Fresh pasta

Making fresh pasta is a bit like crafting with kids. You think it’ll be too much of a pain in the backside, probably messy and so you either don’t do it or let someone else do it for you. Then when you take the plunge and have a go you realise that it’s not that messy and the smiles are more than worth the effort.

This is a very bog standard recipe that you can adapt however you so wish…. add herbs, spinach, tomato paste, pepper, spices etc. The world is your pasta oyster.

All comments gratefully received. Here are some Eastery recipes you might like too as it’s that time of year:

One year ago: Mini Simnel cupcakes  and Chocolate orange easter spiced fudge and Eastery two tone cupcakes and Easter apostles scone loaf

Two years ago: Mini chocolate birds nests and Hot cross biscotti

Fresh pasta

Makes enough for 2 -3 generous servings

Ingredients:

• 300g plain white flour
• 45mls olive oil
• 3 large eggs

I’m not going to lie, I don’t make pasta by hand. I am time poor and very greedy so if I want fresh pasta which is oh so much better than the dried stuff (in my opinion and my 4 year olds too) I use my stand mixer with the pasta attachment. (It’s a Kitchen Aid for those who might ask.)

I use the flat beater to beat all the ingredients together, then once combined use the dough hook to knead for about 7 -8 minutes at speed 4. I pop the cover onto the mixer when I do this as the dough can get quite feisty. Then I wrap it in clingfilm and leave in the fridge for 1 hour to relax.

Once suitably relaxed I push the pasta into the Kitchenaid Short Pasta Maker and then cut the pieces off as dictated by my sons using the wire part of the attachment – I put a clean tea towel underneath to catch the pasta treasure and then use it to chuck the lot into a pan of salted boiling water once we’ve made enough. Takes 3 -4 minutes to cook and is adored by all who eat it.

My smaller son is more impatient and prefers short stubby bits of pasta and the older one likes to watch the pasta pushing through the press and so we have longer snake like pasta. Every man or child to their own pasta preference.

P.S. To dry the pasta leave it overnight, not touching each other, on a clean tea towel then bag up in the morning. Makes an excellent birthday gift for a friend. Or just nice to have in the cupboard. Pic is fresh pasta dried and bagged in case you’re wondering.

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