Pasta Carbonara

Dinnertime last night...I wanted something different but I didn't have a lot of time and I definitely didn't feel like running to the store. What to have? Staring off into space, zoning out, waiting for inspiration to hit...

memory coming into focus...sitting on the patio at Brio's...taste buds moaning in ecstasy...

Think Jean, think! What was it you had at Brio's? It wasn't my usual. I always order Bolognese with garganelli pasta. But that time I took a walk on the wild side and ordered something else.

visualizing plate of food at Brio's...garganelli pasta...creamy goodness...smell of parmesan...

I'VE GOT IT!!! It was garganelli pasta with carbonara sauce!!! Oh yes, yes, yes!!!

Uh oh. I've never made carbonara at home. That whole "raw egg cooked by the hot pasta" thing kind of gives me the willies. But it was so good.

Now that I had lifted that dish out of the dregs of my memory I was fixated on it. I wanted carbonara and only carbonara. Okay. Off to the internet. I googled "pasta carbonara" and got a slew of responses. But the third one was the one that caught my eye. An entry by Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman. If any of you are familiar with any of Ree's blogs then you know this gal is "Super Chick". She writes I don't know how many blogs, does incredible photography, lives on a ranch out in God's country, takes care of her darling daughters, has a "lodge" on their property that friends stay at when visiting (which has a kitchen that I would give my first born for), can cook like nobody's business, and did I mention that she's gorgeous to boot? Yeah, "Super Chick". Her food blog is something I can only aspire to.

I digress. So I clicked on the link to PW's carbonara. Her step by step instructions make any recipe look so doable. Did I mention that she's also a hoot? Anyway, I decided we are going to have pasta carbonara for dinner! I did add some slices of rotisserie chicken and some cherry and yellow teardrop tomatoes from our deck-garden. That kind of gave it a summertime flavor and feel.

I'm just going to give you the link to PW's post. Because, why redo what she has so beautifully done? I hope you'll read it even if you don't make the dish. Her blog is one that I can just sit and read for the sheer pleasure of it all. And if you do decide to attempt the dish, you so will not be sorry!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/09/cooking-with-ryan-pasta-carbonara/

This dish is awesome! Heaven! Nirvana! Damn good, even!!! Bob and I barely spoke while we ate, which is totally unlike us. But this dish is so good it might just reduce you to a series of moans and groans. And then when it's all over, you just want to turn around and do it all again!

Now that's a dish to fall in love with :-) Happy eating!