What I have been doing with a bag of flour, and what you can also do. . .
HOMEMADE PASTA
This recipe makes approximately one pound of pasta! (for much less than the cost of a box of pasta)
- 2 cups flour (you can use all-purpose)
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 3 large eggs
Combine the flour and salt.
Make a well in the center of the flour, and add the eggs.
Gently begin to mix the eggs, gradually drawing in flour with each stroke. Eventually a stiff dough will form.
Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes.
If the dough is too dry and won’t stick together, add a 1/2 teaspoon of water. If it is too sticky, sprinkle in a bit more flour.
This dough will be stiffer than traditional bread dough, but the more you knead it, the smoother it will become.
You want a smooth consistency - like satin - which will develop the longer you knead.
Once the dough has become smooth, you want to cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and allow it to rest for approximately 45 minutes. (You do not want to skip this step because if you do, you will be fighting with the dough as you attempt to turn it into your favorite pasta.)
If you are not using a pasta machine, a rolling pin and a knife or pizza cutter is perfect! Atually, I prefer this method. The pasta will grow in size when cooking, so you want to roll out the dough as thin as you possibly can.
Be sure to roll your pasta dough out on a surface that is well-floured. Then you can it into thin strips (or your choice of shape). If you choose the rolling pin method, your pasta will be more eclectic, but I love the beauty of this method. It just adds to the appeal of making your own pasta.
