One of the many benefits of having chickens is fresh eggs and there’s no shortage of uses, but one of Sophia Loren and our favourites is fresh pasta. For each person your going to need about one hundred grams of fine flour, we use the same flour I bake with (The aptly named – Bakers’ flour), you can substitute with plain flour but your pasta will be a little heavier. You will also need one free range egg. For each additional person add another hundred grams of flour and an additional egg. Here I have covered two methods, one is beautiful and authentic, the other is much quicker but more realistic, you should definitely try both.
Option one
Lightly sprinkle the pasta length with flour and fold loosely in half, repeat and repeat taking care to keep it loose until you have a roll you can easily handle. Then with a sharp knife cut across the roll creating whatever pasta width you like, skinny for spaghetti, fatter for fettuccine, my personal favourite is a mix.
Pour a glass of red wine and consume; you need to get your head in the right place for this. Now sift one hundred grams of flour on your bench and make a well in the middle then add an egg into the well. With one finger or a fork start mixing in the flour, a small amount at first then continuing with your whole hand. You are looking for a light doughy consistency that’s almost sticky. If time permits, rest this dough in the fridge for an hour.
Option two
Add one hundred grams of flour and one egg to your food processor and pulse until the mix forms small grains. Test the consistency and add a small amount of water or flour if required.
Then
Sprinkle some flour on your bench and divide your dough into halves. If you have a pasta roller then great, if not then pour another glass of wine. You could easily use a rolling pin but somehow the wine bottle feels more involved. Using the wine bottle roll your dough into long lasagne sheets adding an extra sprinkling of flour if it starts to stick. continue until your pasta is no more than one millimetre thick.
Half fill a large pot with water and add a good pinch a salt. Bring to the boil, but DON’T add any oil, many people do this and it’s a big no-no. The oil clings to your pasta and prevents your sauce and her beautiful flavour from coating and infusing its delicious flavours. Once the water has come to the boil add your pasta and stir occasionally until cooked, this takes less than five minutes so be on your guard.
Test your pasta, and once you’re happy it’s cooked, strain it and let drain for about thirty seconds, then after it’s dry pop back in the pot with a ladle full of your desired sauce and combine, serve (or pop the lid back on until you’re ready).
bon appétite.
Very nice, I just read several of your posts and enjoyed them very much, nice style and yummy recipes, thank you
That’s lovely of you to say so! Yummy is definitely what we aim for 🙂
I love the use of the wine bottle for the rolling pin. Genius. My spaghetti could be really bad but after drinking the whole bottle who cares!
That’s the spirit!
Love how you describe the process of making pasta! Quite tricky, though I’m sure the wine (and bottle) helps tremendously 😉
Yes, the bottle is integral to the enjoyment!
Thanks for the idea! We’ll defenitely try this once our chickens have started laying eggs.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog! Fantastic photo of the wine and wine bottle. It is really lovely 🙂 Ah pasta, my favorite food group, though I rarely eat it now due to a stupid gluten allergy 🙂
Love home made pasta!
Your fabulous post has really inspired me to get my pasta machine out again! Love the look of your fresh pasta!
Hurrah! That is very satisfying to hear. You’ll soon wonder why you stopped 🙂