Bowtie Carbonara

This dish was one of my favorites to make even before learning about my BOP sensitivity, and now I make it with just a few alterations. We prefer it with bow tie noodles (farfalle) but you could also use spaghetti, fettucini, or other firm noodles. I used to eat a lot of pasta but with tomatoes entirely out of the picture, I really appreciate our white sauce options.

Note: As always, be sure to check the safety of each ingredient for yourself. This recipe uses bacon, which can be eaten safely if you know the source and additives. Many brands are loaded with preservatives and chemicals though, so shop carefully.  We sought out a local butcher and had it done to our specifications. Bacon in itself is okay to eat. The processing is what we need to be cautious about. The same goes for the cheeses, cream, etc.

Bowtie Carbonara

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (fresh, not in a bottle) 

2 eggs

salt

1 lb. farfalle noodles

3 TBS extra virgin olive oil

5 cloves garlic 

1 lb bacon, already fried and crumbled

In a small mixing bowl, lightly beat cheese, cream, eggs, and a few dashes of salt with a whisk. Set aside at room temperature.

Start pasta boiling according to package instructions. Bowties will take about 9-11 minutes to get them "al dente". 

In a small saucepan, saute garlic in oil over medium heat until golden. Mix in pre-cooked bacon until hot. Remove from heat and cover. 

Drain the al dente pasta and place in a large serving bowl while still hot. Add the egg mixture and toss carefully. Add the hot garlic mixture and toss carefully.  Serve warm.  Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese if desired. 

Serves 6-8. 

I want to add that I was taught this recipe by a good friend whose grandmother is from Sicily. This is their family's version of "breakfast pasta".  We usually eat it for dinner though, served with salad and bread. Enjoy! 

Oven Baked Eggs

We don't necessarily need a recipe to cook eggs, but I like to add variety to our meal planning since my ingredient options are somewhat limited. An egg doesn't have to be just an egg. (Which is good, because we have our own hens helping us out with eggs.)  I also love this "recipe" because it allows me to cook a lot of eggs at once in the oven and have them all come out perfectly at the same time. (Or you can make just one.) It's great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner -- in fact I end up making them for dinner most often. Our kiddos love baked eggs served with just about anything! You can add other bits of ingredients to them too. This is just the base recipe. Here goes!

Oven Baked Eggs

Butter or oil
Eggs
Milk
Grated cheese
Salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray oil or apply butter into cupcake tins (one cup per egg).  Crack one egg, whole, into each cup. Add 1 TBS milk to each cup. Sprinkle each cup with salt and cheese. (Do not use pepper if you are sensitive to BOP!)  

 Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes, depending on how soft you want the yokes. 

Use a metal spoon to careful loosen and remove each egg onto a serving plate. 

These eggs are delicious served with just about anything!  Our favorites are toast and juice, or bacon and pancakes.  Hashbrowns and ham.  They would even be great for steak and eggs, although I haven't done it yet.  For a light brunch, I can imagine them being tasty with a fruit bowl and hot cereal. Enjoy! 

Cheesy Oven Potatoes

I grew up on a potato farm so of course potatoes are a staple in my diet. Yum!  I'm not sure how I would survive my new allergies without them! This recipe is a fairly basic one, but it's really easy, delicious, and filling so I thought it was worth sharing here. 

As always, be sure to only use ingredients that you know are safe for you! I am sensitive to pepper (although common, it's a spice!) so this recipe doesn't use it, but if you find that you are okay with pepper, go ahead and add some.  Here goes: 

Cheesy Oven Potatoes

5 large russet or other baking potatoes (Idahoan if possible! )
1/2 to 1 cube butter
Salt to taste
1 cup grated cheese (I used a colby jack mix. Check ingredients for purity though.)

Preheat oven to 350. Wash potatoes. Don't peel. Cut into 1/4" thick slices.
Use butter to coat the bottom of a 13" x 9" baking dish. Layer potatoes over each other.  Sprinkle potatoes with salt. Cut remaining butter into chunks and spread over the potatoes.

Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour or until tender when poked with a fork. Sprinkle with cheese and put back in the oven, uncovered, for a few minutes or until the cheese is well melted.

Let cool a few minutes for cheese to set. Makes 6-8 servings.


These are delicious and disappeared quickly!  You can make them without the cheese for a healthier option, but I'm always needing a few extra calories to make up for what I can't eat. Plus cheese is just yummy.  You can also serve with sour cream.   Enjoy!

Meatloaf

I have been craving meatloaf lately but I couldn't use my old family recipe because most (if not all) recipes use tomatoes in some form or another. I looked up a bunch of recipes online and did some substituting and creative thinking. I love how it turned out!  My whole family ate it quickly, and that's saying a lot for kids ages 4 to 12!  This recipe is family size, although you could easily use half the amounts.  

Please keep in mind that your specific sensitivities may be different than mine. Be sure to only use ingredients that you know are safe for you! 

Here goes: 

Meatloaf

1 cup milk

2 eggs

2/3 c cracker crumbs, finely crushed (I used approx. 1/2 sleeve Saltines)

1/2 onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced 

1 tsp salt

1-1.5 lbs ground beef, raw

Preheat oven to 350 F.  In a large bowl, whisk the milk and eggs until combined. Stir in cracker crumbs. Add chopped onion. Add ground beef and mix well. Pour into a greased loaf pan. 

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until edges are browned. 

Remove and let sit for 5-10 minutes to cool. 

Loosen edges then turn out of the pan onto a platter. Slice and serve warm. Serves 6-8

Final note: I ate this as-is and loved it. My husband added ketchup to the side of his and the kids followed suit. Oh well. Looks like he's washing the ketchup-covered dishes, so no harm done. 

Enjoy!