Pasta a la George

During a recent glamping trip, I found myself surrounded by chickens, horses, a zonkey, and an impressive, if somewhat ornery, giant pig named George. Our host told us stories about raising pigs, particularly a hefty and somewhat feisty fellow named George, who weighed in at about 300 pounds. It was clear that George was a real character. Our host also shared with us the intricate art of sausage making. The following morning, we were gifted fresh eggs and a pound of homemade hot sausage, aptly labeled "George." I took the leftover "George" sausage home and used it to make a truly delicious pasta dish that captured the spirit of our trip.

Ingredients:

•1 pound spaghetti

•1 pound hot sausage

•5 ounces shiitake mushrooms, chopped

•3 ounces fresh basil leaves, sliced into ribbons

•1/4 cup finely chopped parsley

•1 egg + 3 egg yolks

•1/2 lemon, juiced

•1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

•Crushed red pepper, to taste

•1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

•Reserved pasta water

Instructions:

1. Boil the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Set both aside.

2. In a large skillet, brown the hot sausage over medium-high heat until it's cooked through and crispy. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.

3. In the same skillet, cook the chopped shiitake mushrooms in the leftover sausage grease until they are tender and slightly golden. Remove the mushrooms from the skillet and set aside.

4. In a bowl, create a paste by whisking together the egg, egg yolks, lemon juice, finely chopped parsley, sliced basil, freshly cracked black pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste.

5. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese to the paste until well combined.

6. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and drained spaghetti, cooked hot sausage, and sautéed shiitake mushrooms.

7. Quickly pour the egg paste over the pasta mixture and stir vigorously to create a creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to achieve your desired sauce consistency.

8. Once the pasta, sausage, mushrooms, and sauce are well combined and creamy, top with more parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

4-5 servings