Bacon and Eggs

I love Pasta Alla Carbonara. It is one of my favorite things to eat when I’m in a good Italian Restaurant. When we were in Rome last year, I had Carbonara almost every day. I had try all of the different restaurant’s versions! Research purposes, you know?? I’ve noticed many people who make Carbonara add cream and make it almost like an Alfredo. Not me… Eggs and cheese are the only thickening agent I use, along with pasta water. I’ve found that adding a couple egg yolks in addition to the whole eggs makes for a creamier sauce.

Another thing I’ve found (by trial and error) are to toss the egg mixture and hot pasta in a metal bowl instead of the pasta pot. You’re less likely to end up with scrambled egg carbonara, which is not good. I think the pasta is hot enough to cook the eggs, but if you freak out about slightly cooked eggs, do your mixing in the pasta pot. However, be prepared for bits of completely cooked egg. Lastly, I add peas, which makes me feel better, like I added a bit of green healthiness to a rich dish. If you don’t like peas, by all means, leave them out. Also, I cheaped out at the grocery store and bought low sodium bacon instead of the pancetta. Either one will work, but the pancetta has a better flavor.

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April 6, 2009 | Filed Under Dinner, Italian

16 Critiques

A Different Daring Baker

This month’s challenge was much different than most of the other challenges. Not only is it savory, it’s an entree. It is “real” Italian lasagne… not the ricotta laden version that most of us are used to. The March 2009 challenge is hosted by Mary of Beans and Caviar, Melinda of Melbourne Larder and Enza of Io Da Grande. They have chosen Lasagne of Emilia-Romagna from The Splendid Table by Lynne Rossetto Kasper as the challenge. The recipe is VERY long… you can find it on one of their blogs. Check out the other Daring Baker’s Lasagne here, and all of my past Daring Baker posts here.
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March 31, 2009 | Filed Under Daring Bakers, Dinner, Italian

11 Critiques

Braised Beef Short Ribs

Another cool blast came through South Florida and I used the opportunity to make braised beef short ribs. I often order short ribs when I see it on the menu at a good Italian Restaurant, but rarely make them at home. I love that you can take such a tough inexpensive cut of meat and turn it into such a delicacy.

The smell in the house while these are cooking drove us and the dogs crazy. I’m going to contact Yankee Candle and see if they will consider adding “Braised Beef Short Ribs” to their collection of scents. While I’m at it, I think I’ll pitch a new bacon scent. If Burger King is going to make a meat scented men’s cologne (Flame) then us GOOD food lovers need to band together and demand a more upscale meat fragrance. Right?

When the Moon Hits Your Eye

Like a Big Pizza Pie…. That’s Amore!

Today you will be seeing homemade Pizza popping up around the blogosphere, as it is the Daring Baker challenge this month. The recipe came from Rosa’s Yummy yums, one of my favorite blogs that I check regularly. She chose this Pizza Napoletana from Peter Reinhart’s “The Bread Baker’s Apprentice” which is a book I’ve been considering buying, and now really want. You can find the recipe on Rosa’s Blog. The big challenge wasn’t to make the dough, but to learn how to toss the dough, and try to get a photo of yourself doing so. Check out the other Daring Baker’s pizzas here, and my past Daring Baker Posts here.
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October 29, 2008 | Filed Under Bakery, Daring Bakers, Italian

30 Critiques

Eating our Way Through Roma

As you can see, I’ve put blogging on the back burner… I’m just entirely too busy relaxing and doing the tourist thang. However, between waking up at noon and eating like a swine, I have found the time to blog about our time in Rome. Yes, its tough being me… but once we get home, Stephan and I will be working non-stop for several months.

Rome is an amazing city, and the history there is just fascinating. When you see the Colosseum, which is probably one of the most well known structures in the world, it takes your breath away. You just sit back and wonder how the hell this was built back circa 70 AD. The architecture of Rome is simply gorgeous. Every direction you looked, there is a beautiful sight. We touched on all of the main tourist spots, Colosseum, Vatican, St Peter’s Basilica, etc… but spent the majority of our time on the side streets, just wandering and drinking in all that is Rome. Four full days was the perfect amount of time to spend there and see everything we wanted to see. Also, the weather in September is magnificent in Rome!

One of the totally unexpected moments of our trip was seeing Al Pacino and Robert De Niro at the Rome Red Carpet Premier of Righteous Kill. The event was held in the theater around the corner from our hotel, and we were fortunate enough to arrive there right before Pacino and De Niro arrived. What are the odds of seeing two of my favorite actors TOGETHER… in Italy… bliss I tell ya. I can’t wait to see the movie now!

About the food… Although I did tons of research beforehand, it was difficult to stick to the list of restaurants I had hoped to try. Unfortunately, when you’re walking around Rome, looking at the amazing sights, you get hungry and it is easy to make the mistake of stopping to eat somewhere that preys on tourists. This is where you will get a mediocre meal that costs MUCH more than it should. We found that if we got hungry in a heavily tourist area, it was better to grab a gelato and take time to find a good place to eat. Perhaps this is not the healthiest alternative, but it sure was yummy!

In choosing restaurants to eat, we were looking for traditional but casual Roman fare, preferably with good prices. Its easy to find good restaurants that cost an arm and a leg, but my mission was to find some that were actually well priced. Our best meal was at Antica Boheme, which was just one block from our hotel. We had an amazing dinner with three courses including wine for about 35 Euros per person. Trattoria Lilli was a very close second. Two traditional dishes to try are gnocchi and spaghetti carbonara. I tried them both… a few times. It just so happens they are two of my favorite pasta dishes.

Check out some photos we took of food below, and more amazing photos of Rome on Stephan’s blog.

Bone with a Hole

Apparently that is the direct translation of one of my favorite dishes… Osso Buco.

My Mother and Father in Law gave me a fabulous Le Creuset Dutch Oven for Christmas this year, and I’ve been absolutely itching to use it. We finally had a “cold front” come through and the temperature has been chilly… all they way down in the low 70’s at night! (Yeah, if you’re in Ohio, please don’t hate me!) I figured this was as good a time as any to break out the Le Creuset.

The recipe is adapted from The Joy of Cooking, which I love for its basic recipes. It was a very good recipe, but the only think I think it needed was a tablespoon or so of tomato paste to give the sauce more color and acidity. So I’ve taken the liberty to add it to the recipe, although I didn’t use it in my dish. You will thank me for it! :) I served the Osso Buco over soft polenta with a little Parmesan cheese stirred in.

Thank you Rolanda and Adrian (Mom and Dad) for the beautiful Le Creuset Dutch Oven! I wish you two were here to enjoy the Osso Buco with us. We toasted to you and your lovely gift!
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February 1, 2008 | Filed Under Beef, Dinner, Italian

13 Critiques

Beans and Franks Anyone?

This here isn’t your usual Beenie Weenies! No sir! Instead, this is spicy Italian sausage sauteed with Broccoli Rabe (AKA Rapini) and Cannellini Beans and served over polenta. Yummmmm. Stephan isn’t a big fan of it, but its one of my absolute favorite things to order at an authentic Italian restaurant. Broccoli Rabe has a very distinctive, bitter flavor. Some find it too bitter, but I love the flavor of it and even like it sauteed with a little garlic as a side dish.

Dreary Days = Soup

I’ve been up in North Florida at St George Island with the family for the past few days, just relaxing and fishing. I just came home to rainy and dreary weather here in South Florida. Since it actually dipped below 80 degrees, I was in the mood for a bit o’ soup. One of my most favorite soups is Pasta Fagioli. It’s an incredibly easy and quick cooking soup, and is made from basic ingredients I usually have in my pantry. There are many, many different recipes for this soup, some adding marinara, some adding Italian meatballs… I don’t add either of those. I’ve been tweaking it a bit each time I make it, and this last time was just perfect. My secret (which is now no longer a secret) is to puree half of the white beans.
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September 27, 2007 | Filed Under Italian, Soup, Vegetarian

7 Critiques

Got Mozz?

Insalata Caprese is my husband’s most favorite salad. I purchase the best possible tomatoes when I make this salad, and if I can’t find good, vine ripened tomatoes, I won’t make the salad. My favorite (other than out of someone’s garden… of course) are Campari Tomatoes. They always have great flavor, but sometimes are hard to find. Luckily, my local Costco usually carries them. The best part is the balsamic reduction…. its so delicious and really looks great on the plate.

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September 12, 2007 | Filed Under Italian, Salad, Vegetarian

7 Critiques

Scampi that Keeps the Vampires away!

This is a very, very quick dinner that can be prepared in about 15 minutes. Start your pasta water first, and then chop the garlic and parsley. By the time you get all the ingredients together, the water is boiling. You will be eating in another 10 minutes.

One warning, this is quite heavy on the garlic. You can always use less, but I personally love the strong garlic flavor. However, if you’ve got a hot date later, I might save this recipe for a different night!

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