Day Twenty-Three of Lent!

I did something today that I have never done before I made Home-Made Pasta!!!!!!!! My mom and dad got me a pasta machine for my birthday which is something I did not expect! It is so cool it has a roller so you can roll your pasta dough real thin and it also has a cutter attachment! I have pictures but, I haven't loaded them onto the computer yet. So I'll probably add the pictures to this post later tomorrow!

Pasta Machine!

I decided to go bowl-less and make the dough on the table! You make a well in two and one half cups flour and add three eggs. Then working your way from the inside of the well add the flour to the eggs and by the time the eggs would've started to come out they are not runny anymore! but, it wasn't quite dough yet, after I added the eggs. So I made another well with the eggy flour and added about two tablespoons of cold water in it (stir it in). Then after that I kneaded it until it was the same color all over and an equal consistency. It feels firm when it is done being kneaded. (you can also do the same thing in a bowl)

Then shape the dough into a ball.

Cover it with a damp (not wet) towel and let rest for 10- 15 minutes. (this is important!)

After 10-15 minutes cut off 1/4 inch of the dough ball and return it under the damp towel. (Keep doing this until dough ball is completely used.) If you aren't using a pasta machine you can roll out the whole ball!

Then roll it out just a little it doesn't have to be perfectly rectangular... But, if you are not using a pasta machine then try to make it as thin and rectangular as you can with your rolling pin.

If you are using a pasta machine then set it to the widest setting for the first roll. Then you can get progressively thiner as you go along. If you are using a rolling pin you just have to roll it thin.

Once it is the thinness that you want then it is time to cut...

all you have to do to cut, if you have a pasta machine is use the cutting attachment of your choice flour the pre-rolled dough and put it into the cutter and crank... But, it is a whole different story if you don't. If you do not have a pasta machine then you will have to cover your rolled out dough in flour (allot of flour) and fold it loosely into thirds. (widthwise) Then you will cut it as thin or as thick as you want it. (widthwise again)

Then lay them out single file on a towel covered in flour to dry for two hours. (I made the mistake of laying them on top of each other so they stuck together... lay them out separately!)

I did not get a picture of it cooked or cooking but all you have to do to cook it is put water on the stove like you would to make normal pasta. But, in the case of freshly made pasta it is imperative that you bring the water to a rolling boil before adding it. shake the flour of the noodles and boil for 3-4 minutes. (It is better to undercook home-made pasta then to overcook it.) They are really delicious and have a slightly different flavor then then store-bought noodles... I think they are better!

If you are confused about anything you can leave a comment!