The Making of the Pasta Monster

I, Me, and Myself, Stuff I Cook

I have started making my pasta from scratch. Not because I have too much time in my hands but because I have rediscovered how divine it tastes and I really want to justify the fact that I bought another kitchen gadget and I am determined not to have this end up in the bottom drawer labeled “what was I thinking”. It is the very drawer that now houses my corn kerneler, 3D cookie cutters, asparagus peeler, etc.

I bought a pasta maker with motor one rainy afternoon while mindlessly browsing online. I was reminded of the days when I was in Florence and how I never seemed to have a bad meal. Fresh pasta with fresh basil and fresh tomatoes….as good as it gets!

Speaking of fresh, is there anything more refreshing to look at than new gleaming metal?
Speaking of fresh, is there anything more refreshing to look at than new gleaming metal?

For the recipe, I am following Frances Mayes’ Tuscan Sun Cookbook. She wrote “Under the Tuscan Sun” a wonderful book with a movie adaptation, one of my favorites. This book was given to me on my birthday last year by my wonderful co-workers: Elissa, Taylor and Julie.

It calls for 2cups 00 flour,3 eggs and 3 egg yolk,1tsp salt
It calls for 2cups 00 flour,3 eggs and 3 egg yolk,1tsp salt, and 2 tsp olive oil
form flour into a well then put the eggs and the rest into the well
form flour into a well then put the eggs and the rest into the well. Mix well. May add water if it seem very dry.

Knead for about 5 minutes or until you have arms like Madonna…. haha. Seriously, you can use an electric mixer with paddle attachment. You will want a dough that is elastic/won’t break.

From into a ball
Form into a ball then wrap with plastic and allow to rest for 30 minutes.

Now here comes the exciting part. I get to use my new kitchen gadget!!!

Use the widest setting, running the dough at least 3 times
Use the widest setting, running the dough at least 3 times. Progress into the thinner settings, till desired thickness it achieved, I personally prefer the second to the last setting.

The beauty of this pasta maker with motor is that it frees up both hands as opposed to the manual winding one where you can only use one hand to handle the pasta because your other hand is cranking the lever. The 200% mark-up on the price of the one with motor totally justifies the efficiency of gaining  an extra hand. That’s my theory and I will stand by it.

Fettucine
Fettucine!!!
Proof of my success hanging in my pasta drier!
Proof of my success is hanging in my pasta drier! The green one is flavored with pesto, the orange one is flavored with tomato. Allow to dry for about 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with flour and twist into a coil
Sprinkle with flour and twist into a coil. You can store this in a plastic container then refrigerate. It should last about 2-3 days.

I have done a couple of batches already and it gets easier each time. The convenience of using pasta from a box is appealing but the taste cannot compare. There is also something very soothing about kneading and getting all covered in flour that is very zen and soothing.  Maybe it’s just me but I really love creating with my hands. Cooking time with a freshly made pasta is ridiculously short. I would give it 2 to 3 minutes,  tops.

Cookie, our Yorkie loves pasta. He adores the freshly made ones even more. He follows me around when I’m making it as if wanting to be on my good side. I always make sure he gets his share.

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I will be posting more of my pasta recipes soon!!! Ciao….

Food and Shopping: Best of Both Worlds

Fredericksburg, I, Me, and Myself

Spent the better part of the day doing what I love most (food and shopping) at the Fredericksburg Trade Days. There’s no other way to describe this place except as a flea-market on steroids. It boasts of 350 vendors selling everything from antiques, collectibles, furniture, and of course, there’s the food. They’re on every third week of the month and I swear, each time we go, there seem to be more food stalls than before. Having all sorts of food makes a lot of sense because being the biggest  trade show in Texas, there’s literally miles of stores to cover—one needs the nourishment (deep fried Twinkies will give you enough calories to walk all the way to the moon). Oh and since there’s a biergarten (beer garden), there’s live music and dancing too. Now tell me what flea market has all that?

Dave looking at antiques of every kind. Their motto is "If you can't find it at Trade Days…you don't need it"
Dave looking at antiques of every kind. Their motto is “If you can’t find it at Trade Days…you don’t need it”
Pick a good day to come.There are seven air-conditioned barns; each housing more than twenty vendors. Between barns are thousand of stand-alone stalls, all out in the sun.
Pick a good day to come.There are seven air-conditioned barns; each housing more than twenty vendors. Between barns are thousands of stand-alone stalls, all out in the sun.

This is what we came here for. The wine barrel wood-work and furnitures.

we ordered this in darker wood…because we can never have enough wine racks...
we ordered this in darker wood…because we can never have enough wine racks…

Now for the food…  The main stays here are the taco stands, burger stands, and German hotdog stands. I am only featuring the quirky ones because, you know, I like weird…

Only in Texas will you find a John Deere churning out ice cream!
Only in Texas will you find a John Deere churning out ice cream! Seriously good though. Lavander ice cream to die for.
1000 degree wood burning oven imported from Italy hoisted on top of a custom built trailer built on Colorado, dragged into the very heart of Texas to make pizza fro hungry shopper like me!
1000 degree wood burning oven imported from Italy hoisted on top of a custom built trailer built on Colorado, dragged into the very heart of Texas to make pizza for hungry shoppers like me!
I'm glad someone had the zeal to do all that and had the humility to just charge $4 a slice. Absolutely delicious!
I’m glad someone had the zeal to do all that and had the humility to just charge $4 a slice. Absolutely delicious margherita!
Next stop is a guy whou sounds like my friend Bob because he also came from Brooklyn! Italian grab n go with at twist,
Next stop is a guy who sounds like my friend, Bob, because he also came from Brooklyn! Italian grab n go food with at twist.
Fried ravioli
Fried ravioli
Italian empanada. Had to bring these all home. I figured Beans would love it…and he did!
Italian empanada. Had to bring all these home. I figured Beans would love it…and he did!
Fried everything. If you think deep-fried cheesecake is insane, then you obviously have not had deep fried butter yet. It is so good. Just don't tell your cardiologist...
D can’t even look at this. Fried everything. If you think deep-fried cheesecake is insane, then you obviously have not had deep fried butter yet. It is so good. Just don’t tell your cardiologist…
Had some good ol' fashioned lemonade to wash everything down. I love how they carried the lemonade theme all the way to the shape of their stall.
Had some good ol’ fashioned lemonade to wash everything down. I love how they carried the lemonade theme all the way to the shape of their stall.

And now for our  loot…we ordered most of the furniture so we we’re walking around almost empty handed. Well…almost…

Had to get this mermaid night light for Ginger Naples. We miss you girl! Hope you're feeling better soon.
Had to get this mermaid night light for Ginger Naples. We miss you girl! Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Another night light for the puppies' room
Another night light for the puppies’ room
And just when I thought that the last thing I need in my life is a scented candle, I found a coffee-scented one...
And just when I thought that the last thing I need in my life is a scented candle, I found a coffee-scented one…
And for the grand purchase of the day….an animal rug!!! I have been hunting for a rug for the living room. When I saw this pattern, I needed to have it. I love it! This animal did not die in vain...
And for the grand purchase of the day….an animal rug!!! I have been hunting for a rug for the living room. When I saw this pattern, I needed to have it. I love it! Look how well it goes with the rest of our furniture. This animal did not die in vain…
It already started raining as we brought the rug, so we scurried back to the car. Stopped by at the Herb Garden for Moscow mule and lemon basil mojito!
It already started raining as we bought the rug, so we scurried back to the car. Stopped by at the Herb Garden for Moscow mule and lemon basil mojito!

It’s days like these that are imperfect (it rained) yet turned out to be perfect for us. The rug was more than what we were going to spend for so it was time to call it a day anyway. Nothing beats Mother Nature in telling you it’s time to put the Amex away….