Homemade Pasta At Last

I don't know where the week has gone. And I did mean to write up a detailed "how to" make fettuccine with my new KitchenAid Pasta attachments . After all the whole thing...start to finish only took 40 minutes or so and that includes the stopping to wash my hands at ever step to take a picture. In fact it's taking much longer to write about each step (the first couple of feedings in particular...more about that later) than it actually did to do it.

Tomorrow is a delicious Boaz day...only time on the computer will be to play Thomas the Tank Engine games. So I'm not sure I'll get a chance to share the full detailed blow by blow for this week's Presto Pasta Night. I'm hosting so send me your tasty treats email: ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

That said, I can't just leave you hanging though, so here's the condensed version....

I used the Ecco La Pasta Egg Pasta Flour mix that came with my KitchenAid Pasta Kit

Just add water and mix for...well, let's just say this crumbly dough (like the box said) was done before I could count to ten.

Use your hands and squeeze to form small balls of dough.

Use a rolling pin and flatten to about 1/4" thickness and less than the width of the pasta roller.

Feed this thick slab at setting #1 on speed 2. Don't freak out like I did when much of the dough fell apart first time through. Just pick up the loose pieces and place it in the center of the flattened dough. Fold the dough in half over it and press. Then send through the roller again. This time it will be less crumbly. Fold the dough and repeat this step until the dough is smooth and soft...it takes 3-4 runs through. Judith's excellent suggestion - do at least 10-12 of this before proceeding to the next stage.

Next phase...feeding through the rollers , keep changing the setting from 2 through 8. DO NOT FOLD the dough during this stage. What I did need to do was cut the dough horizontally by the time I got to setting 4 or 5. It was getting too long for me to handle.

Once the sheet has gone through 8 times...it's done. Nick's got the right idea...only take it to #7. Lightly flour and leave on a flat surface. This is where you'd stop for lasagna, cannelloni or ravioli. For fettuccine change the roller head and feed each sheet through. Lightly toss with flour to keep the strands from sticking to each other.

Doesn't my fettuccine look cute?

Seriously...doesn't it??? That's pasta for four. After your large pot of salted water comes to a boil, Drop you pasta in gently..it has a tendency to break easily. Gently stir once or twice and in a minute or two it's done..

Toss with a little olive oil or butter and some fresh herbs...a little garlic if you like and voila!

Final words...this is one gadget that really is worth getting...or at least putting on your "Wish List".

And don't forget to send me your pasta dish for the Presto Pasta Night Roundup.