Carbonara is a classic Italian sauce made with tempered eggs, bacon, and cheese. The addition of saffron brings a new flavor profile to this comfort food recipe.
By the time you are reading this, I will be on my way to Dallas to hobnob with other comic retailers, distributors, vendors, and the guys who make the capes fly. To say traveling for work is fun would be a tab bit of a lie. Sure, I have a blast while I'm there, I get to meet great people and rock the comic business, but leaving my two cats, the dog and free snuggles behind really pulls at my heart strings. I know its only a short time, which is nothing compared to people who travel a lot for their job, but it still get's to me.
I try to fill my head with the good thoughts, like just how handy Handsome can be. Have I mentioned to you all that he's a general contractor? Which means he's skilled at everything - electric, plumbing, building and woodworking. His most recent love is creating beautiful wooden furniture and plans to be expanding that business soon. In the meantime, he has started planning a big change in our home.
Custom kitchen cabinets. Seriously. I know.
If you were to ever stop by for some grub, you would notice that the house has a really small kitchen with the standard cabinets that came with house 20 or so years ago. They are the same color as every other kitchen cabinet in the world 20 years ago. The counters are beginning to fall apart and the horrid wallpaper that someone at some point thought was a good idea, is peeling off. Oh, and let's not talk about superficial things like the gold plate covers for the outlets. Who does that?
The idea of dark walnut cabinets and clean solid surface counters have me giddy with excitement. We already picked out the wood and purchased the material that will be the counter tops. I know it won't be soon (after all, a contractor's house comes last) but when it's all said and done, we will have an amazing kitchen!
An amazing kitchen in which I will make an amazing dinner of pasta carbonara with saffron.
Pasta Carbonara with Saffron
Ingredients
- Salt and pepper
- 1 pound linguine, tagliatelle or egg tagliatelle pasta
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock
- ¼ teas saffron
- 3 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅓ lbs thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 2 teas ground turmeric
- 3 egg yolks
- ½ to ⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook until al dente according to directions on package. Drain, reserving a ladleful of pasta cooking water; set aside to cool.
- In a small saucepan, bring the chicken stock and saffron to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and simmer until reduced.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil, over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until just crisp. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Stir in the wine and turmeric.
- Beat the egg yolks with the cooled pasta cooking water.
- Add the pasta to the skillet with the bacon. Pour in the saffron stock and toss; season with pepper. Turn off the heat and stir in the egg yolks, cheese and parsley.
- To add a bit more to this pasta, I pan seared a salmon filet in a skillet over medium heat for 2 – 4 minutes on each side for rare. Wrap in foil and let rest until pasta is ready. Fork into bite sized pieces and toss in with the pasta.
Notes
Rachael Ray Magazine
amy marantino says
a new shed. the old one is falling apart.
amy marantino says
I subscribe to your RSS Feed in Google Reader
Belinda @zomppa says
How awesome to have custom made cabinets - sounds like he is off to a grand adventure, as are you. Safe travels!
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says
You know, I love my house exactly as it is with the exception of the kitchen counters. They're done in small tile and I hate cleaning the grooves of grout. I can't roll out dough on them, which is really irritating. I was so envious when you said you were getting new counters. That's all I want.
We had Spaghetti Carbonara for dinner last night since it's Dudette's favorite. Ours didn't have saffron in it thought. That sounds fantastic.
Blog is the New Black says
I've never cooked with safron!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I'd love an enormous wine cellar in my house!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I like Pass the Sushi on FB.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I also follow Stoney Creek Contractor on FB.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I'm subscribed to Pass the Sushi on my Google Reader 🙂
Kaitlin says
The tongs are gorgeous (and so are your photos)! I have delusions of grandeur that I'm going to redo my entire kitchen this year (ha) and what I want most of all is more storage space (I live in a super tiny condo)! So I'd love to have some custom storage solutions built into my kitchen.
Kaitlin says
I already like you on facebook.
Kaitlin says
I now follow Stoney Creek Contractor on facebook.
Kaitlin says
and I already follow you on twitter!
Kari says
I'd love to have a fireplace in our home. We've been trying to figure out how to put one in since we moved in.
Jeanne says
I would love to have a custom built solid wood bookcase in my house. I have way too many books (cookbooks and otherwise) to fit on the shelves that I have!
Jeanne says
Handsome sure does have mad skills! These tongs are simply gorgeous, and I can't wait to see your new cabinets! 🙂
Erin says
I live in an apartment now, so no building to be done unfortunately. In my dream house I would love a slide around a a sprial staircase though ;-). But I have been trying to find a good set of wood salad bowls and serving spoons/forks so this giveaway would fill up one of those slots. That is great that he can do all of that for you!
Erin says
I like you on Facebook
Erin says
I follow you on Twitter
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I subscribe to your RSS feed
Erin says
I would give it two thumbs up on StumbleUpon if I could. But alas just one.
sara says
I'm a renter so I probably wouldn't build something in the house I live in now, but if I did own this house, I'd love to have a new dining room table - ours is so old and falling apart!
Kiri W. says
Oh this looks fantastic! I am a huge fan of saffron, and this looks simple and flavorful 🙂
Also, I'd love to have additional counter space built in, so maybe a counter/bar type thing. I have plenty of cabinet space, but I need work area!
Kiri W. says
I already liek you on favebooK! (Kerstin Wolff)
Kiri W. says
And I follow you on twitter (kirikiri1)
sara says
I follow you on RSS feed.
sara says
I follow you on FB.
fatpiginthemarket says
I need and want twenty feet of counter height shelving down a wide hallway. I'll make part of it into linens, barware and vintage glassware storage and the rest will hold extra books. By the way..we haven't renovated our bathroom yet. It's wallpaperd in faux collage, old timey, b&W advertisements. And yes...the lightswitch is papered to match. On a prettier note: that carbonara is gorgeous!
Emily @ Life on Food says
I travel for work too. There are some perks but everything thinks it is so glamorous but that is not the word I would ever, EVER use.
Isabelle @ Crumb says
Lucky you, to have such a handy guy! My kitchen is relatively new and not horrendously ugly (in fact, I happen to think it's very pretty), but I'd give my right arm to replace my basic Ikea cabinets with some custom-made hardwood.
What I'd love even more, though, is a nice wide window seat in my living room, so that I can snuggle with my kittehs and a good book, and watch the world go by. 🙂 I've always always wanted one of those. Someday, hopefully.
Isabelle @ Crumb says
I follow you on Twitter!
Isabelle @ Crumb says
Following on RSS, too!
Isabelle @ Crumb says
Lastly, totally oooohing and aaahing over Handsome's mad skillz. Positively aflutter, even. 🙂
Mandy says
I could use a wine cellar, or built-in for record player with shelves for my vinyls.
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
First... I'm loving that there is bacon in this. And those tongs are gorgeous. I'm really truly jealous of your kitchen remodel. I'm dying for one and ours isn't even falling apart! It's on my dream list... new cabinets, counter, maybe a bigger kitchen window. A new house might be easier though.
ps...I agree bacon shouldn't be optional... I'm all for more! 😉 I'm sure some strange person out there disagrees with us though.
Amy's Cooking Adventures says
Those tongs are lovely and the pasta looks divine!
I would have a bathroom renovation with a jacuzzi tub!
Lacy @ NYCityEats says
Wow I wish my handsome man could do any one of those thigns yours can! My city boy never had to do anything like working with wood or even plumbing. Lucky gal 🙂 This pasta sounds delicious! I would have never thought of putting saffron in carbonara but it definitely works, yum!
Nisha says
Interesting recipe. I'm definitely making a vegetarian version of this one of these days!
And while you're in Dallas, you may want to visit Five-Sixty by Wolfgang Puck atop Reunion Tower, fine dining ... if you haven't already been there, that is 🙂
Athena R says
I would love to have a wall of built in bookshelves.
Athena R says
I follow you on Twitter.
Athena R says
I like you on FB.
Athena R says
I follow via RSS feed.
Rebecca@A Dusting of Sugar says
I would love some beautiful book shelves <3
The Waspy Redhead says
I think I just fainted. The next time I have someone to cook for in a romantic way (lets not hold our breath), I am so making this.
For the giveaway, I would love a knife block or something pretty in the kitchen like a butcher block island.
Chef Dennis says
I like you everywhere! and I especially love those images they are gorgeous!
Your going to love your kitchen when they get done working on it, I hope it turns out exactly like you want....I know that can be with a kitchen...sigh
have fun in Texas!
Andy says
I have 2 projects, I'm sure you're shocked! I also would like a new shed and I need an area of my laundry room drywalled. BTW, I look forward to this blog everyday! Have fun in Big D!
Andy says
I guess I could oh and ah about his awesome work!! He should come take pictures of the work he did for us!
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina says
Following you on Twitter!
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina says
Following you on FB!
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina says
I would love custom-built cabinets and counters. I'm a short foodie. And I hate having to stand on a stool!
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina says
Subscribed by e-mail!
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina says
Tweeted your giveaway!
Carolyn says
No need to enter me into the giveaway, but I love carbonara! And with saffron, how fantastic.
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
What a great giveaway! Right now, I would just go for a house 🙂 This whole renting thing is getting old, and it has only be 3 months!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
I follow you on facebook
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
I follow you on twitter
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
Oh and Ah over Handsome skills! Those really are awesome tongs - he does amazing work. You will definitely have to take pics when he gets to your kitchen!
Zee says
This carbonara looks absolutely gorgeous and is making me hungry!
Zee says
I follow Pass the Sushi on fb
Zee says
I follow Stoney Creek Contractor on fb
Zee says
I follow Pass the Sushi on Twitter
Zee says
Following Pass the Sushi on Twitter
Zee says
Tweeted about this giveaway!
Zee says
Already subscribed through email
Zee says
RSS Feed subscrbed
Zee says
And I hope I win this give away so that I can do first hand experience oohs and aahs over handsome's skills 😉
kimberly (unrivaledkitch) says
I love those Tongs! oh my god I'm soooo jealous of your new kitchen to be! I was just pinning all my favorite kitchen stuff on pinterest and now I saw this oh my goodness so lucky! If i could put the kitchen together I think I'd add different shelving to the pantry and cabinets could use some cleaning up. beautiful post! have a safe trip!
kimberly (unrivaledkitch) says
I follow you on twitter
kimberly (unrivaledkitch) says
I like pass the sushi on facebook
kimberly (unrivaledkitch) says
tweeted about the give away
Tes says
It is really a fresh and delicious recipe 🙂
RavieNomNoms says
Well my goodness that looks good! Nicely done Kita! Your pictures are so appetizing!
Jenny says
I liked you on facebook!
Jenny says
I joined the e-mail list!
Jenny says
I liked Stoney Creek Contractor on facebook!
Jenny says
I'm already subscribed to your RSS feed!
Jenny says
Custom cabinets sounds wonderful!! Ours definitively need a face lift.
Dionne Baldwin says
Making kitchen utensils?!?! OMG! That is incredible! I saw those little boxes he made and I thought those were beautiful!
I would like an extra room built off my garage. No plumbing, just electrical and not even a huge room. Just a bedroom or "bonus room". 🙂 I'll just call it my room and I'll stay out there whenever Yannick upsets me.
I almost forgot, I was going to tell you that your pasta looks beautiful. I've never tried saffron and I want to see what all the fuss is about.
Debbi Hook says
Re-purposing scrap wood in such a beautiful way...ahhhh, you are indeed lucky.
I went through a kitchen reno when we moved to our condo at the coast. I ran out of money before I could get rid of the inset fluorescent tube lights...so I have my lovely granite counters, new ceramic tile floor, nice stainless appliances, new array of cabinets...and crappy 1985 lighting. THAT is what will be fixed next!!! We also only did one of the two bathrooms completely. I regret that as well. The hall bath still has a fiberglass tub inset...and now wish I'd gone ahead and done a walk-in tile shower like we did in the master. Ahhh well, one can wish.
I'm wishing for those beautiful tongs, too!