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Monday, January 04, 2010

Christmas Pasta

homemade spinach pasta
Don't know if there really is such a thing as Christmas Pasta; but that's what I'm calling this. Above you see pretty green spinach pasta on the drying racks. My daughter and I made a ton of pasta. Really both of us worked on it for about 10 hours solid. We were sure tired at the end. This is just 1 of 4 types we made that day. You need frozen spinach, once it's thawed (which takes quite awhile), you squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Keep the liquid though for later. The spinach is your liquid source. Blend in with fork regular flour, whole wheat flour and semolina flour. I usually add about 1/4th cup at a time as it becomes quite difficult to mix. Once you can't mix with the fork any longer, dive in with your hands. Mix and need, over and over and over again. Keep adding flour as you go. Once you feel like you can't add anymore, cover tightly and put in the fridge for awhile. It let's it rest, and you too. Or would if we hadn't been moving right into another batch of something.
You may or may not need to add a little of liquid you squeezed out. Once you remove it from the fridge you'll need to add more flour as you prepare it for the roller in the pasta machine. I have one of those hand cranks ones. I run it through each number several times and usually stop on #4 for the weight of fettucini we like. Your pasta is cut so next you hang it on the rack to dry. I had 3 separate drying racks set up in the kitchen on this day. Whew! I don't totally dry it, but enough that it's not sticky any longer. Then I store in zip lock bags in the freezer. **When you cook fresh pasta you cook it less than boxed store bought.

The meal I've named Christmas Pasta is the homemade spinach fettucini topped with red and yellow peppers, purple onion, and small pieces of ham. The veggies and ham are warmed quickly in the microwave (3-4 minutes) with a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with a light Alfredo sauce and fresh ground pepper. Pretty and yummy!

Don't forget a nice bottle of wine and bread. No need really for a salad, got your veggies right with your pasta.

10 comments:

  1. Yum! What time is dinner?

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  2. did you invite us to join you?

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  3. look good I AM A PASTA FAN...tell more about the pasta machine you have..I have been interested in purchasing one....They have an attachment for the pasta maker on the Kitchen Aid...Is that what you have?

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  4. No Faith, I don't have a kitchen aid, those are expensive and I don't bake enough to use a mixer. I mix all the pasta by hand and have a hand crank that attaches to the counter top (or table). I'll get a photo for you and get the brand etc.

    Ghost and Lily come on over, still have some pasta in the freezer.

    Sandy

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  5. I'm coming for dinner too, the pasta hanging on the dryer looks like a Christmas Tree...sorta.

    E

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  6. What time is dinner? Yummy!

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  7. Wow, your pasta (homemade) looks delicious! I bet you won't want to eat the boxed stuff anymore ;)

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  8. WOW!!!! YOUR "DINNER IS SERVED DISH," AND YOUR "CHRISTMAS PASTA" LOOKS SOOOOOO GOOD. HOW I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A TASTE. YOU JUST DIDN'T PUT A LOT OF HARD WORK, AND HOURS INTO THIS LOVELY DISH YOU CAN SEE YOU PUT YOUR HEART TOO. HOW WONDERFUL TO COOK WITH YOUR DAUGHTER, THAT IS WHY THERE IS SO MUCH LOVE IN YOUR DISH. HAPPY COOKING!! RIZZI

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  9. HOW WONDERFUL TO COOK WITH YOUR DAUGHTER, THAT IS WHY THERE IS SO MUCH LOVE IN YOUR DISH. HAPPY COOKING!!!!

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  10. I have been interested in purchasing one....They have an attachment for the pasta maker on the Kitchen Aid..

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