| We have a fall tradition that fills in the void between | | | | flavors. Pesto is always a standard but many fresh |
| summer and winter holidays. We have a pasta party, | | | | vegetable flavors are popular, some cooked and |
| or sometimes even two during September and | | | | some not. |
| October. The weather cools down and we can open | | | | We use hand crank pasta machines (they cost about |
| up the house and invite friends over to make pasta | | | | $10-$13) since they are quick and easy. Always make |
| from scratch. We start out with a light brunch and | | | | sure you run some test dough through any new |
| planning our pasta ingredients and break up into | | | | pasta machine to clean out any residue of |
| groups for each flavor. Each couple or individual brings | | | | manufacturing (every single one I've ever bought had |
| a salad or meat to go with the finished pasta. | | | | grease, oil, or even metal filings). Either make or buy |
| If you've never had homemade pasta, you need to | | | | several pasta-drying racks since the pasta will need |
| give a try. The basic recipe is very simple, here is a | | | | to hang dry for about 2-3 hours before cooking |
| quick list of ingredients for making one pound of | | | | (some people don't dry very long but we've found it |
| homemade pasta: | | | | to really enhance the flavor). |
| ·2&1/4 Cups of unbleached flour | | | | The first process with the pasta machine is to flatten |
| ·3 large eggs | | | | portions of the dough into about 1/16 inch thick, 4 |
| ·Pinch of salt | | | | inch wide, and maybe 12-inch long lengths (the length |
| ·Water, or Oil, or milk (3 to 4 tablespoons) | | | | is how thick and long the strand of pasta will be). |
| ·A minced vegetable for flavor (optional) | | | | Once you like the size and thickness you then run |
| We prefer to use oil since it keeps the dough from | | | | these slabs through the cutting section. You can have |
| dying out and adds a good flavor but some people | | | | different shapes and sizes depending on your |
| like water. We also use spinach, broccoli, zucchini, or | | | | available blades. The standard fettuccine style is the |
| other vegetable for flavor but plain is good too. This | | | | most popular at our parties but you can also just cut |
| is where the party really starts since many people | | | | shapes out of the dough slabs (like cookie cutters) |
| bring their own special vegetable to create whatever | | | | for any shape you can make. |
| flavor they like. And we have had some real unusual | | | | It's hard to describe the antics that occur when first |
| ingredients since anything goes. | | | | timers go through this homemade pasta routine. |
| We use a food processor but you could also mix this | | | | Throw in a couple of glass of wine and before you |
| by hand. Use the plastic dough blade if you have one | | | | know it, wet pasta is hanging everywhere. It's a |
| but the metal chopping blade will work. You combine | | | | good time and the reward at the end is well worth |
| the dry ingredients in the bowl and pulse a few time | | | | the work. We usually will find some group games to |
| to mix well. Beat the three eggs to combine the | | | | play while the pasta is drying. Sometimes there might |
| whites and yolks. Turn the food processor on and | | | | be a football game on or some movie to watch. |
| slowly pour the eggs in and continue to process until | | | | When the pasta is dry, the boiling begins and within |
| the dough becomes a ball and works away from the | | | | about 30-40 minutes there is a wide variety of pasta |
| edge of the bowl. | | | | flavors and sauces to try for dinner. Out come the |
| This part only takes about 5 minutes. Now the | | | | salads and meat dishes, and then everyone mixes |
| kneading begins and continues until the dough | | | | and matches to their choice. Trust me when I say no |
| becomes smooth and elastic. Be sure to powder the | | | | one goes home hungry after one of these parties. |
| working surface with flour and work quickly if you | | | | You could have these parties anytime of year, spring |
| used water rather than oil since it will dry out quicker. | | | | would be good too since many fresh vegetables |
| Depending on your ingredients and effort, this part | | | | would be available. We just started doing it in the fall |
| can take about 10 to 15 minutes. | | | | and it's kind of stuck. You can always find quite a |
| We roll the dough back into a ball and cover with | | | | few good recipes that come with your food |
| plastic wrap to "rest" for about an hour at room | | | | processor or pasta machine to try. Or just |
| temperature. At our parties we spend this time | | | | experiment on your own. It's fun and quite an |
| making our sauces for each of the different pasta | | | | economical way to throw a party any time of year. |