Thursday, December 3, 2009

a cream thursday and a sad farewell

our best mate woody just needed to get to the next place, he left this world on saturday the 28th, his decision... bugga you woody!


we were going to do a cream post, b even took the pics...





but instead as a tribute to woody we are going to post our recipe for creamy carbonara - you see on sunday the 5th of May 1991 woody first introduced b to carbonara, it was the night his daughter max was born, it was a celebration meal... and now, to us, carbonara will always be a celebration, we love you woody!


ah carbonara... bacon, eggs and cheese... what is not to love? it's a little creamy, salty and best of all, it will always remind us of woody

serves 4-6 and you will need:

about 450gm or 1 pound dried spaghetti
about 2 tablespoons kosher salt for pasta water
7 slices thick cut bacon, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup cream
1/4 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
fresh cracked pepper
fresh chopped parsley

bring 8+ pints or 4-6 quarts water to boil, add salt and stir in pasta. cook until al-dente 9-11 minutes. strain, reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.

meanwhile, in a large pan fry bacon until crispy. strain on paper towel. reserve 2 tablespoons bacon drippings. add garlic to bacon drippings. cook until softened. pour cream over onions and garlic. Cook 2 - 3 minutes. Return bacon to pan.

add pasta to pan with cream, garlic and bacon. toss with tongs to coat. cook until the pasta is hot and absorbs the sauce about 1 minute.

beat together eggs and both cheeses. slowly add a couple of tablespoons of reserved pasta water to temper the eggs. remove the pasta from the heat. pour egg mixture over the pasta and toss with tongs constantly until the pasta is coated. add remaining pasta water only if pasta seems dry or is sticking together.

sprinkle with fresh cracked pepper and chopped fresh parsley. toss once more. serve with love.

the recipe is very forgiving, as was woody, do with it anything you want, omitting or replacing the cream with some white wine works wonders for the waistline!


oh and b, don't forget our house is cream too...


next week blue's challenge is aqua gulp!

12 comments:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

What nice furiends woo are -

That was a pawesome post despite the cirkhumstances fur it -

Sometimes hoomans just have to do it - it is sad - but it is their choice but a furry diffikhult choice fur them - I do hope he did leave his peoples some note of khlosure fur them -

Mom says she has some bakhon in the fridge - maybe we'll make sure of this recipe and have dinner fur Woody!

Tank woo fur sharing him with us -

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: That Mollie is getting khuter - woo must be a furry good influence on her!

Sally Ann and Andy said...

That was sweet.
Sally Ann

Sistertex said...

A truly wonderful tribute. So sorry to hear of your loss... the world's loss.

Poopsie aka Blue said...

So sorry to hear about your friend Woody.
It is always the ones left behind that suffer, though I do firmly believe it is our right to make such a decision about our own lives.

Am glad Woody introduced you to Carbonara, so you will always have happy memories of him.
It is a fav. pasta dish of mine, I do subsitute cream with creme'fraiche or white wine or both.

And, the photo's of Mollie are adorable.

TY for the two new colour suggestions, will add them to the list for next year.
I've no Christmas tree as yet as away from home visiting friends from today for a while, but there definately will be one.

Love and pats & pets
Blue

Teddy said...

We're sorry about your friend Woody. He was really special to introduce you to that yummy looking dinner.

Molly the Airedale said...

What a wonderful tribute post, guys!
Mom says carbonara is so delicious.

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

The 'splorin' Wolfies said...

we absolutely loved the pictures--that first one is breathtaking!!!

that was a great tribute to a special friend!

Dexter said...

You are very wise. Keep the good memories.

Slobbers,
Mango

Asta said...

Youw bootiful post made us cwy..what a lovley memowy and twiboote to youw good fwiend woody..I knopw he must be smiling fwom his next place when he sees this.

WE send ouw heawtfelt love to you , his fwiends and family.

We just love cawbonawa..thank you fow the wecipe..when we make it, we will think of him

You awe wondewful
smoochie kisses
ASTA
pee ess..we don't have any houses,just went an apawtment, but that bootiful houseyou saw on my blog belongs to some gweat fwiends who aways welcome us.

Life With Dogs said...

Touching and bittersweet. I'm incredibly sorry for your loss.

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Good Stuff!

I made it in honour of Woody AND his pals!

Thanks for sharing!

Khyra's Mom

Joe Stains said...

So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. Its always good to celebrate lives lost and I think having his special recipe is a good way to do it.