Vegetarian Pasta Carbonara

Last Saturday, we were all so busy with gathering up warm clothes for the kids, to wear in the snowy and cold NYC climate. Suppertime was nearing, and my sweet daughter was so concerned to make some kind of pasta for the kids... her hubby working in his restaurant as usual, so he doesn't eat at home, only on his days off. Lora decided, on Pasta Carbonara...oh, but no pancetta left over from Teresa's care package?...no bacon?...what is one to do!?....Alas, suddenly, I got a great idea, "how about some Carbonara without pancetta, or bacon?...A "Vegetarian, Pasta Carbonara!...So, I agreed to make it, so easy, told my daughter just go pack...she even had 3 egg yolks left over, which she saved, from a cake she was making, and handed me a bag of frozen peas....frozen peas?...."yes, she said, the kids like that"..."OK, so let's get started," I said..."just go pack, and I will take care of it. 

Vegetarian Pasta Carbonara

3 egg yolks
2 whole eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmigiana Reggiano cheese
1/3 cup heavy cream
salt, and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 bag of frozen peas, about 12-16 ounces
1 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 lb. spaghetti (I used organic, from Whole Foods)
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

The first thing you must start, is to boil the water for your pasta. In the meantime, saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil until the onion starts to get a nice rosy color. Now, add the peas, and saute all together just until incorporated. In a medium bowl, add the yolks, the whole eggs half of the cheese, salt, and generous amount of freshly grou d pepper, the cream and with a wire whisk, blend it well, until nice and creamy, but just a few strokes of the whisk. (Do not over beat it.)

Strain the pasta into a colander, and save about 1/2 cup of the cooking water.(you might need it later) to thin out your pasta, if the sauce gets too thick. Put the pasta back into the pot, make sure the heat is OFF, drizzle about 1 Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, mix it up, and pour the carbonara mixture into the pot with the pasta. Gently mix all together, just make sure you are not scrambling the eggs, heat has to be turned off. Now, take the carbonara pasta mixture and pour into a large serving pasta bowl, Add the peas and onion mixture, and gently combine.

Add  a little more (1Tbsp) extra virgin olive oil on the top of the pasta, another 1/4 cup grate Parmigiana Reggiano cheese;
(all together you will be needing 4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, and 3/4 cup grated cheese)
The result of this outrageously yummy and rich pasta will be a memorable dish, that you will want to make over, and over again.
Note: you can omit the peas, and you also can use chili pepper flakes, or diced red bell pepper, or zucchini, sliced thin, instead of the peas. The choice is yours!
This was a version that I created with ingredients on hand, and I am happy to share with you!

Palm trees swaying, a beautiful 74 degree mostly sunny day, people are out walking their dogs, and most of them just plain walking or jogging, a truly, divine weather while most folks up north are stuck inside their homes, and snow and icy roads...I truly count my blessings, and wish that I could extend an invite to all my friends who are suffering the brutal winter weather...and my family enjoying the winter snowy weather in New York City, connecting with friends, and having a "blast"...Hooray, for them!

 ...as I promised that I would walk the puppies, since I'm watching them while family is enjoying the snow and cold weather for 3 days in the Big Apple, NYC, we're enjoying the glorious sunshine, in a perfect S. Florida winter weather, of 74 degrees on Monday, Jan. 10, 2011. Got the little guys well trained, walking in a perfect line, like "little soldiers"..ha, ha....so cute, the both of them!

Started to get a little shady, if you look to the far left, across the Intracoastal, is where I live, on the island, of Palm Beach, an island, divided by two waters. The Intracoastal , and the Atlantic Ocean...which reminds me, that a friend, from California, just happen to tell me very casually, on the phone when we were having a conversation, BTW, you know "you're gonna be under water soon, global warming" I think he was quoting from the movie, "2012"...scary thought, hope it won't happen soon, in our "lifetime"...although a lot of strange natural disasters have been happening, all over the world. Can't deny those!...sigh! Have a wonderful day, my friends!