Tomorrow, I’ll be telling you all about how I jogged for the first time on Saturday.
Today, I’ll be telling you about the reason why I felt it necessary to jog on Saturday.
It was a very delicious reason. Something I’ve been wanting to make for a very long time, but especially in the last several months. See, I watched a lot of Food Network while I was in the hospital this past fall. Because when I’m on a “clear liquids” diet, I feel the urge to torture myself with hour after hour of food-centric television.
There was this one commercial for “The Best Thing I Ever Made” and regardless of whether or not it’s what she was cooking, I convinced myself in my drug-induced and food-less haze that Anne Burrell was making carbonara. Whether or not she was, I haven’t the slightest. I was just sure of it at the time. And the idea of making it when I got out of the joint buried itself in my brain, to surface every so often.
Finally, with some leftover bacon in the fridge, I decided the time had come. Carbonara would no longer be just a culinary fantasy.
Ohhhh boy. Where has this been all my life? Creamy and full of bacony, cheesy flavor. Diet food it is not. But delicious it most certainly is.
Have your ingredients prepped in advance because once the pasta is ready, everything comes together very quickly. Heat up the frying pan as the pasta water is coming to a rolling boil. Mix the egg and cheese in the serving bowl while the bacon and pasta are cooking. You want to mix the egg with the pasta while the pasta is still hot in order for the egg to cook. It’s one thing after another. So preparation is key.
But once all the quick work is over, it’s time to relax enjoy. Because you deserve it and, besides, you’re gonna work out later, right? 
Serves 2-3
1/2 lb spaghetti
4-5 slices bacon, chopped
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 egg
Black pepper, to taste
In a large pot of salted water, cook spaghetti until al dente.
While spaghetti is cooking, heat a deep frying pan over medium heat. Fry bacon until crisp. About a minute prior to the bacon being finished, add the minced garlic and stir, turning down the heat under the pan if necessary to prevent the garlic burning. Remove pan from heat.
In a large serving bowl, beat together the egg and grated cheese. Add a generous amount of black pepper.
Reserve a half cup of cooking water, then drain the cooked spaghetti. Immediately pour into frying pan and toss with the bacon and garlic. Pour the contents of the pan into the serving bowl and toss the pasta and egg thoroughly. Add reserved cooking water, a little at a time, if the sauce needs to be thinned out.
Serve while hot with more cheese and black pepper, if desired.
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Oh, I might have to try this. For lunch today. I don’t think it can wait any longer. I’m swooning over here and it’s pasta!!
It is really so, so good. I can’t believe I was afraid to try it before now.
Spaghetti Carbonara is one of our family’s favorite dishes…and in a family of pasta and cheese addicts that is really saying something! The first time we made it, my hubby and I looked at each other and said, “Why haven’t we done this before?!?”
Mostly, it was because Carbonara just sounds like one of those really complicated things that people don’t make at home – they order it at Olive Garden or wherever it is they get their Italian food fix. Happily, it is as simple as it is yummy!
Right? We said the exact same thing. Where has this been all our lives?
Food is great motivation for running! Always works for me. And, pasta is one of my best motivators. I love how simple and fabulous this dish is.
Thanks! And oh yes, this pasta was a terrific motivator.
This sounds really good dear. Only one thing scares me. Jogging?
I think I have to try this. Pinning it for later!
Oh yum! I absolutely love Spaghetti Carbonara. I would go jogging every day if it meant I got to read this all the time!
I really should rename this “Motivational Pasta” because it totally is!
Mmm, bacon. Seriously, food porn.
Seriously, dude. And really, when you think about it, it wasn’t too far removed from breakfast – eggs, bacon, cheese. Like an omelet. And the pasta = toast? Right? (Just agree with me)
[...] I told you about the dish that inspired me to start jogging on Saturday night, out of guilt more than anything [...]
This sounds similar to something my mom used to make, I’ll definitely have to try it!
I hope you do – it’s delicious!
Hi! This looks delicious! I will try it this week, thanks! Sunny
I hope you enjoy it!
I love your version because it does not have peas and I am not a fan of peas. I have just pinned this and will be trying it as soon as I can get all the ingredients. I am a new Twitter follower visiting from Sumo’s Sweet Stuff. Vicky from Mess For Less
Right? Who wants peas in carbonara? It’s not like they’re making it any more healthy.
Thanks so much for coming over, I’ll be visiting you as well! 
I’ve been wanting to make this for a while, but the thought of an EGG in my pasta kinda grosses me out!
I’m trying to get past it because I just know it will be delicious!
You know what, that’s what stopped me all this time, too. I was like “Egg? Pasta? Yuck!”. But you would never, ever know it’s egg that’s making it so creamy. Scout’s honor!
Spaghetti Carbonara is one of our favorite dishes!! yum!
oh I love carbonara but haven’t made it forever I’ll have to try this. I hope you’ll add this and any of your other posts to my What We Wore and Made party over at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/search/label/WWWMW
This is a gorgeous photograph of the carbonara. Wow, I’m hungry. Not Your Ordinary Agent
Not Your Ordinary Recipes
Thank you!
This looks amazing!
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Um this looks so good! I love, love spaghetti carbonara. I found you from the Drab to Fab Linky party.
I would love to have you link up to my Recipe Roundup- my favorite recipe from each week gets one month free advertising on my sidebar!
http://morebangforyourbucks.blogspot.com/2012/02/prayer-request-and-recipe-round-up-3.html
Hey Jen! Can I just say taht I love that you used bacon instead of pancetta? I have such a hard time finding it in my area and when I can find it, it is crazy expensive. Thank you for sharing over at Weekend Potluck. I just shared with everyone on facebook. I’m thinking I’m gonna have to have this for supper one night this week!
Thanks so much for sharing this – it made my night!
This sounds delicious, however, the egg….is it raw? I’m not sure how it fits in already in the serving bowl and everything tossed on top. I’m not sure about eating a raw egg. Correct me if I’m wrong, please.
Thanks,
Sandra in NM*
As stated in the post, the heat from the pasta and the hot water in which you boiled the pasta cook the egg. So it’s imperative that the pasta be literally straight out of the pot when you mix everything together. After all, many people eat eggs over easy, right? And the egg is not set, but it is cooked. However, if it bothers you this probably isn’t the dish for you. It might be delicious but nothing’s worth the worry!
I apologize if my comment offended. I absolutely overlooked the statement where you said the egg should be prepared while the noodles are cooking so as to cook the egg. Again, I’m sorry.