9/29/13

Fettuccini with Herbs and Buttery Egg Sauce

In September, the month I turn a year older, I usually like to talk to you about what might fall under the category of life thoughts. But this year, I’m in the throes of writing a book that includes lots of life thoughts. So, in the interest of time and at the risk of repeating something I might want to put into the book, I thought I would just skip the minor, wordy tradition this time around.

But as I sit here on Sunday night, trying to put together this post, I find myself with all of these… thoughts. Thoughts on the process of writing a book; on being 6½ months pregnant; and on, all the while, still being myself, which means constantly having to deal with my own array of wants, needs, hang-ups, and emotions.

I want to be a good pregnant person; I want to go to prenatal yoga; I want to read books on pregnancy and parenting and how to take care of a newborn, but at the same time, I want to finish writing this book, bake anything and everything, read books that aren’t about parenting, watch every single episode of The Mind of a Chef in three days time, shoot fun cooking videos, and well, to put it bluntly: enjoy this time before life as I know it changes forever.

In a way, of course, this is all part of it, of motherhood and of life, right? To feel pulled in opposite directions, or perhaps, to want to go in opposite directions at the same time.
Take pregnancy. At times it feels like such a private, personal undertaking and yet you must wear it on your sleeve, publicly, right in front of people’s faces. And then there is also the fact that women everywhere do it and have done it since the beginning of humankind.

Take this blog. Sometimes I feel really strange and self-conscious about the fact that I use this space to share both my honest thoughts on the state of my life thus far as well as tips on how to be sexy in the kitchen. When I find myself feeling this way, I have to remind myself that these are all parts of who I am, who I’ve always been—Vintage Amelia, is how my mom described the video we did to help out Ms. Terry Gross.
This fettuccini, on the other hand, is pretty straightforward. In fact, it’s so straightforward and such a tribute to my good friends, butter and pasta, that I didn’t even feel the need to sprinkle it with Parmesan, something I typically do with just about any kind of pasta—linguine and clams included.

If this dish ties in at all to what I’m talking about, I guess it's because it represents those easy moments when you don’t feel like you’re floating in the middle somewhere, when you’ve chosen a side and have decided to really go for it. I mean, it calls for an entire stick of butter and serves just two. And (obviously) it’s completely delicious.

Point being, I don’t know if I have a point. My 32nd birthday, as it turns out, came and went without a grand conclusion, just a lot of thoughts. (And one giant slice of cake.)
Thanks as always for stopping by and reading them.

Fettuccini with Herbs and Buttery Egg Sauce slightly adapted from Martha Stewart
serves 2

8 ounces fresh or 6 ounces dried fettucini
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 stick unsalted butter
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup mixed fresh herbs, such as chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves and chopped chives

Cook pasta in a large pot of generously salted water until al dente.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add eggs and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, undisturbed, until edges of eggs begin to set, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and gently stir a few times to break up eggs into large strands. (Eggs should be undercooked and very wet.) (I let them cook just a little bit longer and they were still great.)

Immediately add hot pasta and herbs to skillet. Season with pepper and toss to evenly coat pasta with sauce and herbs. Divide between 2 plates and serve immediately.

20 comments:

  1. Mavis tried to blow out the candles. Also, this pasta was amazing and 32 is a great year xoxo

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  2. Happy birthday! My advice? Don't bother reading any pregnancy or baby books now. Read whatever you feel like, DO whatever you feel like until the baby comes. Then, if you really feel the urge, you can read all those baby books (or baby websites - I was obsessed with Ask Moxie) while your child clusterfeeds for the first few months. But now, enjoy all the free time and free brain space you have. xx

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  3. Another great post! That pasta looks fantastic.

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  4. I seriously need this recipe of pasta!!!

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  5. So simple yet so yummy! I love recipes like this!

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  6. I loved prenatal yoga but didn't go as much as I would have liked. The only book I liked reading while pregnant was Ina mays guide to child birth mostly because of the "birth stories" but also because I learned things that I was surprised I didn't know. I loved cooking pregnant and continue to enjoy cooking when little m sleeps. I have never tried writing a book, but imagine it is a huge undertaking. You are doing a great job, in all directions. I envy this magical time of anticipation you are in. Enjoy all of it, it's awesome.

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    1. Thanks, Carmen!! (p.s. that Ina May book is in my online shopping cart.) xo

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  7. I find the internet such an odd place and have a love/hate relationship with technology (have twitter/pinterest but still refuse to get a personal smartphone)...I was talking with a close friend recently--each of us have had private blogs since college--and she reminded me that our blogs don't replace our phone calls/in-person meetings; rather, they serve a different function--to explore ideas, to force us to express/articulate our thoughts, etc.

    Just some thoughts this post evokes...as always, I love your blog, and butter noodles sound delicious (they remind me of Marcella Hazan's butter tomato sauce. RIP Marcella!).

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  8. mmmmm butter and noodles... this was always my birthday meal as a child! (coincidence?) i love this post. I second Sarah's suggestion to make Signora Hazan's butter tomato sauce next. It's life-changing!! xoxo

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  9. Who needs plates? I would eat this out of the pan with my face.

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  10. I think everyone is a good pregnant person just for trying. Your thoughts on this are interesting--though I'm still a few years from wanting kids it's good to keep in mind :) Also this pasta looks incredible. Nice and buttery and rich!

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  11. I have to agree with Luisa -- watch all the movies and read all the non-baby books you want now, while your time is still uninterrupted and (mostly) your own. You'll figure out the motherhood thing without the books, I promise. Also, I found the one prenatal yoga class I attended pretty overrated, for what it's worth. Just breathe deeply, send lots of loving thoughts to your baby, and you're on the right track. Xx

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  12. You don't have to feel pulled. As a writer, I'd suggest an alternate metaphor: "pulled" the way we are when wading through surf, with water swirling in several different directions. It can be pleasant: it just becomes our environment.

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  13. Balance is elusive and mythical like a unicorn. I say prioritize what you want and eat more cake. Butter is always a good start.

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  14. best blog! so happy for you and your family, can't wait to see what comes next - whatever life/food/baby brings!!

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