Eggs

A classic cornbread batter is poured over thinly sliced peaches in a cast iron skillet to make this peach basil upside down cornbread.

A club sandwich stacked high with fried green tomato, smoked ham, bacon, avocado, lettuce, and a spicy and tangy harissa mayo.

A calzone made from cornbread and stuffed with tons of cheese, spicy Italian sausage, and pickled jalapenos. Topped with butter and lots of honey.

Basil and chile peppers make a perfect red and green in these festive ricotta brownies.

After a trip to Nashville, I was craving hot chicken, but wanted to try it in taco form.

Pizza recipes from some of the best bloggers in Boston, cooked in a brick oven at Table in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Bacon and brussel sprouts are a great twist on a classic carbonara.  This yolk only recipe is super rich.

Last time I made Carbonara on here,(a long long time ago) I got harassed a bit in the comments for putting cream into the sauce. Honestly, I made a decent version of the dish, but just because I added a splash of cream, people got mad. I have looked since, and there are some really really awful and offensive versions of carbonara out there on the web with nothing but nice and happy comments, so I’m not sure why I was singled out. (might have been the aggressive cheesy bread?) Either way, when I was in Rome last week, I made it my duty to seek out some authentic carbonara and see what the fuss was about.

My journey led me first to a dish called Rigatoni Alla Gricia, followed by Bucatini Alla Amatriciana, and then Spaghetti Alla Carbonara. These dishes had 3 things in common. First, the pasta was very al dente. Like, to the point that I apparently didn’t know what al dente really meant, because the pasta was straight up crunching in my mouth. Second, lots of pecorino romano cheese, and third, ample bits of crispy guanciale, a cured meat similar to pancetta, but made with the jowl instead of the belly. Alla Gricia predates the other dishes by a long shot, and is sort of the vanilla of the three dishes. Add some tomatoes and chile flake, and you have Amatriciana, add some eggs instead, and there’s your carbonara.

When I got home, I was dying to get into the kitchen to make these two dishes. I wanted to do it for redemption for my last carbonara post, but also to see if it was really just as simple as it seemed. These were my favorite two plates of food I had my entire time in Italy, could they really only take 20 minutes and 5 ingredients to make? You might be tempted to add onion or garlic like many recipes out there… DON’T DO IT! You may also think you can substitute pancetta or even bacon, (like 2008 Dan) but please please go out and find that guanciale. Then just take your time and enjoy cooking and eating something that has been made the same way for hundreds of years.

I made this dish as a Christmas app, but when my computer broke I was unable to post it in time for you guys to use. They can be an anytime of the year app, but the guac and pom seeds just make it look so festive! Like a holly leaf.

This recipe has been on the list to make for almost a year now. Most times during the year though, bringing a mac and cheese cheesecake to a party is just weird. But at a christmas party, it’s somehow normal. Let’s be clear, this isn’t a cake of mac and cheese, this is a savory cheesecake with cheddar and pasta in it. It came out super festive and awesome, and I would suggest anyone to bring it as a unique app to your next gathering.