Pasta with Mushroom Cream Sauce, Carbonara Style

Italian...anyone? 
This lovely song is played in many romance movies' scenes, 
as a (surprising) serenade during a lovey-dovey dine-out evening. :)
...

"It's fun to get together and have something good 

to eat at least once a day.
That's what human life is all about-enjoying things."
--Julia Child

Since last Sunday, I have fancied so many delicious menus, 

mainly pasta & pastry, just to please my happy tummy. 

The sauce I made this time, is not-really typical Carbonara 

as I used cream of mushroom and sliced Shiitake sautéed
w/ garlic 'n' butter, in lieu of bacon bliss & Pancetta. 

It so happened that the sauce turned out
to be deliciously thick and rich! 

hmmm...

"Life is a combination of Magic and Pasta"
--Federico Fellini

...e un bicchiere di vino!!! ;)

Ingredients
(3-4 servings):

Penne Rigate Pasta, or any pasta of your choice

4-6 garlic cloves, crushed 

1/2 onion, finely chopped (optional)

2 teaspoons Olive oil

1 teaspoon butter (for Mushroom Sautéing)

2 teaspoons Shiitake mushroom sauce

2 egg yolks 

1 can cream of mushroom

100 ml milk or whipping cream

1 chicken stock cube (with no MSG), 

dissolved in 125 ml water

50 g Parmesan or Cheddar cheese, finely grated

50 g fresh Shiitake, sliced

1,5 teaspoon mustard (optional)

fresh Basil leaves (or sprig) for garnish

ground black pepper for seasoning

extra grated cheddar or Parmesan for toppings

“Cooking done with passion is an act of love.” 

--Tammy Mollai

How to:

• Cooking pasta as per cooking instructions;
• Heat oil and butter in a medium sized sauce pan over medium heat. Add garlic and chopped onion, lower the heat. Add in Shiitake slices and mushroom sauce. Stir and sauté until the mushrooms turn slightly soft and dark-brown with golden spots. Remove from heat. Spoon half of sautéed mushroom into a small bowl. Set aside;
• Whisk egg yolks, milk, chicken stock, mustard and grated cheese together in a bowl. Season with pepper.
• Reheat the saucepan with remaining sautéed mushroom over low heat. Add in egg mixture. Gently stir and cook until creamy and well combined.
• Place cooked pasta, lightly tossed with a pat of butter, in the bottom of each serving bowl. Pour in the sauce, then the sautéed mushrooms, and top with extra cheese when serving.

Salute! with one of my favourite films of all time...
One of the most beautiful films on earth, I must say!

This film makes me fall in love with amazing Human Bonding, 
Beauty of life and Joie de vivre.
...in other words, I'm so "drunk"! 
shhh...pour me some more wine, please;)
La vita e bella!