E53: Chef Chris Bonacci, Food trends, easy recipes & meal ideas to help you cook smarter for the Holidays

The latest food trends, easy recipes and healthy meal ideas to help you cook smarter. Chef Christopher was on our podcast to show us how to cook easy holiday recipes for our home needs. The two simple recipes are for a homemade caesar dressing/salad and a carbonara sauce tossed in spaghetti.

Homemade Caesar Dressing/Salad

Ingredients:
1 Pound of Spaghetti
4 large eggs and 1 egg yolk
6 Ounces of diced Pancetta
2 Tablespoon of real lemon juice
1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil
¼ Cup of pure olive oil
2 Cups grated Romano
¼ Cup of grated Parmesan
Salt and Pepper to your taste

Optional: Frozen peas Fresh Italian parsley
Equipment needed: Blender or handheld emulsifier
Instructions: Wash and cut your Romain
Add all ingredients except olive and vegetable oil

Blend all ingredients well to a thicker substance, then slowly add both oils in a steady stream with the blender on low until you emulsify the dressing.

Add desired amount of extra Parmesan and croutons to the cut Romaine.

Pour dressing on to salad lightly and toss to coat the salad and serve in favorite salad plate.

Note: If you want to make your own croutons simply cube a thicker Italian or French bread and add pinches of dried basil, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add a few Tablespoons of vegetable oil and toss to coat the bread cubes and place on a nonstick cookie tray and bake them in oven set at 375 degrees.

Carbonara Sauce tossed in Spaghetti

Ingredients:
1 Pound of Spaghetti
4 large eggs and 1 egg yolk
6 Ounces of diced Pancetta
2 Tablespoon of real lemon juice
1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil
¼ Cup of pure olive oil
2 Cups grated Romano
¼ Cup of grated Parmesan
Salt and Pepper to your taste

Optional:
Frozen peas
Fresh Italian parsley

Equipment needed:
Stock Pot, Saute Pan, Bowl, Whisk, Tongs

Instructions: Boil water in a stock pot and add spaghetti stir every 45 seconds. Cook 8 minutes for perfect al dente pasta. While pasta is cooking , preheat your saute pan , then add vegetable oil and pancetta.

Saute pancetta the same way as you like your bacon cooked. Strain spaghetti and immediately add it to your bowl.

Add all the eggs, lemon juice, salt, pepper, pancetta, olive oil, and all the cheese, continue to stir non stop until the pasta gets creamy.

You can add the peas and parsley now if you choose. Transfer the pasta to your pasta bowl and garnish with more cheese if you wish.