Trail of Crumbs: Spaghetti with Pancetta Cream

I mentioned yesterday that we carved pumpkins over the weekend, so I thought I would backtrack and tell you a little bit about the picking of said pumpkins.  Our pumpkin patch visit!

We actually had to institute the "you have to be able to carry it" rule when Thatbaby wanted the biggest pumpkins he could find.

We also instituted the "one pumpkin only" rule when he attempted to take home every pumpkin he could carry.

We relented a little on that last rule, and let him take home two.

And we also gave in on his request to go on a hay ride.  Which he really liked.  Except for the pokey hay part.  Good thing I had a nice, soft, non-hay filled lap for him to sit on.

And a close up of our finished products - I did the carving on Thatbaby's but I let him design it.  He requested "circle eyes" a "rocket ship nose" and an "airplane mouth."

I ended up going the ghost route.

Thatboy was inspired by the weird lumps and scars on his pumpkin and used it to create a brainy monster.

Trail of Crumbs last 3 recipes are all versions of "Midnight pasta" - pasta made after late nights out.  Midnight pasta sounds perfect for Halloween, doesn't it?  Well, at least it sounds spookier than it is.  Really, they're just very quick pasta dishes (that make liberal use of red pepper flakes.)

Spaghetti with Pancetta and Cream (From Trail of Crumbs)

1 tsp olive oil

5 oz pancetta

1 onion, thinly sliced

red pepper flakes

1/2 lb spaghetti

2 to 3 Tbsp creme fraiche

2 egg yolks

1 cup parmigiano-reggiano

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat.  Add pancetta and cook, about 6 minutes, until beginning to crisp but not burn.
2. Add onion, black pepper, and hot red pepper flakes.  Stir and cook about 2 minutes.
3. Cook spaghetti in salted boiled water just until al dente.  Drain, reserving about 1/4 cup pasta water.
4. Add pasta to skillet with onions and pancetta. 
5. Whisk together creme fraiche, egg yolks, and 1/2 cup parmigiano-reggiano.
6. Toss into pasta and stir, adding some of reserved pasta water if too dry.