So N’s grammy asks us for a Christmas list every year and I’ve never done that so it’s a task for me. This year the only thing I had on it was a pasta maker from William-Sonoma (A friend recommended it….he did all the research for me!). And guess what?! I GOT IT!!

It’s so pretty, and last wednesday I decided to pull it out of the box and use it.  I’d heard it was really easy to make pasta so when I’d been there for more than an hour I figured those people were full of it.  When Nick got home we looked up a video and realized I’d been doing it wrong…mainly  because my setting was wrong. DUH! I had a mini fit with tears and all and managed to save half of the dough.  In the end I had a delicious meal and I will say it’s pretty easy to make. I’ll share the basic recipe that came in my little pamphlet…but a little simplified.

You only need 2 ingredients: Eggs & Flour!

You’ll need 3 Eggs and 2 1/4 cups of unbleached flour.

You mix them until they come together to a doughy consistency…not too wet, not too dry (IF it’s too dry add a little more flour one tablespoon at a time and the same with water!).  I used my trusty kitchen aid mixer and that saves some time and effort!  Then you knead the dough by hand for about 2 or 3 minutes, wrap it in plastic and let it rest for about 20 min.

The next step kinda screwed me up.  My directions said to split the dough in 2…..you should do it in about 4 pieces. It’s much easier! Then you run the dough through your machine starting with the widest setting going up to the thickness you need (depends on the type of pasta you’re making) . I don’t really know why, but the instructions say to run it through this setting about 10 times (I don’t know if you can skip these or not, but I did it just in case). Every time you run it thru you fold it in 3 (lengthwise) and run it through again (make sure you start with one of the open sides first).

Once you do the 10 times you run it once on every setting until you reach your desired thickness. This is how you get your pasta sheets.

I cut my pasta sheets in half so they’d be easier to work with.  You have to let them rest about 10 or 15 min before you cut them so you place them on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet.  I sprinkled some semolina flour on the sheets and then layered more parchment and pasta sheets on top (you do this with all your sheets).

After the 10 or 15 min you’re ready to cut!  Run your sheets through your desired attachment and VOILA! You have homemade pasta!

All you do now is cook it (which only takes about 2 or 3 minutes because it’s fresh pasta) and you’re done! I made an Alfredo sauce, steamed some broccoli and zucchini to toss with it and had some delicious sourdough garlic bread finish the meal!! I don’t want to brag but it was pretty delicious.

I can’t wait to get the ravioli attachment!!!

Besos,

~Mrs. B