Carbonara with Fresh Fettuccine

I am incredibly addicted to my KitchenAid mixer...I feel like I use it practically everyday.  There are a ton of attachments that you can purchase for it and the one that I have been wanting for YEARS is the one that makes fresh pasta.  I asked for it from my dad for Christmas and had not had a chance to use it yet (mainly because I just didn't have the time or the energy) but finally decided this past weekend it was about time!  It was SO much fun!!!  I was practically giddy.  It brought back so many memories of my Italian grandma...her kitchen just littered with racks of drying pasta.  We used to sneak pieces of it to munch on, what a great memory.  She was my Nona (although I know that the correct way to spell it is Nonna) and now my dad is Nonno to my babies!  

Anyway, Nonno was visiting and we thought what better way to break in my pasta maker.  And, this is what we made!  So creamy, so decadent and just delicious.  Certainly not good for you, but a little indulgence is good for ya every once in awhile!  :)  The recipe for the dough said it made 1 1/4 pounds of pasta.  I just tried to judge and use about a pound of it for us, so if you're using dried pasta, use a pound also.

6 servings

1/2 pound bacon

5 eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cream or milk

1 1/4 cups of Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 pound of fettuccine (fresh or dried)

Cook bacon until crisp and can be crumbled.  Set aside.  In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, cream, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.  Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.  Add the pasta and cook according to directions (fresh pasta takes 2-5 minutes).

Drain pasta, but do not rinse.  While the pasta is still hot, return to the pot and quickly toss with the bacon and egg mixture.  It's important to work quickly so the heat from the pasta will cook the egg mixture but not curdle.  Toss with remaining Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.