Priest’s Friends Like His Rendition of an Italian Pasta Dish

“I have spent 14 years in Italy and learned to love Italian food, especially pasta,” writes Father Peregrine Graffius, O.S.M. “My favorite has always been spaghetti alla carbonara. Just recently doing a bit of creative experimenting with tastes that I like, I came up with the following pasta dish which my friends love. Maybe you will too.” PASTA WITH HOT SAUSAGE

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound hot Italian sausage, skins removed

5 cloves garlic, crushed

1 large green or red pepper, cut in 1-inch squares

10 large mushrooms, cut in large pieces

4 to 5 sprigs Italian parsley, chopped

2 eggs, at room temperature

1/4 cup whipping cream, whipped

Freshly ground pepper

2/3 cup grated Romano cheese

1 pound spaghetti, cooked and drained

Heat olive oil in skillet. Slowly saute sausage, garlic, green pepper, mushrooms and parsley until sausage is cooked and mushrooms are tender. Beat egg yolks and whites separately. Combine with whipped cream by folding gently. Season to taste with pepper and add and cheese.

Pour egg mixture immediately over hot spaghetti and toss until blended. Add sausage mixture and toss again. Serve at once. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

--Father Peregrine Graffius

Los Angeles