Homemade Pasta

Hi everyone -
As promised I will be more diligent in my postings going forward so here is my next one.

I love pasta - (yeah for those of you that know me maybe a little to much)  and while the standard dried pasta is very good and so many options available to us why would anyone go to the trouble of making their own.  Good question, right?  Well really the answer is it isn't that "hard" to do, and really not that messy either (that is a relative term :) ). 
First of all the basic ingredients:
Flour, Salt, Egg, Olive Oil and Water - That's it.  Now you can add semolina flour, whole wheat flour, spinach, basil or any other herb to flavor and color the pasta but those 5 ingredients are the basics. 
To make 1 pound of fresh pasta here are the proportions of the above ingredients:
Flour    9 oz (I have a scale and always go by weight not volume)
Salt      1/2 teaspoon
Large Egg (1)
Olive Oil  1 oz
Water       2 oz

I use plain old AP (all purpose) flour but have in the past used the "00" fine flour as it makes a smoother pasta but it works fine for me.  Now my hint to reduce the mess.. Instead of mixing this on the counter or table find a BIG Tupperware bowl - you know the kind the one you put the Halloween candy in or Popcorn for the "Godfather" trilogy showing on your TV.  Make a mound of flour in the bowl and make a little well in it.  Mix together the salt eggs and oil and water and then pour them into the well you made in the mound of flour.  Using a fork slowly stir the flour incorporating it into the liquid.  After most of the flour is incorporated bring the dough together into a ball.  Knead it together (adding flour or a few drops of water depending on it's consistency) until it becomes smooth and elastic but no longer wet.  Now cover with plastic wrap and let rest for at least 30 minutes. 

Use this time to prep your noodle making.  If you have a pasta machine the hard work will be lifting that darn mixer out of the cupboard, but if not you will need to flour an area get your rolling pin out and roll prepare to roll out your pasta sheets.  This is the way my mom and grandma used to make their egg noodles.  Now that was a little more work than what I am going to describe  (I have a Kitchen Aid pasta kit)

After your pasta has rested, take the ball and split it into 4 pieces.  Take one piece and set the other 3 back in your bowl and cover again with the plastic - you don't want them drying out.

Rune the pasta through the roller tool starting at the widest setting and folding the pasta back on itself and rotating the sheet 90* each time you do that.  To explain after you roll your pasta it will look like a long sheet. Lay the sheet so the length is perpendicular to you.  Fold each end (about 1/3 of the length) back on itself and press it down.  Then back your pasta roller off one number and drop it through again with the folded ends on each side.  That way you are stretching the gluten all directions and makes for a smoother and more supple piece of pasta.

Repeat until you get to the preferred thickness.  That depends on your use.  Lasagna noodles thicker - Angel Hair thinner -  Linguine somewhere in between - hey remember it's your pasta make it as think as you like....
After you get all your sheets completed change to your cutter and run them through the cutter  or if you want really wide noodles, Flout the sheets Roll them up and cut by hand with a sharp knife.  (That is the way Grandma used to do it - I swear she used a freakin' sword it was so big -or at least it did to me when I was 6-7 years old).  Lay out the noodles to dry or if you have one use a drying rack. 
When cooking don't over cook - it doesn't take NEARLY as much time to cook fresh past as dried so  when it floats up it usually is done (4-5 minutes). 

Anyway these are the basics - experiment on your own but don't be afraid to make your own pasta..

Maybe I'll make some pheasant ravioli next.... "Oh Ikey, Hunting season is getting close...  Hey Ike, Wake up...... let's go find that bird"

It's been a long time.

Hi Everyone;
I was reminded today of the lack of posts on my part lately and for that I apologize.  Just lots of things going on but no excuses.
I have couple of very good recipes to share today - Another Short Rib recipe.... From a restrauant near Hartford CT  (CW's Chop and Catch) and another one that Sandy got from the Web. Another one for cooked carrots that is a real keeper.

First the Short Ribs - (and this ain't fast food -but think Crock Pot...hmmmmm)

Short ribs

Ingredients:
4 10 oz Boneless Short Ribs
Salt and Pepper to taste
5 Stalks of Celery, sliced
1/2 White Onion diced
2 carrots peeled and sliced
1 Quart Dr. Pepper (the Secret Ingredient)
1 Quart Chicken Stock
1 Sprig Thyme
1 Tbsp Liquid Smoke
1 Tbsp Cumin
1Tbsp Paprika
2 Cups Red Wine

Season ribs with salt and pepper - heat oil in large skillet and sear ribs on all sides (perhaps a splatter shield would be a good investment -  I know I used mine!).  Remove to roasting pan and lower heat.

Brown Celery, onion and carrots on low heat.  Deglaze pan with Red wine.

Combine remaining ingredients in the skillet bring to a boil and then pour over the short ribs in the roasting pan.  Cover tightly with foil and cook at 350* for 2 -3 hours - or until ribs are fork tender.  Strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer and reduce to a syrup type consistency.  This step takes a while - There is a lot of liquid but it is realy worth it trust me...

These can be served over cheesy polenta, mashed potatoes, risotto, or even the potatoes below....

Now the easy one - Crash Hot Potatoes
Ingrediemts:
12 whole new red potaotes
3 tablespoons Olive oil
Kosher Salt to Taste
Black Pepper to taste
Rosemary or other favorite herb
(we also grated some Parmesean cheese over them as well)

Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil and add as many potatoes as you wish to make and cook them until they are fork tender.

Crash Hot Potatoes

On a sheet pan (we used a Pampered Chef Bar Stone) generously drizzle olive oil  and place potatoes on the sheet pan with plenty of room between. With a potato masher, gently press down on the potato until is slightly mashes then turn the masher 90* and mash again.  Brush the tops of the potatoes with more olive oil and sprinkle with salt pepper and your favorite herb.
Bake at 450* for 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown (when the come out that is when we grated parmesean cheese on them too... 

Recipe #3 Apple and Honey Glazed Carrots
Another real simple recipe with very few ingredients.
Small bag of baby carrots
2 Tbsp of butter
3/4 cup of Apple juice (or cider if season is right)
1/4 cup Orange juice
2 Tbsp Honey

Apple Honey Glazed Carrots

Melt butter in sauce pan.  Place carrots in pan add salt and pepper and saute until brown and softened. (it will take a while- but resisit the temtation to crank the heat - keep it at medium/medium high heat and stir it often).  This will take about 15 minutes min - one suggestion was to cook the carrots the day before and then add finish them the day of the party. Not a bad idea
Once carrots are brown, add remaining ingredients and cook until sauces starts to thicken and take on more carmel hue.  Remove from pan and that's it... Really simple....... really good.

The whole meal

So I tried to make up for lost time on this post.. I promise I will be more attentive in the future  -  oh by the way, only a few more day until hunting season...  Ike can smell it - he looks great and while he has a little ear infection - we have that under control and chomping at the bit to get out there and, "Find that bird!"

Ike's recovery

As you know Ike has had an injury - first noticed in January and after 3+months of not getting any better I took him to my Vet.  Below is a diary of the process from beginning to end... Sorry for the length but for those of you that have a pet, you know the lengths you will go to to help him out

4/21/12

My GSP, Ike, has seemed to be favoring his left back foot on and off since the end of January/beginning of February. Just while at rest - standing around or eating. He would just hold it up but when playing or running (or hunting) he was fine and showed no ill signs. I thought that it was just a sore pad or maybe a pulled muscle and he would get better. Well he hasn't -tried a couple days of Rimydal I had left over from my SD trip last October but wasn't comfortable doing that for any length of time without a vet seeing him. So I had some days off and got him into the vet and they took some Xrays and bewteen my normal vet and the Orthopedic surgeon she referred me to, it has been decided that he has a partially torn Achilles Tendon. Treatment no surgery, but casting for the next 3-5 weeks after a cortisone shot to reduce the inflamation. Here is a pic of him getting along well with the splint we are to use until he can get cast Monday.

Ike in his first splint

4/30/12

In fact they said the swelling was down enough from the splint they didn't even give him a cortisone shot - seemed to not be necessary in the eyes of the Vet. He had developed an abrasion at the very top of his first cast and I re-padded it and treated it with some EMT gel. It has scabbed over an appears to be healing nicely - the Vets put the seocnd cast a little lower and added additional soft cast materials to the very top.
My biggest issue is he seems to be feeling much better and in turn his activity level is racheting up there. First week or so he seemed to sleep more and more sedate (no sedatives I just think he was healing). I hope the next couple weeks go as well.
I asked the vet about the painkiller - They said we could give it to him- but they didn't seem to think he showed symptoms of pain while they observed him (they kept him for the whole day after each casting to make sure all went well).

5/5/12

Ike got his third cast Thursday morning this week. No X-rays yet but Vet says right on plan for healing and looks very good. He does think tho that he may want to go to one more cast - but will Xray after this one is removed to make final decision. I have to say the Clinic(s) both my primary one and the referal one seem to really be doing a fine job. I believe that is one of the reasons we are looking at one additional cast - just to keep him under control for a longer period of time.

5/13/12

FYI everyone - I have been misunderstanding the Surgeon, thinking each week they are replacing the cast with a new (albeit slightly) adjusted one. But no, each week for the past 4 has only been a "re-wrap" of the same cast and it will be at least 10 more days before he gets his 2nd cast. Man I feel like an idiot, I was thinking, "geeze, this isn't so bad." But it turns out it will most likely be all of June before he is cast or splint free. That's the bad news - the good news is the Dr. says everything is heal up just fine and actually is ahead of where he thought he would be. I just want to make sure he heals up and I figure out how to balance his high energy play with not wanting it to happen again. More to come when I know it.

Ike with the walking cast - man does that tear up floors

5/22/12

Latest update- Ike is presently exceeding recovery plans. The Surgeon thinks that we may be ready to skip the last cast and go to a splint in a couple weeks. His swelling is almost down to nothing and upon physical inpection the Vet says about 2 weeks ahead of his schedule. I sure hope so - as he is really wanting to get back to his old self. On the other good side, he hasn't had a seizure in 8 weeks.... longest span (usually 6 weeks) sine they started on Labor Day last year. Have stopped all treats except solid Chicken Breast slices and milk bones to help clean his teeth and staying on Purina Pro Plan high performancefor daily food.

5/30/12

Ike is now in his splint - Vet has bee very supportive and yesterday said he was amazed at how well the achilles has healed. Swelling is completely down and will leave him in the splint with significantly more "bend" in his hock thus putting more pressure on the tendon than there has been in the casts for a week or two. Hope all continues as it has and in a week or two I will post a pic of Ike cast and splint free. Man I have to tell you he is getting darn bored with leash only walks... and that "cone of shame" he has to wear.

back into a splint

6/10/12

Update on Ike;
Went to the vet this week, hoping we would get the "all clear" no more splint result, but no joy here. While the swelling and injury looks very good, (Vet said swelling is completely gone) he says he still observes Ike holding his leg up not putting equal pressure on it and favoring it some. He said 2 more weeks in a splint (with even more natural bend to the hock/achilles tendon area) then if all goes well no more splint and one month of continued limited activity and if all looks good then he will release him. Just not sure why but seems to be favoring it more again... Holding it up when he eats, hopping on 3 legs when I walk him. I don't know I am a little disheartened and just feel he went backwards. Guess I'll just observe and make sure to limit his activities and then take him back. I don't know I may splurge for an MRI on the leg as an X-ray won't really be conclusive on soft tissue...I'll ask and see what Vet says. He seems to have been pretty straight forward with me to date.

6/18/12

Latest on Ike: Last Thursday I noticed a little sore developing under his splint and because I was going to be out of town for a couple of days and it was forecast to be hot and humid through the weekend, I decided to see if I could take him to the vet and get the splint and the sore taken care of. Well the Vet removed the splint, treated the sore (he said it was good idea to come in as getting it treated early will be key to keeping it from getting really nasty). He also decided the leg was looking so good he took the hard splint completely off, and gave just a protective soft wrap with almost total flexibility to the hock and tendon. He said that he may be a little tender on it for a couple days, as his tendon hasn't been this "natural" for 8-9 weeks. Well, Ike must be ready to go as he really has shown no signs of holding it up or favoring the left leg at all. I will keep it this way for another week and hopefully get it off completely. The other good news is that the vet didn't even charge me for this visit... I gotta tell ya, I am very pleased with the clinic as a whole...

6/21/12

Well today we got the soft wrap off and Ike is au natural. Gaskin muscle looks a little atrophied, and sure was glad to give him a bath as his skin got a little funky under the vaious wraps. But all in all, he is doing fine and we are all glad his recovery has been as good as it has been.
As stated above very happy with the Vet - we are on a month long limited activity protocol, then if all still ok, start him on a conditioning program to get him ready for Hunting season. Weighed the little guy (thought he might have gained a few pounds during this period of reduced activity) but he only gained 6/10ths of a pound... Heck, I gained more than that
Think we are on a good path.

7/3/12

Well it has been two week without any protection still under restricted activity and things seem to be going along fine. No swelling whatsoever and he sure doesn't seem to be in any pain at all. I am still concerned Ike hold up the foot on occasion. Seems like he does it out of habit. Muscle atrophy was more than I thought when you compare the two legs but another couple weeks and we'll go back to the vet. WIth the heat it is just as good we are keeping him inside... While no fires here (man those people in CO and NM have my sympathies) the heat and lack of rain are getting scary. Only time we get rain the storms and accompanying micorbursts have caused tremendous damage. There were still at last count 144K of people without power last night in various suburbs... Sorry I digress Anyway, While Ike is doing better I don't know if he will ever be 100% -

7/18/12

Final update for all interested parties... Yesterday Ike visited the Vet and was given a final release. Vet spent quite a bit of time (in 100* weather no less) watching him walk, "cantor" and stop and turn and said that as non-invasive procedure results go he couldn't be happier. Says ok to go off leash and while he wouldn't advise any activities requiring sharp cuts or twists (no more KONG in the back yard) he says start him out slow and if we see him favoring it back it down a notch and start increasing activity more slowly. The last couple weeks he sure seemed like his old self.  He had been off the leg for quite a while and it just took him a little time to get back into the swing. Still don't know how he did it so just going to start over and cross my fingers we don't do something stupid..
All things considered I couldn't be happier with the Vet, the Vet Techs and the clinic as a whole. The last 3 visits they didn't even charge me..... Total bill just a little shy of $800 (lots cheaper than the surgery) and my VPI ins will most likely pick up 70-75% of that bill.
I will give the group a strong thumbs up for both medical skill and bedside manner.
We'll be in SD last week of Oct, God willin'

Here's a little something I saw... Kind of small but click on it an it will enlarge enough to read it.

A little thing to think about