Homemade Pasta!

Many of you know I love to make things from scratch... bread, soap, etc.  Well, here's my newest passion - PASTA!  For Christmas, I got a couple of attachments for my Kitchen Aid mixer to help... and oh, how easy they make it!

Just in case any of you are game to give it a try, here is a step-by-step tutorial!  It's super easy, I promise!

Start by putting 1 1/2 cups of flour in a bowl, make a well in the middle and add 2 eggs (the ratio is 3/4 cup of flour to each egg in case you need to make more or less).

Begin mixing the eggs with a fork, gradually adding in the flour.

Continue mixing until most of the flour is incorporated.

When it gets to the point where you really can't stir it any more, turn it out onto a bread board (or clean counter).  Continue mixing - a pastry scraper helps.

I usually add a couple teaspoons of water as it's a bit dry here in the mountains.

Eventually, you'll incorporate all of the flour.  Keep in mind that this dough is quite a bit more stiff than a bread dough.

 Knead the dough for 2 or 3 minutes, and you'll end up with a nice ball like this.  It shouldn't be sticky or dry.

 Wrap the dough ball in floured plastic wrap and let it rest for about 20-30 minutes.

After it has rested, cut it into pieces about the size of your palm using the pastry scraper.

Gently flatten one piece just a little bit, and then run it through the pasta rollers, set on the widest setting (1).
 

 Fold the flattened strip into thirds, and run it through again.  *NOTE* Folded dough should only be run through at the widest setting... and I sometimes skip this part if the dough looks a bit dry or doesn't come through the first press nicely.

Narrow the rollers to the next setting (2) and run the dough through again (withOUT folding!).  Continue to narrow the rollers and run the dough through until you've run it through on setting 5.  As it gets thinner, sprinkle a little flour on it to prevent it from sticking to the rollers. If you find that the rollers are getting messy, then your dough is too wet.  Your rollers should look clean when you are finished (which is a good thing, because these attachments are not intended to be washed!)

 The dough strips get very long, so you may want to cut them in half or thirds as you go.  Here they are all laid out to dry for a couple minutes before cutting.
  

Place the cutter attachment of your choice into the mixer (I'm using the fettuccine cutter) and run the strips through.  Voila!

Place the cut noodles on a tray and toss with some flour to prevent them from sticking.  

 Here is the whole batch, all cut and ready to cook!  You can cover them with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge until you are ready to cook them.  I usually make the noodles in the morning and prepare that evening, but I've heard you can even do them the night before.  Be careful, though - you don't want them to dry out!

To cook, place them in boiling water with a little salt for about 4 minutes (2 minutes for spaghetti noodles).  Drain, and ENJOY!