Homemade Pasta

Homemade pasta can be the perfect dish to impress people. While a pasta machine isn't a necessity, they are only $20 and can help perfect your pasta. The recipe below is for the pasta dough. Once the dough is made and rolled out, any kind of pasta can be achieved. Semolina flour will produce pasta with a similar texture to what we are used to buying in a box. White flour will be similar but a bit thicker.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup semolina or white flour + extra later on
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp of olive oil
• Dash of salt

Directions:

1. Begin by pouring 1 cup of flour onto a clean counter top and forming it into a wall.
2. Next pour in 2 eggs, olive oil and salt.

1. Using a fork, begin mixing eggs, oil and salt.
2. Slowly begin adding flour wall to mixture. Continue until mixing becomes difficult and the mixture becomes more like dough than liquid.
3. Put some flour onto your hands and scrape off the egg mixture from the fork. 
4. Begin kneading the dough with your hands until it is shiny and no longer sticky. Split dough into 3-4 sections.
5. Now you can run your dough through a pasta machine starting on the widest setting. Each time you run it through, switch to one setting smaller. If you don't have a past machine, roll the past out with a rolling pin until very thin.

1. If you're going to make spaghetti, use a pizza cutter to cut dough into thin strips. Or you can use the attachment that is included with the pasta machine.
2. Another option would be to make a stuffed pasta. Some of the ideas of items to put inside include:

• Italian sausage - cooked
• Ricotta cheese
• Garlic
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Mozzarella
• Parmesan
• Mushrooms
• Basil

3. Start with one of your very thin sheets of pasta. Put small spoonfuls of your mixture onto your dough a few inches a part. Try to work quickly because the dough can get dried out.

4. Fold the dough over to cover your spoonsfuls. Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut dough in between each spoonful.

5. Dip your finger in water and moisten edges of dough and then press together. You can use a fork to press together for a decorative edge.

6. Bring a large pot of water to a boil for both spaghetti or stuffed pasta. Put noodles into water and continue boiling. Spaghetti or fettuccine noodles will take anywhere from 5-8 minutes depending on how thick they are. The stuffed pastas can take up to 12 minutes. I encourage you to taste one to decide how you prefer your noodles done.

This recipe can make a lot so another option would be to freeze what you don't want to use. The stuffed pasta freezes great and can be thrown right into boiling water when ready to use.

Serve with favorite sauce! Enjoy!