Back in the old days, Italians spent hours kneading flour, slicing dough and laying strips of homemade pasta out to dry. They would wake up early, combine flour and water and work it into manageable-sized balls of dough.
Those balls would sit unattended for up to an hour, then the homemade pasta machine, aka – someone’s hands – would massage the dough, roll it, work it and slice it into strips of delicious hand-made pasta goodness.
Today, we have pasta machines that do most of the work for you.
Well, some people do.
Here is a picture of my two new pasta machines. Whaddya think?
Kinda cute, aren’t they?
If you wake up one morning with the itch to make homemade pasta for your favorite Texani – like my husband did on our last trip to the states – here is what you will need.
Ingredients:
>> All-purpose flour (100 grams per person)
>> Water (with a dash of salt)
>> Eggs – optional (one egg per 250-300 grams, err on the cautious side here … )
And here is what you do!
1. Measure flour and pour onto a clean surface.
2. Create a valley in the flour where you will add the water and eggs.
3. If you are using eggs, beat them in the center of the flour valley.
4. Add lightly salted water, as needed, in order to reach desired consistency. The desired consistency is when you can create a ball of dough that is soft to the touch and can easily be moved without sticking to your hands.
5. Work the dough into medium-sized balls of dough and cover for at least one hour.
6. After an hour has passed, sprinkle a bit of flour on your clean surface and work each ball of dough at a time. Kinda like this …
7. Only much, much thinner …
8. When the dough is flat, use a knife to slice strips of pasta and lay them on a clean tablecloth.
9. Cover the pasta with the other half of the tablecloth and let it sit for at least 4 hours.
Fresh pasta cooks quicker than dry pasta, so watch it carefully to avoid over-cooking …
And enjoy!
Have you ever made homemade pasta? How did it come out? My husband is ready to trade in our current “pasta maker” and make a purchase … any suggestions?
VERY CUTE!!
I think so! 😉
I make fresh pasta for lasagna usually for special occasions. For my family of six thats a lot of pasta and I always miscalculate making twice what we need so that I end up freezing it.
I use the mechanical pasta maker to roll it thin enough and cut though.
We always get the *men* in the family to knead the pasta too!
Peppe said there is a pasta maker that kneads the dough, as well … have you heard about that??
I haven’t made pasta from scratch yet but it’s on my list of things to try.
You should definitely try it. It is fun and it tastes great. Just be sure to give yourself alllll day! ha ha
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So cute! I have to admit, I don’t make much homemade pasta…haven’t made it since my grandmother was alive, but P keeps bugging me because he wants to do it too. We’ll see….
Well you guys should make it one day. It is so easy, it is just *SO* dang time-consuming … and you know me and patience!
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Cherrye, you lucky gal! You found a pasta maker and the George Clooney of Catanzaro all rolled up into one!!
I’ve never made homemade pasta but my hubby has. He used the mechanical pasta maker. My in-laws swear by their Plurimix processor which does practically everything. It’s very expensive but they say it’s worth it. http://www.plurimix-point.it/modules/scheda.cfm?id=2227
Thanks. He is looking for one like that, I think that you basically toss the stuff inside, wind it up and pump the pasta out. Oh and thanks for the compliment … I will pass that on to him!
The only thing I have made is gnocci and gnudi. They both came out pretty good!! I didn’t really like the gnudi so much, but gnocci is one of my favorites! Cute pics!
Thanks, Robin. Cole was *very* proud of his pasta. lol
Very cute!! I have never tried to make Pasta, maybe I should give it a try 🙂
You should try, Anne! Then you can add that pepper you were talking about last week to the sauce. Your poor hubby won’t know what hit him!
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Very cute! 🙂 Yes, I’ve made homemade pasta both here and in Italy, but never alone (as of yet!) I guess since I was with such experienced women, it always came out great! 🙂
I know that Marcato Atlas and Imperia (both made in Italy) are some of the best pasta machines around, if Peppe is really looking to make a purchase.
He *is* looking, Carla, thanks for the advice. He is convinced we will use it “all of the time!” ha ha I’m not so sure.
Adorable pics. I haven’t made pasta since I was a kid when my mom and I made some. I was thinking recently I really wanted to make homemade gnocchi. But now I have a hankering to get more ambitious LOL.
Well there you go, girl!! Start a rollin’ that pasta dough!
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We made tortellini last Christmas. and at the time didnt have a pasta roller thingy. surprisingly enough it turned out good and I was the champion “folder” in the family. HA
You go, girl!! That seems HARD to me! lol
Cute pasta machines! Hope you had a good visit over the holidays =)
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I love your pasta machines Cherrye! They are cute and really talented!
Ha, ha … I agree. I think I’ll keep ’em!
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Oh yum! We made homemade pasta over the holidays. My son loves playing with the dough so I usually let him have at it (and then toss his pieces, they get a little skeevy!). He likes making the farfalle cause he can pinch the little squares into shape 😉
Looks like you had a nice trip home.- K
I can just imagine your little boy squeezing the pasta together. That is precious. Yes, we had a great time back home … it was hard to come back!
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I have to agree with Milanese Masala, about the George Clooney of Cantanzaro. Good looks and he can cook too, a great combination.
We use a basic hand crank Imperia pasta maker, made in Imperia in Liguria. We think it does just fine and isn’t very expensive. We roll some things by hand and others with the machine. Sometimes I prefer the homliness of the hand rolled and cut as it just seems more home made. Sound silly but true. It does go a lot faster with a machine, but I think the electric one are over kill. Just my opinion.
Ha! Thanks for P’s compliment, Marla!! I see what you mean about the machine taking the “home-made” out of homemade pasta. Mah! We will see what he decides to do …
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love your pasta machines!
Thanks! I think I’ll keep ’em around. 🙂
Bella, your pasta machines are way better looking than those boring silver old-fashioned things!!
Thanks, Shelley! How are you? Hope all is well in the US! We miss you over here.