Truth: as much as I’d like to photograph all of the recipes I’ve created at home and share them on the site, it just doesn’t happen all the time. Sometimes there are things I create on a whim…without a recipe…never to be remembered again (except for how they tasted). And maybe an iPhone picture or two…like I have today.

The other day, Justin and I were trying to get rid of some of the leftovers in the fridge to serve as our dinner. Things worked out easily for him: there was leftover pork tenderloin from a previous meal for him to prepare. Since there wasn’t enough for two, I stood in front of my pantry/refrigerator and began pondering what I could come up with, other than a bowl of noodles with tomato sauce on top.

Then, I noticed Justin had two slices of leftover lunch meat ham from making sandwiches that day. The wheels began to turn…I didn’t have bacon or prosciutto, but the ham could be a substitute…I checked the freezer: green peas! A few more things to check: a carton of eggs and parmesan cheese were in the fridge. Ladies and gents: I was going to create a makeshift carbonara for dinner.

Do you love carbonara like I do? It’s one of those incredibly simple dishes, but it’s so comforting and slightly indulgent. I also like that it is quick to throw together, and it works out if you’re making dinner for one (a single size portion is not difficult to create)! The “sauce” is light, but rich with egg and cheese flavor. I could probably eat a bowl of this every day of the week and be a happy camper.

What is your favorite pasta combination to create?

Weeknight Carbonara For One

Ingredients

Angel hair pasta (I used a bundle about the diameter of a quarter)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/4 cup frozen peas

2 thin slices lunch meat ham, diced (or bacon or prosciutto)

1 egg

1/4 cup parmesan cheese (plus extra for sprinkling on top)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Heat a medium sized saute pan over medium high heat. Add olive oil, minced garlic, sliced ham, and frozen peas. Saute for 4-5 minutes, until the ham has crisped up and peas are warm. Remove from heat and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, fill a large pot with water and heat to boiling. Add noodles and boil until al dente.

3. When the pasta is boiling, whisk together the egg and parmesan cheese in a small bowl.

4. As soon as the pasta is al dente, remove from heat and drain the water. Immediately place drained pasta into the saute pan with the peas and ham. Slowly drizzle the egg/cheese mixture over the top of the pasta and stir gently for 2-3 minutes to allow the mixture to coat the pasta noodles. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately. Enjoy!