
4 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pinch salt and black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti pasta until al dente. Drain well. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and set aside.

Meanwhile in a large skillet, cook chopped bacon until slightly crisp; remove and drain onto paper towels. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat; add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, and heat in reused large skillet. Add chopped onion, and cook over medium heat until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Add wine if desired; cook one more minute.

Return cooked bacon to pan; add cooked and drained spaghetti. Toss to coat and heat through, adding more olive oil if it seems dry or is sticking together. Add beaten eggs and cook, tossing constantly with tongs or large fork until eggs are barely set. Quickly add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and toss again. Add salt and pepper to taste (remember that bacon and Parmesan are very salty).

Serve immediately with chopped parsley sprinkled on top, and extra Parmesan cheese at table.



Serves 8

25 comments:

  1. Everything sounds great! Do you make your red pepper jelly or buy it in a jar? Mmmm. Bet your friend loved that lunch! Susan

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  2. I like how you laid the table, so beautiful with that holiday theme!

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  3. Oh my, this sounds fabulous and your table setting was gorgeous. I love red pepper jelley and cream cheese too :)

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  4. I love to make a special meal for a pal! Your luncheon looks so pretty and the pasta is the epitome of comfort food! I hope you had a wonderful time catching up with your friend!

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  5. mmmmm I love cabonara! I have never made it but Largo makes a yummy one. I will give it a try. My husband would love it.
    cathy

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  6. One of my very favorite pasta dishes!!

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  7. Boy, your pictures show case your attention to details when you entertain. Everything looks festive and welcoming. Will have to try the recipe. Red pepper jelly is one of my favorites.

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  8. I love spaghetti carbonara! One of my favorite dishes. Lucky friend! Thanks for your comments on my blog.

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  9. What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon with your good friend...yum!

    Thanks for your sweet comments about the photos of my daughter!

    Kat :)

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  10. Carbonara is one if my very favorites. My son and daughter inlaw make it often and its always just a treat to share dinner on carbonara night.

    I'll have to give your recipe a try, thanks so much for sharing.

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  11. I do love carbonnara too. If only I could eat carbs right now! Honestly, I can't. Twist my arm ;)

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  12. really pretty table... your carbonara looks lovely... I always keep a cup-full of the drained pasta water and add this to the pasta dish at the end, it lubricates the dish and makes it nice and creamy... (i've been told the Italians do this with all their pasta dishes) Happy New year! x

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  13. The tablescape is lovely and the pasta looks fabulous. So pretty. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  14. So bright and festive. That recipe looks delicious.

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  15. Anything with bacon is tops in my recipe book! Looks fantastic:)

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  16. This is one of my favorite quick meals. You've given us a wonderful recipe and the way you have served the pasta makes it seem really festive and special. Your table looks quite festive. I hope you have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  17. Hi there! Saw your comment on Dom's blog about truffle butter. I got a small container in the specialty deli case with the cheeses a while back at Hannaford Market ... a word of advice if you've not used it before ... use half of what is suggested in the recipe and taste before going up to the dictated anmount. It is very strong stuff and IMHO a little goes a longway! I would hate for you to work hard on a dish and then be overwhelmed by the truffle taste! Just sayin' ... hope your dish is delish!

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  18. what a lovely table setting! i am sure your friend loved that lunch, i would! the recipe looks really yummy...just had italian tonight. have a great new year!!! jill

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  19. hi mary...everything looks so pretty....and that pasta looks delicious !!!

    i think we are going to have fun this year. i saw that susan has the book too...
    have you made anything out of it yet? i may try something today...i just love it and can't wait to bake something....

    we have a little baking circle right here in blogville...

    :-)

    give duke a hug...

    i'll be back soon
    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  20. haven't had this in soooo long! thanks for the reminder!

    making this ASAP!! yummy!

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  21. That carbonara always gets my attention!
    I would dig into this dish!
    Table looks pretty :)

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  22. ....just checking in to see if you posted your sarabeth recipe....i'll check back later

    :-)

    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  23. I love the red pepper jelly from Stonewall Kitchens. Lovely luncheon. I bet your friend was very pleased and impressed!

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  24. your dinner table looks lovely. I am a spaghetti lover so will copy your recipe...thanks so much

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