One year ago, on Valentine’s Day, I could’ve sworn I was going to die alone. And I might die alone, who knows, but right now it feels like I might be OK, which feels great! and hopeful!
Two years ago, on Valentine’s Day, I went to dinner with my best friend, Teri, and the server thought we were a lesbian couple. It kind of made us chuckle.
Here’s the thing about Valentine’s Day: I get that it’s about love, cupid and chocolate or whatever, but it’s kind of an exclusive holiday.
It’s like, if you’re psyched to be in a relationship, married, etc., then it’s awesome. And if you’re single and excited to be single, then it’s sort of just an ignored holiday. But, if you’re single and you don’t want to be single, then Valentine’s Day is an annoying holiday.
Since I think exclusivity is just stupid, I’ve made you a dish for you to make for yourself.
Dinner for one is my absolute favorite. I eat alone often and honestly, I kind of love it. Terrible TV, my couch and a bowl of food makes me so, SO happy.
But eating for one can be kind of tricky. Here are a few thoughts:
1. When eating for one, you never want to make anything with too many ingredients. Too many ingredients equals dropping lots of money at the grocery store. There have been times where I went in to buy dinner for myself and left spending $30. I mean, I can just go out to dinner for that much, you know?
2. Dinner for one shouldn’t take a ton of time. I don’t mind spending a little time, or being careful with how I’m preparing something but I just don’t want to be in the kitchen for like 2 hours. No.
Cacio e Pepe is the most idyllic dinner for one.
There are only four (main) ingredients: butter, lots of black pepper, cheese and pasta.
Most super simple dishes are simple and perfect because each ingredient is carefully chosen and the dish is made to a T.
This dish definitely isn’t inexpensive, but good-quality pasta (in my case I used bucatini) and nice Pecorino cheese go a long way. They’re worth a little splurge.
As for making this dish, it only takes about 15-20 minutes. But in those 15 minutes or so, you gotta pay close attention. Good Cacio e Pepe is clump-free, has a smooth butter/cheese sauce that coasts the pasta and is super, super peppery.
This is almost like a grown-up, Italian version of the butter/cheese pasta we ate as kids.
Treat yo’ self!
Ingredients
- 3 ounces pasta of choice spaghetti or bucatini
- 12-14 black peppercorns
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/4 cup finely grated Pecorino plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook just shy of al dente. (We're going to cook the pasta for 1-2 minutes later.) Reserving 1/4 cup pasta water, drain the pasta in a colander and set both aside.
- To a medium skillet, toast the peppercorns until they become fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer them to a mortar and pestle and crush until coarse. Alternatively, you could transfer the peppercorns to a pepper grinder, OR you could wrap the peppercorns in plastic wrap and crush the heck out of them with the back of a skillet (that isn't hot!).
- To the same medium skillet, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium heat. Add a few pinches of pepper, 2 tablespoons pasta water and cheese; stir continuously until the cheese is melted and the sauce starts to come together, about 2 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium-low, add the pasta to the skillet and toss gently in the sauce until evenly coated. The cheese will be slightly clumpy; using a fork, stir the pasta vigorously for an additional minute or so, until the clumsiness disappears. If the pasta is slightly dry, add a teaspoon or two of pasta water until it's the consistency of your liking. Serve immediately and top with a sprinkle more of pepper and a few small (or large!) pinches of cheese.
Food to soothe the weary soul, for certain, but I would add a salad to it. Sometimes I’d use Penzy’s Spices Arizona Dreaming for Tex-Mex soul food satisfaction instead of cheese, and add some fresh home-made salsa on the side, or their very garlicky and wonderful Sandwich Sprinkles and the cheese. There – that’s three times in a week that it would be wonderful.
I like making this type of dish with paprika and chill instead of pepper (not a big fan of it!), and it’s the best when you make a big bowl just for one!
Perfect simple dishes like this are great for dining alone, or dining for two.
When I’m cooking for just myself, I tend to break out my guilty pleasures, maybe some baked brie on baguette. Yum! It’s nice to relish in a little meal by yourself once in a while.
Spot on Valentine’s Day sentiments. And I will definitely be having that for dinner….
Love this. Will try it out soon!
You are so cute 😛 Such a great single Valentines Day meal! I have booked a restaurant for tonight for the simple fact that I don’t wanna cook.!
Such a simple recipe yet it looks so delicious. Thank you for sharing.
although I’m 24 & have been single my entire life, I still love V-day! I love the pink, the hearts, the frills, the chocolate, everything! In mexico we call it the day of love & friendship and I love to do things with friends.
Last year my sister, me, and our two bffs went out for sushi, watched breakfast at tiffany’s at a local theatre, then split a chocolate cake from von’s [we ended up eating 3/4 of it, no joke]. it was one of the best nights of my life! I think more people should enjoy it instead of being bitter.
Karen, you make me smile!
This looks delicious. Sometimes, making a great classic meal like this is the best!
I had this very recently and utterly loved it! Such a simple brunch idea when all you want to do is sleep in and do as little as possible in the kitchen.
I have loved this dish ever since I studied in Italy!! I recently made a version out of Martha Stewart Living, with a bit if lemon juice in there… OHHHHH man was it good! The lemon perked it up just the right amount. Thanks for featuring this recipe though, I love these classic Italian dishes and I love me some thick pasta like bucatini! 🙂
Oh I love the sound of the lemon! I’ll need to try that next time.
Haha love the story behind this. You never cease to amaze me:) glad ur spending this vday with lots of love. You are one cool gal 🙂
I am in! I love eating alone. The trouble is always make enough food for like 10 people and then feel obligated to eat a lot of it. This pasta is so simple and perfect for any night!
Eating alone is pretty dang awesome. Pasta like this is one of my favs!
I have two equally awesome V-Day stories. The same guy and I have been together for years, but we kind of hate V-Day. We call it, Happy We Still Need to Eat Dinner Day. People cannot fathom the fact that we’re committed and not into it. As a lady, I think they’re even more skeptical of my feelings toward it.
At dinner two years ago at a completely empty Thai place (they even decorated with streamers and heart shaped balloons! Ha!), boyfriend excused himself at the end of the meal to the bathroom. For a long while. I proceeded to watch the staff take pity on me and get uncomfortable. They thought I was dined and ditched on V-Day! It was really funny.
At dinner last year, we went to Ethiopian food (conveniently next door to the Thai place — I think it’s a sign), and the star of the show was the guy they brought in to sit in the front of the restaurant with a sweet Casio keyboard and play cheesy instrumental love songs. I was laughing hysterically between bites of food.
Hilarity will ensue when you least expect it.
/longest comment ever
Perfect timing! Decided to shop our pantry for dinner so I didn’t have to run to the store and this is one of our favorite dishes from Lupa in NYC. Can’t wait to dig into this steaming bowl of happy pasta on a dreary, cold, rainy night. Thank you!!!