Easter Weekend cooking session!

 Easter Weekend festivities!
included:
1 VT rugby team pizza dinner with Benny Marzano's 
   pizza and a special surprise :)


2 Church (of course! it is EASTER )


3 Carbonara recipe to experiment with from my sort  
   0f/ almost grandma/ adopted parents (Rose & Joe)


4 A visit from the Easter bunny.. can you say 
   chocolates, BIG SKILLET COOKIE or my famous   
   brownies?? 




Carbonara 

            CARBONARA ALA FRANCO

Serves 1 person

2 Tbls. Olive oil

½ cup ground or finely diced prosciutto

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 tsp. minced garlic

¼ cup chopped pitted black olives or sundried tomatoes

1/3 cup white wine

1/3 cup broth

Chopped parsley

Pepper to taste

1 whole egg

6 Tbls. Grated parmesan

¼-1/3 lb. cooked pasta

Saute prosciutto in oil.  Add mushrooms, garlic, olives and sauté until mushrooms are half done.  Now, add wine and broth.  Reduce liquids and sprinkle in parsley.  Pepper to taste.  Do not add salt because prosciutto gives enough salt-taste.  When liquid has reduced and it is very hot, break in egg and quickly stir until egg is cooked.  Add parmesan cheese, toss with pasta al dente and serve immediately.

I think ½ lb pasta is good for two people and then double the other ingredients.  It is a little better if you add a little cream, but it is good either way and healthier without the cream, of course.

My love of foodgawker.com may be the cause of my desire to eat and MAKE. MORE. DESSERTS!

Like this...

One Pan Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie (adapted from sophistimom.com)

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips (I recommend at least 60% cacao)
• Vanilla ice cream (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Using a cast iron skillet, melt the stick of butter under medium heat. Add the sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract and mix until melted and well incorporated.
3. Remove from heat until the mixture is just warm and not hot (about 5 minutes). Once cooled down a bit, add the egg and whisk until everything is well blended. Then add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir slowly and carefully! Then mix in the chocolate chips.
4. Bake it in the oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the edges and top are starting to turn golden brown. I would start checking on the cookie after about 15 minutes of baking but for my cookie it took closer to 25 minutes to bake all the way through.
5. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

I am MORE than excited! Easter weekend with my lovely boyfriend, rugby, cooking AND baking?! Nothing, NOTHING could be better! 

xoxo Rachel