When I was pregnant with little C, I, like all expectant
mothers, had my own hopes and wishes for my daughter-to-be. I didn’t have her whole life planned out from
before she even arrived though, not at all.
To this day in fact, I am, admittedly, not as organized in the
child-rearing department as I ought to be.
mothers, had my own hopes and wishes for my daughter-to-be. I didn’t have her whole life planned out from
before she even arrived though, not at all.
To this day in fact, I am, admittedly, not as organized in the
child-rearing department as I ought to be.
Nursery rhymes?
Arts and crafts time? Daily schedules?
Play dates? I’m almost three
years into motherhood and I still don’t have a handle on those things.
Arts and crafts time? Daily schedules?
Play dates? I’m almost three
years into motherhood and I still don’t have a handle on those things.
But anyway, those wishes…
I wished that, unlike me, she be less of a girly-girl and
more of a toughie.
more of a toughie.
I wished that, unlike me, she be more physically active
and athletic.
and athletic.
I wished that, unlike me, she be more assertive.
I can certainly say that I got all that I wished
for. Little C loves to run around,
preferably barefoot, without a care for the cute outfits I put her in. She seems to never tire, as long as a
good time is to be had and more adventure calls. I have, many times, looked with envy at kids
passed out on their strollers in restaurants while their parents continued on
with their evening – while I, yet again, bolt to catch up to my little one, who
is already faster than I am. She knows
what she wants and is always on a mission to get just that. She has always been entranced more with
balls than books (unlike me). Little and
Big C can spend hours kicking the ball around…or until she wears her papa out
(after which she shouts out to me the dreaded, “Mama, let’s play
soccer!”). Be careful what you wish
for!
for. Little C loves to run around,
preferably barefoot, without a care for the cute outfits I put her in. She seems to never tire, as long as a
good time is to be had and more adventure calls. I have, many times, looked with envy at kids
passed out on their strollers in restaurants while their parents continued on
with their evening – while I, yet again, bolt to catch up to my little one, who
is already faster than I am. She knows
what she wants and is always on a mission to get just that. She has always been entranced more with
balls than books (unlike me). Little and
Big C can spend hours kicking the ball around…or until she wears her papa out
(after which she shouts out to me the dreaded, “Mama, let’s play
soccer!”). Be careful what you wish
for!
We do have something in common though (aside from untamable
curly hair)…an inordinate love for pasta (and pretty much all carbohydrates).
curly hair)…an inordinate love for pasta (and pretty much all carbohydrates).
Creamy Mushroom & Bacon Pasta
- 150-200 grams uncooked penne pasta
- Olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 1/2 of a white onion, chopped
- 50-70 grams slab bacon, cut into strips
- 200-250 grams oyster mushrooms (I use 2 packs of fresh oyster mushrooms from the Ministry of Mushrooms)
- 1-2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup cream
- Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
– Cook the pasta as per package instructions. Make sure to salt your pasta water. Drain, saving a cupful of the pasta water, and set
aside.
aside.
– While the pasta is cooking you can start with the
sauce. Heat a skillet or wok on medium
high heat. When hot, add a couple of swirls
of olive oil. Add the garlic and onions
to the hot oil and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent.
sauce. Heat a skillet or wok on medium
high heat. When hot, add a couple of swirls
of olive oil. Add the garlic and onions
to the hot oil and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent.
– Add the bacon to the pan and continue to sauté,
stirring, until bacon strips are cook and some of the fat is rendered. Don’t let it get too toasty.
stirring, until bacon strips are cook and some of the fat is rendered. Don’t let it get too toasty.
– Add the mushrooms to the pan and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Add a tablespoon of water and cook until the
mushrooms wilt and soften. If the
mixture gets too dry add another spoonful of water.
mushrooms wilt and soften. If the
mixture gets too dry add another spoonful of water.
– When the mushrooms are soft add the 1/2 cup of the cream
and stir. Keep stirring to get all the
bits – let the cream infuse with the caramelized flavors that have
accumulated in the pan. If the sauce
looks to dry, add the rest of the cream.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
and stir. Keep stirring to get all the
bits – let the cream infuse with the caramelized flavors that have
accumulated in the pan. If the sauce
looks to dry, add the rest of the cream.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
– Add the cooked pasta noodles into the pan a little at a time,
tossing as you do. Once the ratio of
noodles to sauce is to your preference take the pan off the heat. You may not use all the noodles. If the sauce gets to claggy add a bit of the
pasta water to loosen.
tossing as you do. Once the ratio of
noodles to sauce is to your preference take the pan off the heat. You may not use all the noodles. If the sauce gets to claggy add a bit of the
pasta water to loosen.
– Serve
immediately with some freshly grated Parmesan on the side. Serves two.
immediately with some freshly grated Parmesan on the side. Serves two.
This is a simple, quick, and comforting dish. The simple earthiness of the mushrooms, the
smoky indulgence of the bacon, all enveloped in the creamy sauce is one of my
favorite pasta combinations. You can
easily adjust this according to what you have on hand or what your family
prefers. Use different types of
mushrooms or regular bacon instead of slab bacon, or your favorite pasta shape. You can add chopped fresh parsley at the end
or toss in some cooked peas for a little more nutrition. I like to have mine with a fresh grating of
nutmeg, but you can also add some smoked paprika or cayenne for a bit of heat.
smoky indulgence of the bacon, all enveloped in the creamy sauce is one of my
favorite pasta combinations. You can
easily adjust this according to what you have on hand or what your family
prefers. Use different types of
mushrooms or regular bacon instead of slab bacon, or your favorite pasta shape. You can add chopped fresh parsley at the end
or toss in some cooked peas for a little more nutrition. I like to have mine with a fresh grating of
nutmeg, but you can also add some smoked paprika or cayenne for a bit of heat.
As for all the other things above (crafts and Mother
Goose and play dates…oh my!), I’ve just let them, shamefully or not, fall by
the wayside. Instead of creating a brand
new extra-curricular life for my little one, I’ve decided to just incorporate
her into the one we already have. So we
do market visits, and cooking and baking sessions, learning the look and smell
of different vegetables, seeing where her “fishies” come from (no my dear, they
don’t come in fillet form), swimming, dancing, beach-bumming, and, just with
papa though, football and all manners of ball throwing/kicking action.
Goose and play dates…oh my!), I’ve just let them, shamefully or not, fall by
the wayside. Instead of creating a brand
new extra-curricular life for my little one, I’ve decided to just incorporate
her into the one we already have. So we
do market visits, and cooking and baking sessions, learning the look and smell
of different vegetables, seeing where her “fishies” come from (no my dear, they
don’t come in fillet form), swimming, dancing, beach-bumming, and, just with
papa though, football and all manners of ball throwing/kicking action.
In truth, I am happy I got all my wishes. Deep down, I love that she is all those
things. I dream that as she grows up she
remains this strong and spirited girl, with the confidence and clarity to continue to put
on her favorite twirly dress and proclaim “I’m a princess!” even as her hair is
a wild mess and her feet deplorably dirty…then run off to a rousing game of
kick-the-ball-senseless.
things. I dream that as she grows up she
remains this strong and spirited girl, with the confidence and clarity to continue to put
on her favorite twirly dress and proclaim “I’m a princess!” even as her hair is
a wild mess and her feet deplorably dirty…then run off to a rousing game of
kick-the-ball-senseless.
And anyway, we’ll always have pasta!
Lovely post! Always looking forward to stories about your Little C. Seems like you don't have to worry at all. She's turning into a well-adjusted and level-headed girl. Takes after Mom? :>
Ohhhh I love pasta too! One of my all time favorite comfort food 🙂 I don't know who I take after though. Coincidentally, I had a big plateful of Aglio Olio pasta this morning! Ha!
Little C BTW sounds a lot like Merida from the movie "Brave" wild curly hair and all 🙂
Scrumptious! This is a heavenly combination (one of my favorite).
Cheers,
Rosa
Joey – don't sweat the small stuff. What you're doing with her will stand her in good stead for her life.
This looks delicious! Loooove mushrooms and bacon, and who doesn't love pasta?!
What a great idea for pasta! I have all the ingredients right here and must try this for the weekend. Thanks for sharing & love your story, Joey!
It's like Little C's growing up so fast! With a mom like you, I think she'll grow up into a lovely girl. (And one with a healthy appetite and an appreciative palate, too!)
That looks delicious. And sinful.
Hi Karen! Thanks for the compliment 😉 She has a bit of me and a bit on my husband…but a lot all her own!
Hi Didi! Pasta always makes me feel warm and fuzzy 🙂 She has a "Brave" t-shirt!! And yes she kinda reminds me of her 🙂
Hi Rosa! Thanks!
Hi Ling! Thanks for the vote of confidence!
Hi Mrs. Herb! I am always up for pasta! 🙂
Hi BettyAnn! Hope you like it!
Hi Midge! The days just fly past!!
Hi Laura! Cream and bacon…definitely walking the sinful line 😉
What a cute little girl you have! This dish sounds very good and comforting.
Oh Joey, do not let the parenting stuff get to you…you are doing a wonderful job! There are no hard and fast rules on "the right way" to rear a child. We just do the best we can! No parent is perfect – and believe you me, not every parent lives up to their parenting plan! Some are just all about the image of being a good parent…That said, I too, love my pasta / carbs! This, to me, is a perfect meal…ahhh…bavon, mushrooms, and cream, OH MY!
Your little Carmen is so adorable ( I saw a photo of her with you somewhere, glossy something…). I'm glad you got what you wished for.
Cream, bacon, and pasta…can't go wrong with that. Looks good and I am sure that is tastes wonderful. Glad you and your daughter can bond over food.
My favorite flavor – Bacon! Combine it with cream, pasta and mushrooms…wow, a real winner. Thanks for sharing!
Ahh i think I'm going for a simple menu for Noche Buena this year. starting with this one. Yummmmm!
This creamy mushroom and bacon pasta recipe looks very delicious. I'm gonna add some cooked peas, as you say, to add more nutrition.
Thanks Paz! 🙂
Hi Jen! Yes, we are all doing the best we can…I agree 🙂 And for the most part it's a wonderful adventure!
Hi Saltforvanilla! Aw! Thanks! 🙂
Hi Fork and Whisk! I love this combination 🙂 And bonding over food!
Hi Ted! Bacon is a favorite of mine as well 🙂
Hi Faye! Hope you like it!
Hi Jeff! They would be great with the peas 🙂
I'm going to try this this weekend. With such few ingredients this could not be simpler and by the looks of it this is gonna be wonderfully flavorful. I'm sure to add this to my list of wonderful recipes.
is very good
Hi Joey! I just discovered your blog. I have zero knowledge about food and cooking so your basic recipes are amazing. what brand of cream do you suggest for this one? Yes I am that clueless
Hi Karla! I use regular Nestle cream 🙂