Pasta!

I make pasta dishes about once a week. I have made homemade pasta once or twice, but by hand and not with a pasta machine.  I recently bought a pasta machine (not the big appliance that requires electricity and two hours of clean-up when your done, had one of those).  I bought the regular old hand crank, mount to the table machine.  I have been wanting one for quite some time, but who really has the time to make homemade pasta. I’ll make time!

My first attempt turned out pretty good, but I spent more time unclogging the machine, than actually making pasta. So, I changed the recipe and tried again. Most recipes for pasta are very similar, so the trick is the consistency. Think I nailed it this time.

2 cups all purpose flour
4 eggs
2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. Water

Pour flour onto countertop or large cutting board. Add the salt and mix with fork. Create a well in the center. Crack the eggs into the well, add water to eggs. Start mixing the eggs and slowly puling in the flour using either your hands or a fork. Once you have combined all the flour with the eggs start to knead the dough to smooth it out. If it is sticky add a little more flour until it is no longer sticking to your hands. Knead for a bout five minutes. Roll into a ball and either set aside to rest or wrap in plastic bag until ready to use.

After 15 min of rest, knead dough again. Roll into either a ball or log and cut into four pieces. Smash down and shape into a rectangular shape. Start feeding through the pasta machine (make sure it is nicely coated in flour) at the thickest setting. Fold into thirds and go through the thickest setting again. Do this step one more time. Continue feeding through machine, stepping down to thinner setting after each pass until desired thickness. I like it nice and thick for soups and much thinner for pasta dishes.
    

Lets eat! If you are making it right away, put it into some salted boiling water and boil for 3-6 minutes until desired doneness.

If you are making it in advance, spread it out on the counter and let dry for an hour or so. Then put into plastic bag and refrigerate for up to three days.