So today was the first time I tried to make fresh pasta.   However, most of the recipes I saw called for a pasta machine attachment on the stand mixer (which I don’t have) or a stand alone pasta maker (again, which I didn’t have!).  But there had to be a way to make it before these things were invented!   You know where my go to is to find out how to make stuff?  YouTube!

I put in “grandmas homemade pasta” and got several hits of old Italian ladies making pasta from scratch.  The thing I love about YouTube is that you can see how its done instead of trying to sort through a recipe if you don’t know what you are doing.  I did have to alter the recipe a bit (a lot!) because the initial recipe called for 3 1/3 cups flour, 4 eggs and salt.  Well, my dough didn’t come together at all!  So I put everything in my food processor and just kept adding olive oil and water until I got what I thought looked like the right consistency.

with my right hand I put it right in the moddle of the eggs and with my left hand just kept throwing the flour into the middle
with my right hand I put it right in the moddle of the eggs and with my left hand just kept throwing the flour into the middle
here's how the dough looked after it got put together in the food processor
here's how the dough looked after it got put together in the food processor
then I rolled it out to a thickness of about a dime. I cut off the uneven edges to make a perfect rectangle
then I rolled it out to a thickness of about a dime. I cut off the uneven edges to make a perfect rectangle
then using my pizza cutter, just kept rolling my spaghetti
then using my pizza cutter, just kept rolling my spaghetti
all ready to jump into the pool!
all ready to jump into the pool!

While I was working on this, my dough was rising for cheesy bread to go with dinner.  Seriously, this is a no fail recipe!  This is the third time I’ve made it and it still is so amazingly good.  Hannah and Tony decided cheese should be added so I kneaded in about an ounce each of mozzarella and cheddar. 

this is how it looks after it's doubled in size - this batch makes four small loaves of bread
this is how it looks after it's doubled in size - this batch makes four small loaves of bread

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here's how the pasta looked after I cooked it - SO GOOD!
here's how the pasta looked after I cooked it - SO GOOD!

Since the pasta was fresh, it only took 3 minutes to cook.  I freaked out for a second though because since the pasta was sitting on the counter while my water boiled, it was kind of one big GLOB!  So I crossed my fingers and dumped the whole pile in the salted boiling water and it separated beautifully!

I had a 4 ounce piece of chicken parmesan - love the crunchy mozzarella chip!
I had a 4 ounce piece of chicken parmesan - love the crunchy mozzarella chip!
my pasta - 4 ounces with 1/2 cup sauce and crushed red peppers
my pasta - 4 ounces with 1/2 cup sauce and crushed red peppers

I am so glad that everything worked out tonight!  It’s so disappointing when you spend so much time putting a meal together and it sucks, but this one is was a winner!  Tony especially liked the thickness of the pasta and that it was perfectly aldente!

So I have a kitchen to clean – it’s not too bad – I am the worst when it comes to cleaning as I go!   Tony’s watching boxing, so I think I’ll pour myself a glass of wine and surf the OnDemand on AT&T.   Hope everyone had a good night – see you tomorrow!  Um, there may be corned beef hash for breakfast!

Special thanks to Mara for helping me with my text in my header!!!   I love it!!