A Leeky Love Affair

I love my husband.  I really do.  But last night, I experienced something that made me question what love really is.  I thought I knew what love was.  But until experiencing this new experience, I really just didn't know what I was missing.

I am in love.  With a pasta dish.  It is heavenonaplate.  And lord is it easy.  Pasta, cream, leeks, pancetta (which is fancy for bacon), white wine, butter.  What is in that list that is not to like?  Unless you are my husband, who hates flavor.  For a list of likes and dislike's by Mr. G, please see the bottom of this post.

If you do not try this recipe, you are either a vegetarian or an idiot.  (NOTE, not calling veg heads idiots.  Just people who do eat meat that do not try this recipe.)  Or you hate flavor like Mr. G (which is idiotic).

Here is the finished product:

No, I did not take that picture.  I already have a blog.  I do not have time to photograph and document my cooking experiences.  But to see more photos and details on the recipe and all around improve your life, you can visit P. Dub.

Ok, here are the deets:
-Package of bow tie pasta.  Cook it as usual.  Scoop out about a cup of pasta water before you drain it and keep it aside.
-A bunch of pancetta or bacon chopped up.  I say a bunch because I suck at measuring.  I think it was 3 oz. Which means a big handful of chopped pancetta or bacon.  Put it in a sauté pan and cook it until it is brown.
-When the pancetta/bacon is cooked, throw in three sliced leeks that have been thoroughly cleaned.
-With the leeks, add a generous pat of butter.  Cook for about 7 minutes until leeks are all soft.
-Add a good glug of dry white wine.  Let it simmer for a minute or so.
-Add about 1/2 cup of cream.  Let it simmer for about 2 minutes.
-Sprinkle in some parm and add the pasta and call it a day.  (If pasta seems too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water.)

You will thank me.  Your waistline wont, but when you take your first (and second, and 100th) bite of this dish, your brain and stomach will over-rule your rational thinking about any form of diet and you will  continue to eat.  And you will thank me.  Unless you are Mr. G.  Then you will look at me and say "I don't like leeks."  And then I will cry a little at first.  And then I will say "thank you" and proceed to eat your portion of this dish and enjoy every bite of it.



As promised, here are some lists of Mr. G's likes and dislikes.  You wonder why I have heartburn.  (Please excuse the "wavy lines" that the lists make.  I suck at blogging.  I'm working on it.)

LIKES                                                              DISLIKES
Spaghettios                                                       Any vegetables but carrots
Prego Pasta Sauce                                            Any fruits except for apples
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese                              Any tomato sauce with a chunk in it
Plain Cheese Pizza                                           Anything with onions in it
Bacon                                                               Desserts of almost any form
Pulled Pork                                                       Anything with peppers in it
Plain Cheese Quesadilla                                   Spicy Food
White Bread                                                     Chinese Food
Sliced American Cheese                                   Indian Food
Welch's Grape Jelly                                          Real Italian Food
Carrots                                                              Shrimp
Stove Top Stuffing                                           Any shellfish really
BBQ Chicken                                                   Salt
Stuffed Shells                                                    Pot Roast
Artichokes                                                         Short Ribs
Lasagna                                                             Ribs of any kind
Beef Stew                                                         Anything with the words "whole wheat"
                                                                          Dips
                                                                          Salsa
                                                                          Sausage
                                                                          All candy except for Peppermint Patties
                                                                          Soup
                                                                          Salad (except for caesar)
                                                                          Kugel
                                                                          Any and all Jewish foods
                                                                          Anything else you can possibly think of