Pasta Maker Basics

By Gerri Lauder

Simple ingredients of flour, eggs, olive oil and water become pasta; the soul satisfying comfort food of generations of families. Even if you did not grow up in an Italian home, noodles are a staple of many cultures around the world. Making your own pasta at home is easy and rewarding. If you've never tasted freshly made pasta, you are in for a real treat. You will have as much, if not more fun making it as eating it and it is an activity that can bring the whole family together. So, roll up your sleeves and plan on having fun.

A pasta machine is one of the tools that makes the job of turning dough into noodles easier. You can do it the old fashioned way and roll your dough into thin sheets using a wooden rolling pin, but I find that a uniform thickness is best achieved using a machine. There are electric machines and there are manual machines that you crank by hand. Weston, Lello and Imperia pasta machines are well known brands of electric pasta makers. The Kitchenaid pasta attachment is an wonderful addition to the Kitchenaid mixer for making pasta. Atlas, Imperia and CucinaPro are all good manufacturers of manual pasta makers. I personally have used the Atlas pasta machine for many years with absolutely delicious results.

There is really no difference between mixing the dough in a food processor, with an electric mixer or by hand, except that in the hand method you will begin to knead the dough in the bowl. With electric appliances, the dough comes together rather quickly, and it takes a bit more time by hand, but that's part of the fun. Put the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Mix the eggs together slightly and then add the oil and water and mix well. Pour this liquid mixture into the center of the flour and start mixing with a fork until the dough starts to clump together and the flour is incorporated with the liquids. At this point, you need to get your hands into the dough to finish mixing.

Lightly dust flour onto your hands, to prevent sticking, and grab one part of the clump. Fold that part onto the center of the dough, press down and out toward the rim of the bowl. Continue to fold and press the dough and rotate the bowl as you do so until the dough no longers sticks to the sides and you have one piece of dough. Turn this out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for 2 to 3 minutes longer, turning and folding the dough into intself. This activates the gluten in the flour which gives the dough its elastic properties.

You are done kneading when the dough is soft throughout, you can't feel any lumps, the surface has a sheen to it and it feels and looks smooth. If the dough seems too sticky add a little flour, a little at a time, while you are kneading. If the dough seems too dry or hard, sprinkle a little water on the dough and continue to knead it until it becomes soft and pliable. When you have finished kneading the dough, give it a rest by letting it sit on the board covered with a clean, soft kitchen towel for about 30 minutes. This will relax and soften the dough so it will be easier to roll out.

Your pasta machine will come with basic instructions on how to process the dough. The basic steps are to roll pieces of dough through the rollers at thinner and thinner settings until you get nice, elongated, resilient pieces of dough. From there you cut the dough into whatever shapes you want. Dough may be cut and formed by hand, like simple papardelle, which are strips about 1 1/2 inches wide. All the pasta maker machines come with some attachments for cutting the dough. Tagliatelle and tagliolini are common pasta shapes that most of the manual machines produce. Electric pasta machines frequently have attachments that can extrude the dough into shapes like spaghetti and capellini.

Once shaped the pasta is lightly dusted with flour again, to prevent sticking to itself, and allowed to rest. You can cook the pasta immediately and toss it with your favorite sauce, or you can let it dry. A pasta drying rack keeps the noodles separated as they dry so the noodles won't end up as a big clump of dough when you try to cook them. You can also freeze the pasta for future use.

Once you have made and eaten a batch or two of your own homemade pasta you will find it hard to go back to eating the commercially made and packaged type. Making pasta at home with friends and family is a joy and creates wonderful memories. It is said that food tastes better, and is better for you, when it is made with love. You can't get much more comfort than that. Happy pasta making! - 30289

About the Author:

Making fresh pasta at home has been a Lauder family specialty for years. Kids, grandkids, friends and neighbors all take a hand in making the dough and sitting at the table to savor the results. Watch a video on rolling dough through a pasta machine on Geri's website, browse great cookbooks and select a pasta machine for your next family pasta party.

The Joy of Cooking - Why We Love to Cook

By Alice Sy

Should chefs or any related profession be the only one to appreciate the joy of cooking? This hardly seems the case because from the earliest periods man has since discovered the joy of cooking. The history of cooking is very rich and colorful. This activity has evolved several times and in this article, you will know how.

Before fire was discovered by man, human beings used to eat their food raw and fresh from a catch. Over time, they have learned which food can be eaten raw without any undesired effects to the body. Aside from seafood, they have learned that fruits, vegetables and insects can be eaten raw.

When fire was discovered, the joy of cooking started to spark among the hearts of men. Many tried to experiment cooking different foods directly over the fire since pottery wasn't available then. They either cooked the food directly over the fire or they wrapped and steamed them over embers.

There are two types of cooking. They are cuisine bourgeois, or home cooking, and haute cuisine. Haute cuisine is the form of cooking that seeks to find pleasure. In principle, the differences of the two are laid between practical skills in cooking and the artistic way of cooking. In actual, on the other hand, the two principles cannot be identified. It has remained in vague for years. This was further increased by home cooks who are now better equipped, well informed, and well supplied than they were in the past. But whatever type cooking maybe, anyone will always feel the joy of cooking.

The history of cooking can be traced back between the time humans discovered fire and the Neolithic period, otherwise known as the Stone Age. Before they learned to make fire, and use it to prepare food, they ate their food fresh. They also consumed fruits and vegetables, fish, and insects.

When pottery came into the picture, man was brought to heaven. Man started to discover how you can alter the taste and texture of certain foods when exposed to different cooking mechanism. The great taste, the rich flavor, and the amazing texture strengthened man's joy of cooking and making it into a profession.

There are five forms of cooking with the help of heat. They include cooking through liquid, like boiling, poaching, and stewing; cooking in fats and oil, or frying; coking by exposing to vapor, like steaming, poaching, and braising; exposing to dry heat, like baking, broiling, and roasting; and subjecting to hot oil or sauting. So, in whatever forms you may wish to cook, just feel the joy of cooking.

Everybody loves to eat food, however, cooking it in different ways made eating food a much more memorable experience. It is this appreciation that man needs to feel in order to understand the joy of cooking. - 30289

About the Author:

Alice Sy has extensive experience in the recruitment/placement of domestic helper. Visit the top domestic helper agency Bahamas for free profiles and photos and contact us for the best way to hire your next Filipina maid, nanny, housekeeper, driver, gardener and more.

Slow Cooking Soups

By Ken Kudra

There is something so comforting about a nice hot bowl of soup. The soup warms you, making you feel cozy. Many people are intimidated at making homemade soup, but it actually is pretty easy once you have tried it a time or two. It is even easier when you use your slow cooker.

What Kind of Soup Can You Make?

You can make almost any kind of soup in a slow cooker. From simple fare like lentil soup or vegetable beef to fancier fare like vichyssoise or cream of sweet potato soup, your slow cooker is your best tool for making soup. Even delicate soups like crab soup or trout chowder can easily be made to perfection while you are away. Ethnic soups like Italian Wedding soup and Indian Dal can be simmering while you take care of other business.

It does not matter what your favorite is, you can make it in your slow cooker. Use leftovers or fresh ingredients. If you have a little ham, add it to some navy beans for a delicious bean soup. Likewise, you could add split yellow or green peas and make a wonderful pea soup.

Cheddar cheese soup and clam chowder will also work in the slow cooker. That is the best thing about soup recipes in the slow cooker... you can make all the soups you like best. Noodles, rice, dumplings... they all can be made with the slow cooker.

New Soups

You can also find many recipes for soups that will be new to you. It is always fun trying something new! Why not try a new slow cooker soup? How about a cheesy meatball soup? Ever heard of taco soup? What about garden cabbage soup or deviled chicken soup? There are so many you can try that may become new favorites.

With a bit of inspiration, you can create your own new soup recipes. It can be fun to be creative in the kitchen. The slow cooker lets you make mistakes and your soup will still taste great. You can use tough cuts of meat because the long cooking time will tenderize them. Add some herbs and vegetables to add more depth to your soup. If you like creamy soups, add a little milk or cream at the end of cooking. Your imagination can run free!

Traditional soups like chicken and dumplings, beef noodle and potato soup are great, too. For something a little different, mix up the ingredients a bit. Try adding bacon or ham to your potato soup, or put brown rice in your beef soup. Adding a new twist can be a lot of fun.

You can even use your slow cooker after the holidays to make your next meal easier. Add some turkey in after Thanksgiving and make a wonderful turkey soup. You can add noodles, rice, potatoes, or whatever you prefer. Add in some leftovers like peas, carrots, roasted vegetables, and gravy. You will end up with a tasty way to enjoy your holiday meal all over again. Slow cookers are a terrific way to make soup. - 30289

About the Author:

Chicken noodle soup is a great dish to serve when your kids have their friends over. Everyone loves chicken soup, and kids are no exception. No matter what their age, they will appreciate digging into a bowl of noodles and other great ingredients. Serve them hot biscuits and they will think you're the best.

Guidelines On Buying Electric Pressure Cookers

By Irena Claire

Pressure cookers have been giving excellent help in the kitchen for years now; and it appears that as time passes by; the need to have one just increases. These kinds of cookers allow for less cooking time particularly for meat recipes.

When before you have been cooking meat dishes for many hours, patiently waiting for the meat to have just the appropriate texture and tenderness to make your dish right; with the assistance of a pressure cooker; you will no longer wait long hours which gives you lots of time to do other things in kitchen.

GENERAL GUIDELINES ON GETTING ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKERS

Before making your purchase, particularly if this is your 1st time to buy and use a pressure cooker; there are a few essentials to consider in order to get the best electric pressure cooker that's suitable for you and your kitchen.

Firstly, consider the dimension. How large or how small of an electric pressure cooker do you require? How many people do you normally cook for? If you are simply cooking for family on most days, the average size will be ideal for you. But if you're always holding dinners and such, you may require a bigger one for your meat and bean dishes.

You should also check if the cooker you're getting has a heat diffuser. This will prohibit the heat from building up on the floor of your electric pressure cooker which translates to no food sticking at the bottom of the cooker.

Other factors to look for include the built-in control for specific types of food; and temperature regulator. This is sort of like a mechanized timer for basic food categories such as meat and vegetables.

SHOULD YOU BUY AN ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER?

With an electric pressure cooker, you can simply regulate the temperature control; fix the timer and then you can cook other dishes in the kitchen while you are waiting for the timer to go off. You don't have to keep checking every now and then if your meat has just the right tenderness.

For safety reasons, electric pressure cookers are superior since they are equipped with a mechanized pressure releasing function that lets go of the pressure from the pot should it reach a level that could pose a risk. - 30289

About the Author:

Don't just buy the first electric pressure cooker you find. Take a look at our guide on electric pressure cookers first and avoid costly mistakes.

Traditional Kitchens Make Cooking Fun!

By Matthew Kerridge

Traditional kitchens are often the heart of a home; they are where the family gathers for meals, where the kids do their homework round the table, and where friends chat over coffee. Because so much time is spent there, it is especially important to choose and to use kitchen furniture and energy saving appliances wisely. Fortunately, renewable resources such as wood for cabinets and chairs are right at home in traditional kitchens.

Using natural light is a good start in creating an energy conscious kitchen. Not only does it reduce the need for supplemental light during the day, but it can add a feeling of spaciousness to a room. Energy saving light bulbs and fixtures can be used to direct light just where it is needed at the sink, stove or other workstations. Small, efficient grow lights can turn a windowsill into an herb garden.

Well designed traditional kitchens have pantry storage systems that are ultimately practical. How many times have you searched in vain for a missing ingredient, only to discover too late that it was hidden behind something else all along? Incidents like that can sap the fun out of whipping up your favourite dessert. A good storage system will keep that from happening and help you to find what you want, when you need it.

Running an environmentally sound kitchen means taking proper care of equipment and utensils. Knife blocks fit right in with traditional decor and are the safest way to store culinary knives. Most pots and pans should be kept in cabinets which protect them from dust but yet allow enough circulation of air that they do not rust. Utensils that are both stylishly designed and used frequently can be kept in countertop receptacles or hung from hooks.

Properly maintained food preparation surfaces keep traditional kitchens from turning into ecological disaster zones. Sinks need to be deep enough and have faucets with adequate pressure to thoroughly wash and rinse large items. Vegetables should not be chopped on surfaces used for preparing meats, and cutting boards need to be sanitized after each use. Food wastes that are to be composted need to be kept separate so that they do not contaminate other food.

Countertops are the mainstay of traditional kitchens. They can be made of many different materials but they need to be durable, nonporous, and easy to clean. Plastic laminate, tile, artificial stone, natural stone and even concrete are all good materials for a counter. Most countertops are available in many colours. The countertop is usually one of the first things you notice in a kitchen, and is the part that is used the most.

Cooking in a traditional style kitchen is fun because every element is planned to meet your needs. But beyond the basic cooking needs, traditional kitchens meet entertainment and hospitality needs too. Visually, the traditional style is compatible with the rest of the house, so design features in other rooms may be picked up and reflected in the kitchen. Ideally, the design of the kitchen ought to make the cook happy. But in the case of the traditional style, its popularity shows that it makes others happy as well. - 30289

About the Author:

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in home improvement. If you want more information regarding traditional kitchens or are looking for a trusted kitchen company please visit http://www.wrenkitchens.com

Types Of Weber Grills To Purchase For Home Barbequing

By Chris Channing

The Weber grill has seen a long tradition of grills handed down through the generations. The company has earned the respect of master grilling experts for being at the cutting edge of barbequing technology. It's many types of grills allow for different types of cooking standards.

If you want the best of the best, many would argue that a charcoal and wood grill is the best way to go. Wood in particular is a great grilling reagent, as it is able to create a smoke flavor depending on which type of wood you decide to grill with. Charcoal is another favorite, of which allows for a certain char taste that is great for burgers. Overall, it's hard to go wrong with a Weber charcoal grill.

Electric grills are an example of how technology can make the life of the average home owner so much easier. Electric grills can easily be placed inside, as they produce very little smoke. Electric grills can cook just as well as a grill could, although the unique fire grilled taste may not be present. Electric grills are good for the Winter months in which it is too cold to grill outside.

Most gas-based grills are powered by propane. Propane is easy enough to lug around, and allows you to be mobile with your grill. Propane grills are sometimes said to be less flavorful than other methods of grilling. They are rarely if ever used in competitions, as they don't create the classic smoke taste that wood and charcoal create. Regardless, they are a great solution for the home grilling environment.

You also have the option of using natural gas for your grill. The benefit over propane is that you don't have to lug around or replace your fuel source. Instead you have an outside outlet that hooks up to your grill, and you are able to conveniently grill any time you would like. Natural gas can be dangerous to work with, and you also run into the drawback that you can't move the outlet for when you need mobility with your grill.

If you need a combination of several types of grills, it's possible to buy a hybrid. You can mix the great taste of charcoal grills with the ease of use that electric and gas grills have. It's a great investment if you know that you will be using the grill for a long time into the future. Guests will be amazed that you are able to accomplish to much on a single grill, and the results are very tasty.

Closing Comments

A Weber grill is a great product that only improves with time. Start looking for Weber grills over the Internet and at hardware stores to get an idea on costs. Once you find one you like, compare with other retailers and make a sound purchase. - 30289

About the Author:

Learn more on weber gas grills.

Baby Gifts and Great Baby Shower Food Make the Party Fun

By Edie Mindell

One of the components that guests look forward to the most is, of course, the food! Contrary to popular belief, baby shower food does not have to be pricey or expensive to make. This article will provide some easy-to-follow baby shower menu recipes that are sure to awe all your guests. These recipes will make people believe that you spent a fortune on the menu, yet they will cost a fraction of what people generally spend on catering for events like showers.

Some of the easiest appetizers and snacks come already pre-made! Buy refrigerated croissant dough, biscuit dough, and cookie dough. Use baby-themed cookie cutters like diaper and baby bottle shapes, and roll croissant dough in the shape of diapers. You can also use pastel-colored sprinkles for the cookies to add a cute touch. These snacks are easy, inexpensive, and delicious!

Another idea is to make adorable, little baby-themed cupcakes. Buy cake mix and add the other ingredients as directed on the box. Bake in cake cups and decorate with frosting and sprinkles. A couple of drops of food coloring can be added to plain, white frosting to create light, pastel colors. Heart-shaped cupcakes stand out a bit more and look beautiful, but the size and shape of the cupcakes are entirely up to you.

The next recipe is a delicious and colorful salad recipe. This recipe is nutritious yet very appetizing, and will definitely be loved by all the ladies! In one or two large salad bowls, mix 2 to 4 bags of spring mix lettuce (depending on the size of your shower and the number of guests), 1 to two small packages of baby tomatoes, 1 to 2 cups of diced cucumber, " to 1 cup of shredded carrots, 1 to 2 cans of canned, sweetened tangerine slices, " to 1 cup of raisins, and " to 1 cup of caramelized pecans. Serve chilled with honey mustard or a sweet style vinaigrette.

An amazing fruit salad, popular in parts of Latin America is made using strawberries, mango, melon, sliced bananas, grapes, sliced oranges, sliced apple, and sliced pear. You can adjust the types and variety of fruits to fit your taste. Mix all the fruit pieces in a large decorative bowl and generously drizzle with sweetened condensed milk. Add caramelized almonds if desired.

A fabulous spinach dip that can be served with both corn chips and crackers calls for 1 " cups of real mayo (you can use light mayo if preferred), " cup of softened cream cheese, 1 package of frozen spinach (cooked and drained), " cup chopped green onion, " teaspoon of salt, " teaspoon of pepper, and parsley to taste. Combine all ingredients and serve warm. If desired, you can melt Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese over the dip before serving. Provide an assortment of crackers and crunchy corn chips to eat the spinach dip with.

These easy to follow, pre-made recipes will take up almost none of your time, and are guaranteed to bring compliments! - 30289

About the Author:

For the very best prices and selection of baby shower gifts online, there is no better place you will find than http://www.simplyuniquebabygifts.com for unique baby gifts. You will love the baby gift coupons advertised here.