Lets give Food blogging a go!

Fettuccine Carbonara 

Evening all, SO after mainly focusing on beer in previous posts I figured i'd give a food post ago, giving you a run for your money Andrew!

Starting with something reasonably simple in case I mess up, my version of spaghetti carbonara.

First up a list of all the ingredients you'll need to make this too;

4-6oz Prosciutto, Pancetta or good quality bacon

8 oz of cheese, cheddar works but a mix of cheddar and something with a bit of a kick is better, grated

2 Large eggs

Some Parmesan like a handful

4-6 cloves garlic depending on your garlic taste

2 cups (480 ml) milk

2 tablespoons flour

pinch garlic powder

pinch paprika

salt and pepper to taste

oil for frying (extra virgin olive oil is best)

Butter (optional)

Start by making a cheese sauce;

There are many different types of cheese sauce and if you have a favourite then go ahead and make that. I've used a method my mum used to use. 

• pour 2 cups milk into a small pot and bring to a simmer
• mix 2 tablespoons flour and the cheese
• just as a rolling boil threatens to start add in a small amounts of the cheese flour mixture and whisk thoroughly making sure the mixture is not allowed to boil
• once the first cheese has melted in add a little more, repeat until all cheese has melted and your mixture looks similar to below
• add in some garlic powder, paprika and salt and pepper to give the sauce a kick
• you can also use butter, cornflour etc whatever your cheese sauce preference is

Next up put on a large bot of water and bring to a boil, cook the pasta until it's al dente, drain well keeping back a little starchy water. Here i am using spinach fettuccine but you can use spaghetti, tagliatelle or any other type of long pasta. Using fresh pasta rather than that dried crap will make a huge difference to the final dish.

• while the pasta is cooking fry the prosciutto (or pancetta or bacon) in a little olive oil until browned, like 5 minutes. tip here, if using bacon - do not use that streaky american crap, its just not good
• throw in the crushed garlic and fry a little more

• when the garlic is starting to fully release its awesome flavour throw in all the pasta and toss it around, that'll give the pasta a cracking flavour already
• beat together the 2 eggs Parmesan and any other ingredients you feel will make it your own, red pepper flakes or chili flakes are good choices
• take the flavour coated pasta off the heat and throw in the eggs cheese mixture again tossing about until all combined 
• Now add your cheese sauce from earlier, you probably wont need all of it
• the mixture may be very sticky and too thick for your liking so you can use some of that starchy water you saved from the pasta earlier to thin it out to your chosen consistency.
• fresh parsley, crack black pepper sprinkled on top and your done. Serve with salad, crusty bread or on it own.

Boom first recipe post, any questions, just ask!