We are almost halfway through January and I still haven’t made concrete resolutions I have for 2015. My subconscious probably thinks I won’t be able to follow-through it since I’ve had many years of high-expectations, plans of exercising regularly, restarting, and losing weight which didn’t happen.
Well, this year, I figured I shouldn’t make resolutions that are too much out of line with my habits. I think I should start with small changes and with a different way of thinking over things. Here are some of my food resolutions.
Less Rice instead of No Rice
I love rice but I’m not fond of it’s effect on me. I get bloated, sleepy, and I get tired easily. When peanutbutter♥ was still in Dubai, I eat rice maybe once a week or twice but since he came home, rice has been a staple at home. There are days when we have rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner which leaves me in a food coma most afternoons. I know I won’t be able to resist eating it. It won’t be fun sitting at the dining table with peanutbutter♥ and Ykaie and then eating Sinigang and wheat bread while watching them stuff their happy faces with Sinigang and rice.
So I’ll eat less rice and dump all my expectation that I could be back on a no rice diet.
Pasta Once a Week
With all the spaghetti, macaroni, and linguine in the cupboard, I am planning on cooking a pasta dish once week. For variation, experimentation, and to use up all our pasta stocks. Ykaie and I are usually okay with eating just Aglio Olio but peanutbutter♥ is not so fond of it. So I’m re-adjusting my tastes and getting to know what my man likes with his pasta.
Eat Out Less
More often than not, I always ask peanutbutter♥ what he wants for lunch or dinner. When the clock strikes at 9am or 4pm, I realize I still don’t have any idea what we’ll have for our next meal. You’d probably think that as food blogger I always have a delicious dish up my sleeve ready for serving on the table every single meal, every single day. That’s not the case.
Most days, I’m tempted to just say let’s order OR let’s eat out because I’m too tired working around food. (Ironic huh?) The thing is eating out means shelling out more money, something we cannot afford doing on a regular basis. So this year, I promise to work on more homecooked meals and recipes for us. Healthier ones too! ANd if I could getaway with it, those with cheaper or has less ingredients.
Eat Less. Period.
Today I am scheduled for an ultrasound and just in time for it is this humorous thing on the pregnancy widget at the side of my blog. “Time for my Ultrasound and the answer to that nagging question: Do I have a hotdog or a Cheeseburger?“. It was funny and I had the time of my life laughing…. Who knows? I maybe having a cheeseburger! Heehee. It also got me into thinking I really have to cut back on food. Dang, these cravings! I should load up on healthier food.
So there. I maybe adding up a few more resolutions in the upcoming days but that’s it for now.
This easy Spaghetti Alla Carbonara is part of my once a week pasta dish resolution. I don’t like raw egg yolks on my carbonara so I just used all-purpose cream to make it creamy. Ykaie and peanutbutter♥ both loved it. What’s nice about this is that you can cook this in 15 minutes. You can add mushrooms and other ingredients if you like.
Leftovers were eaten immediately for breakfast the next day.
What’s your Carbonara recipe?
- 250g Bacon, chopped
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock or1 chicken cube 1 cup water
- 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
- 500 grams spaghetti cooked according to package directions
- 1¼ cup all-purpose cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 3 tbsp chopped parsley
- Pan fry bacon in non-stick pan with 1 tbsp cooking oil until brown and lightly toasted. Remove bacon from pan. Set aside.
- Using the same pan and remaining bacon fat, add in butter, garlic, and onions. Cook until onion becomes translucent and fragrant.
- Add all-purpose flour and cook for a minute.
- Pour in stock little by little while mixing continuously to prevent lumps from forming.
- Bring to a boil then pour in all purpose cream. Mix Well.
- Add parmesan cheese.
- Season with salt and pepper and nutmeg. Toss in or pour over cooked pasta.
- Top with crumbled bacon and chopped parsley before serving.
I love spaghetti alla carbonara! What a terrific dish. We, too, face the “what’s for dinner?” dilemma. We often will make soups or pasta sauce in quantity, then freeze in meal-sized servings. So I can have a quick pasta dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes — just reheat the sauce, and cook the pasta! Anyway, good post — thanks.
Frezzing is such a great idea. Will try it one of these days. Thanks John.
I too am a big fan of Carbonara, but never made it at home…like your version Peachy…
Hope you are having a great week 🙂
Why? It’s very easy right? Thanks Juiliana!
An easy way to cook spaghetti but very delicious of course. Your recipe is great for carbonara.
Thanks Fernando!
Good luck on your resolutions. The spaghetti alla carbonara looks really tasty.
Thanks Franc!
I love Carbonara. The creamy taste really makes it something you’d crave for.
I love Carbonara too. Do you cook, Franc?
I love eating carbonara but I am skeptical when it comes to eating it outside. I prefer to make one myself. Lol.
I also prefer carbonara cooked at home because we can have better control of the ingredients.
That Spaghetti Alla Carbonara looks so YUMMY! One of my food goals in 2014 was to eat out less and I’m proud to say I went from eating fast food almost 4 times a week (yeah it was that bad) to only eating fast food twice a month! I love the idea of making small obtainable goals instead of huge resolutions <3
Thanks Angelic! Cheers to reaching our goals.
That sounds so yum! As an Italian, I always love new ways to spin classic recipes like this. I have to try this.
This is one of my staple recipes at home! My kids love it and it’s one of my husband’s favourite pasta dishes! When my kids were still babies and starting off on solids I came up with a baby-friendly variation for them; http://www.bitesforbabies.com/recipes/creamy-macaroni-carbonara/
Thanks for the baby-friendly version, I will need it soon.
This looks great! Have you tried spaghetti squash? May be a good alternate to add in on those days you’re looking for variation. We are rice addicts over here, too. Almost embarrassed to share this with the world, but when my kindergartner (now in 1st) was talking about the things you find in kitchens in class, her first answer was “the rice cooker!” Her teacher had such a laugh over it. No fridge/stove/roaster for this girl, she knows the rice cooker is indispensable in our kitchen 🙂
LOL! I will looks for spaghetti squash and try to substitute.
This looks so yummy! I love it!
Thanks Erin!
Wow, this recipe looks great. The picture makes me drool, that is always a good sign. Putting on my to make list!
Thanks Cindy!
Love the look of this spaghetti-alla-carbonara (speaking in italian accent lol) very nice recipe. Love your food resolutions, good luck with them.
Thanks Myrabev!
Ahhhhh I need to learn not to read foodie post in the late afternoon… Now I’m hungry for your delicious pasta 😉 will have to try it out sometime
LOL! I do hope you give it a try.
That is a very unique and delicious recipe. I love that it can be cooked so quickly. I love recipes like this. I love the photos. I am not a mother yet, so I don’t know anything about the cravings, but I’d imagine it would be so difficult to eat and be healthy when you are craving something! Great post and your blog is beautiful.
Thank you so much Joyce!
This looks so yummy. I will have to make this for my house.
Oh you just have to.
I have problems with rice too, and try not to eat so much of it. If it is leaving you feeling tired and sleepy after eating, check your blood sugar.
Thanks Karen!
Oh my, that Carbonara looks so delicious! I love pasta. Sometimes, I will make extra just to freeze it for lunches later. It works out quite well!
Thanks Echo!
My goodness, this looks absolutely yummy & delicious. You have given a wonderful recipe for Carbonara. I am going to try this for sure.
Thanks Fathima!
I love spaghetti carbonara. It is one of my favorite dishes, and of course everything is better with bacon.
Yeah, Spaghetti Carbonara is best with lost of crumbled bacon on top.
Oh man, this looks GOOD! I’m trying to limit pasta to once or twice a week as well!
This looks delish! I love anything with pasta and carbonara is my fave! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
This recipe looks so yummy and easy too! We’ve cut down on having pasta regularly but after cleaning out my pantry, discovered I have lots of it to use up. I’ll have to try this!
I’m sure you’ll like this version.
Healthy eating with fitness program is a must for all of us. The pasta is very easy to prepare that’s why many people prefer this meal.
Pasta is indeed very easy to prepare.
It’s a pity I rarely get to cook nowadays but I will try this recipe once I find the time. It looks delicious.
Thanks Teresa. I do hope you give it a try.
Congratulations to you and your family for having another baby! Another child is always a blessing, hope your pregnancy is smooth sailing.
I suddenly craved for carbonara when I saw your photo. Hubby loves tomato based sauces so we rarely have alfredo or carbonara at home or even dining out. Something I might attempt on potlucks instead. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much Karen! Here at home we love all kinds of pasta sauces.
aaah..this looks so good sis!..i remember my trips in Italy where we always had different pasta everyday..one of it is carbonara..love it!
Thanks Ruby!
I could never eliminate rice from my diet. I get migraine if I don’t eat some lol.
Same here!
Hmmm, it’s mouth watering. No once can say no to bacon.
Weight loss is always a battle among women. Let me share some tips because I went to a dietician and nutritionist last year. I dropped a lot of weight by following the rule of spend 90% effort on a diet and 10% effort on exercise like walking 2 to 3 miles (5x a week).
Thank you for sharing the recipe. I have all of them in my pantry. I might to try your recipe one of these days.
Thanks Raquel! Is it in your blog? I’ll make sure to drop by.
Congratulations! I pray for your healthy full term pregnancy and safe delivery. Also, I love pasta and carbonara is one of my favorite, make it extra cheesy!
Thanks Ria!
Hi Peachy, I’ll bookmark your recipe. My son likes Carbonara more than he used to liked spaghetti. I guess (nagsawa) na with red sauce.
Yehey! I hope you take a photo when you make it and share it with me.
Lovely recipe! <3 Bacon always makes things better. 🙂
Thanks Matromao!
Hi, Peachy,
Here’s praying for a healthy pregnancy & safe delivery!
Thank you for sharing; I absolutely drool over your carbonara; looks so yummy.
Kindly e-mail me your recipe for caramelized banana.
Take good care & God bless your family always.
Thank you Lyn! Which caramelized bananas? the one with the french toast?