Saturday, January 12, 2008

Homemade Pasta with KitchenAid Mixer

For Christmas, Steve gave me some attachments for our KitchenAid mixer (aforementioned here), including a pasta maker. Yes, since getting married I have morphed into an unapologetic domestic, and so I receive things like that as Christmas presents. I also scored three cookbooks and a cast iron skillet.

Steve and I decided to give the pasta maker a whirl last week. The process of making the dough and running it through the mixer was quite simple and quick, even with my complete lack of ability to properly follow written directions. The most difficult part was after the noodles came out of the pasta maker. The user manual reads, "Lay noodles on flat surface and separate immediately." Simple enough, right? Wrong. Separating a few hundred noodles from each other was a nasty chore. The noodles stuck together, broke into pieces, and basically did not want to cooperate. After lots of tedious work, we finally got them into the pot to cook, and it was a breeze after that.

It ended up being some of the most delicious spaghetti noodles ever - soft, fluffy and tasty - and we decided it was worth the work. I think we'll try making some fresh lasagna next time.

Little noodles with separation anxiety.

Fresh homemade spaghetti, ready to eat.

Basic Egg Noodle Pasta

3 large eggs
2 tablespoons water
2 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon oil

Break eggs into a glass measuring cup. Add water. Carefully check to see that the total liquid amount in 3/4 cup. If less than 3/4 cup, add additional water 1 teaspoon at a time until that amount is reached. Place flour in bowl. Attach bowl and flat beater. Turn to Speed 2 and gradually add eggs and water. Mix for 30 seconds. Stop mixer and exchange dough hook for flat beater. Turn to Speed 2 and knead for 2 minutes. Remove mixture from bowl and hand knead for 1 minute. Cover with plastic wrap and let dough rest for 15 minutes before extruding through Pasta Maker. Lay noodles on flat surface and separate immediately. Add salt and oil to 6 quarts boiling water. Gradually add pasta and boil until pasta is tender. Stir occasionally to cook evenly. Drain pasta in colander.


By the way, thanks to everyone who de-lurked this week. Your introductions made me want to visit every single one of you! Yeah, even the Midwest people.

18 comments:

  1. Now I want one of these attachments... next week I'm going to make homemade lasagna at some point. I'm really excited :-)

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  2. I'm OBSESSED with my Kitchen Aid and all of it's lovely attachments. And I'm absolutely starving and this post isn't helping. Grrr

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  3. Wow that pasta looks amazing! I'm getting hungry just thinking about that meaty sauce up there. I can't wait to get my own KitchenAid mixer :)

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  4. Are you trying to make me even more jealous of your KitchenAid mixer?? Well, you succeeded! That pasta looks amazing!

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  5. I like lurking. hehe

    Thanks for coming to my party last night. It was sooooo good to see you guys!!

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  6. hi, i'm drooling.
    my dad's allergic to tomatoes so we neeeever have spaghetti anymore!

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  7. I always thought that after marriage is when I became "pragmatic" when it came to receiving gifts. I probably would've squealed culinary delighted-ness if I received a KitchenAid, but the hardly used manual machine passed on to me by my mom-in-law serves its purpose. Yay for domestic divas!

    BTW, that parking sign...heh heh...I neglected to add that we did get a ticket once for parking in the zone to unload groceries. Too bad it was just a regular one, otherwise for sure we would have never dared!! lol

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  8. The pasta you made looks fantastic. You are really making me hungry. Thanks for the recipe.

    Hi, I am Alexander and I saw your comments on "Zakka Life Crafts" blog; That led me to your blog. Nice interesting blog you have.

    Alexander
    Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

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  9. I love all Kitchen Aid and Cuisinart products. Since getting married I've been bitten by the domestic bug too, I'm always asking for cookbooks and pots and pans. I just received a new panini grill, which I adore! Your spaghetti looks amazing, my store bought noodles just don't match up to homemade, so jealous!

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  10. Yum! Your spaghetti looks fantastic. I'm definitely going to need to get more into cooking this year.

    That might be New Years resolution #6456412790.

    Oy.

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  11. those noodles look fantastic. i just finished my lunch and i am now officially starving. looks like you guys had a fun time.

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  12. congrads on your pasta adventure! looks like you've mastered it!

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  13. Yum! Homemade pasta is so good.

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  14. I've never made pasta before but that looks amazingly delicious!

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  15. Wow, that looks delicious! You are my cooking idol.

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  16. I am totes jealous of all your domestic skills!

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  17. Now I'm thinking that I need more attachments for mine. That spaghetti looks delicious!!

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