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[poliphilo]

The last time we cooked steak and kidney we did it in the oven for too long and with the heat turned up too high. The stupid thing is I could smell it burning but refused to believe my nose. This can't be happening, therefore it isn't. 

This time we cooked it in the slow cooker- which uses about as much power as a light bulb and would take days to burn anything. 

Steak and kidney- with the emphasis on the kidney- was one of the things I most missed when I was a vegetarian. Top of the list was bacon, but steak and kidney came in at number two. Number three was pork crackling.

I've taken to eating bacon for lunch. Either I fry it  with eggs and tomatoes or I cut it up small, fry it to a crisp and scatter it over pasta. 

Comments

[humblenarrator.livejournal.com]

We made spaghetti alla carbonara a few days ago. Bacon, its grease, olive oil, eggs, cheese... Delicious. Probably not something to eat too often, though.

I love bacon.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I must try that recipe sometime.

[humblenarrator.livejournal.com]

The recipe I used is very fast and easy; I'm sure there's variations out there, some more traditional, but:

[Add regular table salt to the pasta cooking water, but use sea salt flakes, if you can find them, to season the dish. We like the full flavor they bring to the carbonara. Note that while either table salt or sea salt can be used when seasoning in step 3, they are not used in equal amounts.]

Serves 4 to 6
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound bacon (6 to 8 slices), slices halved length-wise, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 large eggs
2 ounces Parmesan cheese , finely grated (3/4 cup)
3/4 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese , finely grated (about 1/4 cup)
3 small cloves garlic , pressed through garlic press or minced to paste
1 pound spaghetti
Table salt and ground black pepper (see note)

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position, set large heatproof serving bowl on rack, and heat oven to 200 degrees. Bring 4 quarts water to rolling boil in large Dutch oven or stockpot.

2. While water is heating, heat oil in large skillet over medium heat until shimmering, but not smoking. Add bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and crisp, about 8 minutes. Add wine and simmer until alcohol aroma has cooked off and wine is slightly reduced, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm. Beat eggs, cheeses, and garlic together with fork in small bowl; set aside.

3. When water comes to boil, add pasta and 1 tablespoon table salt; stir to separate pasta. Cook until al dente; reserve 1/3 cup pasta cooking water and drain pasta for about 5 seconds, leaving pasta slightly wet. Transfer drained pasta to warm serving bowl; if pasta is dry, add some reserved cooking water (see below) and toss to moisten. Immediately pour egg mixture over hot pasta, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes or 3/4 teaspoon table salt; toss well to combine. Pour bacon mixture over pasta, season generously with black pepper, and toss well to combine. Serve immediately.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That does sound really good.

I'll give it a go.