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Loaded Pasta Carbonara

November 11, 2011 by 11 Comments


So, a couple of weeks ago, when it was still, just for the record, OCTOBER, we lucky citizens of the Northeastern part of the United States got treated to a rare mid-autumn snowstorm.  Which meant my backyard, which is supposed to look like this….

Instead looked like this.

A fall snowstorm is even crazier than one that happens at the appropriate time of year (which would be WINTER, Mother Nature), because all those lovely autumn leaves turn into snow-catching cups.  Which meant that the beautiful orange and red and yellow trees started struggling under all the extra snow.  Branches started dropping, trees started falling, power lines went down, and everyone hunkered down inside to wait it out.

Which was nerve-wracking enough, but to make matters worse, it happened on a Saturday.  Supermarket Day in my house is Sunday, and Saturday is usually go-out-to-dinner night…but not this Saturday, for obvious reasons.  So what did I have hanging around that could be thrown into an October snowstorm supper?  Something that relied totally on the gas stove, in the event of power failure?

I had eggs.  I had pasta.  I had a lone frozen chicken breast, and a bag of frozen peas.  I had bacon.  I had a hunk of Parmesan cheese.

I was ready for loaded carbonara!  Which is basically your regular carbonara – pasta, eggs and bacon – but with extra of chicken and peas and parmesan cheese and a little white wine.  You cook the bacon first, and then the chicken cooks in the bacon, and well, you can just imagine the rest.

Take that, inappropriate October snowstorm!

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Loaded Pasta Carbonara

Loaded Pasta Carbonara

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Salt and pepper
6 slices bacon, chopped
3 large eggs
1 ½ cups Parmesan cheese
½ cup white wine
1 pound spaghetti
2 cups frozen peas

Directions

1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate.
2. Cook chicken in 1 tablespoon fat in now-empty skillet until well browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to cutting board and tent with foil. Let rest 5 minutes, then slice crosswise into thin strips and reserve.
3 . Whisk eggs and cheese in medium bowl. Heat now-empty skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 teaspoon pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in wine and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk wine mixture into egg mixture.
4. Add 1 tablespoon salt and pasta to boiling water and cook until al dente. Reserve 1⁄2 cup cooking water. Place peas in colander, drain pasta, and transfer pasta and peas to pot. Stir in chicken, egg-wine mixture, and bacon, adding reserved water as needed. Serve at once.

Recipe adapted from Cooks Country

Filed Under: bacon, chicken, dinner, pasta Tagged With:

Comments

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  1. Kate says:
    November 11, 2011 at 1:33 am

    This looks like a feast to me! I love Carbonara!

    Reply
  2. Jenna says:
    November 11, 2011 at 1:44 am

    That's a lot of snow! I'd feel better with some pasta carbonara too.

    Reply
  3. Joanne says:
    November 11, 2011 at 1:50 am

    I love how you turned the disaster that is our northeastern weather into a deliciously awesome meal! You really showed that blizzard.

    Reply
  4. PoetessWug says:
    November 11, 2011 at 2:12 am

    I wish we had thought of this meal during the "inappropriate October snowstorm"! {Good name for it! Grrrr!}

    Reply
  5. Amy's Cooking Adventures says:
    November 11, 2011 at 3:07 am

    Fall snowstorm are the worst! But I a loving this pasta!

    Reply
  6. Bobbie Pyron says:
    November 11, 2011 at 3:41 am

    Looks like it would be great comfort food for a blizzard, especially such a pesky one!

    Reply
  7. All Things Yummy says:
    November 11, 2011 at 4:44 am

    Your photos are always so beautiful. Inspires me to learn how to use my camera properly.

    Reply
  8. Becki's Whole Life says:
    November 11, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    Yum…Carbonara is such a great dish by itself, but I always feel like it needs a little something to make it more substantial. This is such a great combo of flavors – love it!

    Reply
  9. Miss McBooty says:
    November 11, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    You make all of your dishes look so put together and beautiful. Take THAT mother nature!

    Reply
  10. Jennifurla says:
    November 11, 2011 at 4:59 pm

    This sounds so eay and delish, I have to try it

    Reply
  11. FramedCooks says:
    November 12, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    Thanks all! Yes, there's nothing like carbonara on those days when you need serious comfort food, for whatever reason!

    Reply

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