Monday, August 11, 2008

Fresh and Fabulous!

A month or so ago I purchased a pasta roller attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer, I decided that I would use it this evening to make some fresh pasta to accompany some alfredo sauce. Wow, homemade pasta tastes amazing. It is pretty fun and easy to make too. I love my new pasta roller/cutter attachments! They bring much happiness to my life. :)


Based on Chelle's experience with the recipe I decided to make a batch and a half of the fresh pasta and double the sauce recipe. I ended up with 13.5 ounces of pasta which made 2 healthy sized portions and left me with about half a portion for lunch tomorrow. As for the alfredo sauce, well I had a blonde moment while I was at the store and purchased half and half instead of heavy cream so my sauce was a little thin but it still tasted amazing . I definitely plan on making this recipe next time I am craving alfredo, it's absolutely perfect. I grilled up some chicken to toss into the pasta and had homemade Italian bread to accompany it.


I love how detailed the instructions were for this pasta recipe. It is perfect for people that started making pasta without actually reading the instruction booklet. Hey now, of course that was not me, I always read instructions. ;) Enjoy!


Fresh Fettuccine Alfredo

Source: As seen on
Brown Eyed Baker Adapted from Nook & Pantry

Fresh Pasta
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs

First make a mountain of flour on your work surface, then create a crater in the center (err on the larger size when creating the crater). Add your eggs in the crater. Use a fork and beat the eggs in the crater incorporating a little bit of the flour at a time. Once the egg mixture begins to look like a batter, you can start incorporating more of the flour into the dough. After incorporating all the flour, you will end up with a dough. If the dough is still sticky, add some more flour. Knead by pushing with the heel of your palm, fold the dough in half, give it a half turn, and repeat the process for 8 minutes or until it feels smooth.


Have 1 or 2 parchment-line baking sheets or trays ready. Divide the dough in half. Keep one half on the floured surface, covered with a kitchen towel to prevent it from drying out. Before handling the dough, dust your hands, the machine, any accessories and the baking sheet with flour. Lightly flour the work surface. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough into a rectangle thin enough to go through the rollers at the widest setting (#1 on my pasta machine). Feed the dough through the rollers while turning the handle, then lay the dough down on the work surface and flour it lightly. Fold the dough into thirds lengthwise to make a rectangle and lightly flour both sides. Flatten the dough with the rolling pin until it is thin enough to go through the rollers again. With one of the two open edges going first, pass the dough through the rollers nine times more at the widest setting; after each time, flour, fold and flatten the dough. After 10 trips through the wide rollers, the dough should be completely smooth and supple.

Now you are ready to thin the dough. Starting at the second-to-widest setting (#2), pass the dough repeatedly through the rollers, setting the rollers one notch narrower each time. When the dough becomes too long, cut it in half and roll one piece at a time until it reaches the desired thickness (my pasta maker has 6 settings, and for the fettuccine I rolled the pasta sheets to the second thinnest setting, #5).

Dust the baking sheets with flour, arrange the rolled out pasta sheets on the baking sheet, separating each layer with parchment and dusting with flour as needed. Cover with kitchen towels to prevent them from drying out. Repeat the entire process with the other half of the dough.

Wrap the tray of pasta with plastic wrap, making sure that it is completely sealed to prevent drying out. Let the pasta rest for at least 10 minutes before cutting so that it is not too soft.

Before cutting the pasta sheets, line a baking sheet or wide, shallow container with parchment paper and dust with flour. Keep additional flour nearby for dusting.

Feed the pasta sheets one at a time through the cutting attachment. Dust the pasta evenly but lightly with flour. Gently father the pasta together lengthwise in a bundle, dust with flour, and carefully twist and shape it into a small, nested mound. Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking sheet or container and dust the top lightly with flour. Repeat with the remaining pasta sheets.

If not cooking the pasta immediately, cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, drizzle some olive oil into the water, then add the pasta. Cook for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. Drain the pasta.


Alfredo Sauce
½ cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly ground black pepper and salt, to taste

Simmer the cream and butter in a saucepan over low heat until it has slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the cheese, remove from heat, and stir until mostly incorporated and melted. Add freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste. Toss with pasta.

14 comments:

What's Cookin Chicago said...

Great job! Now you can make pasta to your heart's content! :)

Anonymous said...

Yum! It all looks fabulous!

That Girl said...

Seriously - homemade pasta is SO worth it.

linda said...

That meals looks fantastic, I am adding this to the menu for next week..

Macaroni and Cheesecake said...

That looks yummy! I've been wanting to get that attachment too! Glad to know it works great!

Anonymous said...

This looks great! I'm hoping to get a pasta attachment soon so I can start making homemade pasta!

Michele said...

I'm so jealous! It looks delicious! Wish I could dig in right now! lol

Anonymous said...

That looks so good. I think I need to brave homemade pasta soon. I really want that attachment too!

The Gladd's said...

YUMMMY!!!

Anonymous said...

YAY! Fresh pasta is SO much fun! And that alfredo looks AMAZINGLY good!

Anonymous said...

I have never tried fresh pasta, but your post is making me drool! I love fettucine alfredo, everything looks so delicious!

Anonymous said...

OMG, I cannot wait to try this! I need the pasta attachment!!

Jeanine - The Baking Beauties said...

Wow, your pasta looks awesome! Nothing like fresh pasta. :)

Erin said...

Let me just tell you that after trying to make alfredo sauce from scratch using the O.G.'s own recipe on their website, yours is by FAR better tasting and way, WAY less of a hassle!! Absolutely delicious!! :)