Thursday, May 23, 2013

Homemade Pasta

I love pasta!  Homemade pasta is even better!

One of my favorite homemade pastas-- medallions!   These are large round ravioli that are deep fried.  Then you can cover them in your favorite sauce, or dip them.

To make pasta first you will need:
2 cups of flour  >> we are working on a satisfactory recipe for all whole wheat
2 eggs
big pinch of salt
1 Tbsp-1/2 cup of water (one Tbsp at a time)
what ever other seasonings you want (I like adding thyme, oregano, and pepper).
**This recipe is equivalent to about one package of store bought pasta, if you will need more than the 1 lb I would do this recipe twice rather than doubling the first.  Having two balls of dough is easier to work with than having one GIANT ball.

You will also need a clean working surface that is large enough to roll on.  I usually use either my cutting board (which I wish was bigger) or my kitchen table.  If we are making a LOT of pasta it's always on the table!!

If you have a pasta roller/cutter your job will be much easier.  If you don't it's okay, it's not impossible to work without one.  But if you don't you will need a rolling pin (the heavier the better) and a pasta cutter, or improvise with a knife, cup, or pizza cutter.

On your clean surface -don't worry we will change that clean part- make a hill of the two cups of flour.  And form a well.  Evenly distribute the pinch of salt around the flour.  Inside the well add the two eggs and 1 Tbsp of water.  With a fork slowly mix the outside into the inside.  Work in a circular pattern until all the wet ingredients are incorporated into the dry.  If there is a lot of flour at this point you will need to add another Tbsp of water.  Continue to add water 1 Tbsp at a time until there are no dry ingredients let.  Once all the flour is incorporated you'll want to go to your hands.  Knead the dough by folding and pressing then turning a quarter turn to the left and repeat.  Continue to knead until your dough is uniform in consistency  then allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.  While it's resting, if you know you will need more pasta, begin that now.

After about ten minutes take the ball of dough and give it a few more kneads.  If it feels a little sticky then knead in a bit more flour, likewise if it is very stiff and you are not making a pasta that needs stiff dough like ravioli, spritz with a tiny amount of water.  Once you're satisfied with the consistency form a ball and either cut it into halves, fourths, or start rolling it out.  Completely up to you.

If you're using a pasta roller/cutter, roll to desired thickness, then cut.  If you're going at it by hand roll your dough out until it's about the same thickness to just a little thicker than paper.  Using a heavy rolling pin makes this by far easier.  Then begin cutting to desired pasta.

If you're making pasta for that day allow pasta to dry a little, then cook in boiling water -4 quarts of water per ball/ per pound.

If you have chosen to do what my sister and I do, make several pounds of pasta.  As you cut the pasta separate it and place on a cookie sheet.  I like to place my long pastas like spaghetti and fettuccine in curled nests on the cookie sheet -she doesn't.  Once your cookie sheet is full place it in the freezer.

Once your pasta is all frozen we put ours into freezer bags, we love the kind that you vacuum the air out of. My sister has the Foodsaver, I have the Rival; both are worth the money!  If you freeze and seal be sure to mark the date, and type of pasta.








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Monday, May 20, 2013

Officially!

Did you see this on Facebook
and wonder what it was all about?
This has been a big month so far! And it's only the 20th. Here's a quick summary for those of you who are interested:

♥  My little boy turned 9, my oldest daughter 13-- I now officially   have two teenagers!  YIKES! Ready for a spoil alert? Teenagers are not that bad, in face they can kinda be fun!

♥  My blog turned three years old!  YIP YIP do a happy dance!  I can't believe it's been so long, and while my views aren't where I'd like them it's still grown to become more than I could have ever hoped!  In fact I started really just for my sisters.  I'm so happy to add all of you to my long list of family!

♥  I wrapped up a few college courses -- they were free and you can take some for free too-- more on that later.  Granted some where for my actual work here and for the bread and butter business, but some were just for fun like song writing and guitar playing!

♥  We were awarded a contract for the bread and butter business!  Big news because it means we all still have a JOB!  Security is a nice thing to have when it comes to jobs in this economy!

♥  I've started a newsletter called Wisdom & Creations!  First issue goes out on the 1st of June-- Use the QR code to sign up or the link at the bottom of the page or over in the side bar!  By the way, did you know those square bar codes are called Quick Read bar codes  or QR code for short and are embedded with forms or URLs?  I didn't either until I made one!

Want to hear more on that??

The newsletter will contain previews of the projects I'm working on as well as updates.  These will be different from the RSS feed, and the emailed updates specific for this blog.  How?  The newsletter is going to contain updates, schedules, previews, and inside details about ALL of my Mommy Bee avenues.  The emailed and RSS feed updates here only include what I've already done on MommyBeeWisdom.com. However, the newsletters will hold much more and include stuff from MommyBeeWisdom.com, Just Buzzing with MommyBee -on the radio-, MommyBeeCreations, and a special project I'm trying to launch this summer.

-HOLD THE PHONE-

Don't know what I'm talking about?  Well over the last few months and deep inside those extra college courses --which are in an opposite direction as my actual degree-- submerged in meditation, and through an eighty page college rule spiral bound notebook covered in polka-dots I've decided on where to take this adventure!

So are you ready for the big news?

♥  I've recently created an Etsy shop and the things I make for here, and outside of here are and will be available for purchase!  Largely inspired by one of my moms creating a shop for my dad.  I've decided my dreams, which is the culmination of Mommy Bee is to become my way of life!  Mommy Bee will no longer be just a hobby!  I hope you all are as excited as I am!  I would love to hear what you think!

Visit my Shop Here:
Mommy Bee Creations
 

And if you're looking for a GREAT Father's Day Gift visit my Dad's shop!
Gifts From The Ranch
Containing awesome handmade and hand tooled leather gifts! Like the following:










On the left the detail on the front of a "Roper" also sometimes referred to as a Cowboy Wallet or Long Wallet.
On the right: How one looks on the inside.  This is perfect for the guy in your life who likes keeping his cash unfolded and uncurled.
Can be customized and made special!












On the left: A bracelet that reads "Live Laugh Love" in three languages.  Visit the store to see other customizable options.
On the Right: A card case. That holds two decks of cards which will surely be the coolest thing to appear at the weekly poker game!
Visit the store to see the other customizable qualities and a Lady's version.



So there you have it! A big month of May so far, and it's just the beginning!!  If you visit my store please send me some feedback!  I trust your opinions!

Also don't forget to sign up for the newsletter, the first issue scheduled for June first will contain a HUGE coupon code!  And maybe one for Gifts from the Ranch as well!!




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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Blessed Beltane


It's rainy and chilly where I am, not typical of a May 1st.  But I am sure the next 6 weeks will be sunny and beautiful! We are going to make some crafts today-- What are your plans?

Monday, April 22, 2013

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day to one and all!


I took this photo of a hawk soaring over the grand canyon in 09.2012, the colors still amaze me!

 Now get off the computer and enjoy outside!