This is a dish we just love. It’s warm and rich and delicious. You can add veggies or make it exactly as the recipe calls for. It’s great to use whatever you have on hand and make it work. I got the recipe in my wedding shower cookbook (now the keeper of all my favorite recipes) from my friend Stephanie. We have adapted it a little over time and I usually just use bacon in place of the ham and Italian sausage. Aaron has often added asparagus and bell peppers and/or peas when he has made it over the years. The idea of a creamy egg-sauce may sound weird- but once you have tried it you may never be the same again. And, if making the sauce is intimidating- I’m sure you can find a demo on YouTube. Just go for it!
Lots of pepper, a side salad and some warm bread make this a lovely romantic meal for a date night or a big crowd pleaser for friends. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
¼ pound Peppered Ham or Bacon (diced)
¼ pound Italian Sausage or Bacon
*optional veggies (diced peppers, peas, baby asparagus)
4 tablespoons Butter, divided
8 ounces fresh or dried Linguine, Spaghettini, Spaghetti or even Penne
Boiling water w/ dash of Olive Oil (and salt)
½ cup fresh copped Parsley
3 Eggs, well beaten
½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Pepper, freshly ground- to taste
For Garnish: extra grated Parmesan Cheese
Directions:
Get cooking water and oil boiling on the stove in a large kettle. Finely chop meat (ham or bacon) into diced or large pieces and break up Italian sausage into small bits. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large frying pan and add meat. Cook and stir about 10 minutes or until sausage is browned and ham/bacon are curled/slightly browned. *If adding veggies you may want to chop and cook with the meat about half way though cooking process.
Cook pasta (adding salt when you drop the pasta) until al dente and drain. Add pasta to hot meat mixture and remaining butter. Add parsley, mixing quickly to blend.
Remove frying pan from heat and quickly add eggs as you lift the pasta and spread mixture around- lifting and folding. Coat pasta evenly with egg mixture and add cheese and a dash of pepper. Mix again and serve.
Garnish with extra pepper and parmesan cheese, if desired. Enjoy!