Gorgonzola Pasta Carbonara

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Cook pasta in heavy large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain well, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
2. While pasta is cooking, make the sauce. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add bacon. Sauté until crisp and remove with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the fat and keep drippings in pan; return to heat. Add butter or olive oil, onion, mushrooms, if using, garlic, and crushed red pepper and sauté 5 minutes. Add marsala and stir until almost evaporated. Add heavy cream, half and half, 1 cup gorgonzola cheese, black pepper and salt and simmer until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
3. Whisk egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan together and add to the sauce; stir in reserved bacon. Add hot pasta to sauce and toss to coat; remove from heat.
4. Add remaining Gorgonzola and parsley and toss to incorporate. Add reserved pasta cooking water to thin sauce, if desired. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and toasted walnuts, if using, over pasta and serve.