Homemade Pasta

There are very few things that are as universally loved, though as rarely homemade, as pasta. Since this month was our culinary nod to Italy, we decided there wouldn't be any better meal to prepare than spinach fettuccine from our own kitchen!

Of course, it was a little more labor-intensive than buying a box of Barilla; however, it was not nearly as daunting as I feared. The only thing I should note is that I was lucky enough to have a pasta press. You don't need one necessarily...but, it makes the whole process run a little more smoothly.

So, for those who are curious, here's how I did it...with pictures, no less!

1) Open a can of spinach. Drain it and pat it dry. Mix 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour with 2 eggs. Add the drained spinach. Mix well. Now you have a dough ball!

2) Break off a small portion of your dough ball, lightly flour it. Run it through the pasta press (on position number 7) two times, folding before each round. Lower the position to number 6 and repeat twice. Follow the same instructions until you get to position 4 or whatever your desired thickness would be. Lay the flattened pieces on a floured board to rest for about 10-15 minutes.

3) Now, using a special pasta cutting attachment on the other side of the press, run your rested sheets of dough through the cutting blades. They will cut pre-measured widths depending on if you want spaghetti or fettuccine. I chose fettuccine for this round.

4) Pull the noodles apart and let them dry on the same floured board. They don't need to "dry" all day, unless you want them to. I chose to let them dry for about an hour before putting them neatly into an airtight container for later that evening.

5) When you do cook your noodles, make sure the water in the pot is at a rolling boil before adding. Cook only for about 4-5 minutes. These are perfect when al dente!

6) Top with meatballs, your favorite marinara, and serve to a happy household! Everyone will love this meal!! And, you will have a new appreciation for one of the world's "easiest" dishes. I know I certainly do!