Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Food/recipes

For related content, visit our food content hub.

Original poster

Anyone make their own pasta?

45 replies

marthamoo · 27/07/2005 10:08

My parents bought me a pasta machine Mum swears I said once that I would like one - have to say, I don't remember this, and it doesn't sound like something I would say (I do love cooking but for me the beauty of pasta is that it's super-fast and easy - it's what we have when I can't be bothered to cook!) but anyway, I have my shiny stainless steel machine now. It looks very cool in my kitchen. I feel like Nigella.

Ant tips? Is it as much of a faff as I suspect? Is freshly made pasta far superior to shop bought? Any recipe suggestions?

TIA

OP posts:
Original poster
marthamoo · 27/07/2005 10:11

That's any tips, not ant tips.

OP posts:
Enid · 27/07/2005 10:20

it is lovely, far superior and very very easy to make but quite messy and time consuming.

I find the recipe on the back of the pasta flour packets the best to use.

dd1 loves turning the handle.

Lasagne with homemade lasagne is just the best

Demented · 27/07/2005 10:39

MM, I haven't made home made pasta for ages but it is definately superior. Do you have Nigella's meatball recipe from Nigella Bites, I generally make the pasta with it, usually when having friends round, I think I use the pasta recipe from that book too but can't remember exactly. Biggest reason I haven't made the pasta recently is that the kitchen since we moved doesn't have a bit of worktop I can easily attach the machine onto, otherwise I would definately still use it (note to self must see DH about sorting this problem).

Original poster
marthamoo · 27/07/2005 13:50

You have to buy pasta flour?!

I have Nigella Bites - I'll have a look in there, thanks Demented.

Mmmm...Tosspot Cook, Mullet Cook made real pasta the other day and the ds's both said they would like to try the turning of the handle: I guess they can now.

OP posts:
SenoraPostrophe · 27/07/2005 13:53

jamie oliver has some good recipes.

it is a bit of a faff, especially if you are like dh and physically incapable of making one dish at a time. But it is worth it, and it provided a whole afternoon's entertainment for dd.

on another note - mm how far away are you from heysham?

lemonice · 27/07/2005 13:54

I've got one but never used it...can you make baby pasta with it?

Original poster
marthamoo · 27/07/2005 14:00

I don't know where Heysham is...why?

Lol, lemonice

OP posts:
Original poster
marthamoo · 27/07/2005 14:02

SP, I still owe you an email to say not only am I shockingly untravelled but appallingly unread...can't email or msn now as I have been banished downstairs to the laptop while ds1 and his friend shoot things on the X-Box.

OP posts:
katierocket · 27/07/2005 14:05

LOL at lemonice

cripes marthamoo, you are posh these days.

Original poster
marthamoo · 27/07/2005 14:12

One is, aren't I?

OP posts:
cerys · 27/07/2005 15:52

Hi Marthamoo, I hate to tell you this but we just sold our pasta machine on eBay. We were given it as a wedding present, used it once, had a row making the pasta, banished it to the back of the cupboard. 6 years, 3 children and two house moves later, it has gone, hopefully to a happier home

I hope you have more success with yours. You're meant to use special italian flour, type 00 or something like that.

have fun!

spacedonkey · 27/07/2005 15:54

I've read in at least 3 books on Italian cooking that it isn't superior to shop-bought dried pasta in any way. But it is satisfying to do and the kids will enjoy turning the handle while you feed the dough in!

SenoraPostrophe · 27/07/2005 16:03

sd - that's true of spaghetti etc, but not of home made ravioli. mmmm

also you can make green spag and things.

spacedonkey · 27/07/2005 16:04

true, you have to make your own for ravioli

Original poster
marthamoo · 27/07/2005 16:07

cerys, ah well...there's room for it next to the bread-machine at the back of the cupboard

Hiya donk - yes, I'd read that too. Didn't Delia have a bit of a rant about dried pasta being superior to fresh (I think she was talking about shop-bought fresh though).

SP...where is Heysham?! And how do you make it green? Spinach? Grass? Green food colouring?

OP posts:
Original poster
marthamoo · 27/07/2005 16:08

And oliveoil thinks MN is poop this afternoon - I ask you. It's a veritable mine of information.

OP posts:
cerys · 27/07/2005 16:10

Marthamoo, just list it on eBay! I warn you, the postage was a bit steep, those things weigh a ton!

Original poster
marthamoo · 27/07/2005 16:12

I can't - the kids are dead keen on having a go.

OP posts:
serah · 27/07/2005 16:12

The "flour" generally used in pasta making is durham wheat semolina. I did a search on the internet for pasta recipes and found one that uses just plain flour too, before I sourced the DWS at an Italian Deli.

Vote for home made being fab too! Mind you, first effort at Canneloni..... Jeeesh. It looked thin when I'd rolled it, but didn't taste thin when eating it - I forgot it expands

serah · 27/07/2005 16:14

lol Cerys and Ebay

spacedonkey · 27/07/2005 16:14

You can get the Italian 00 flour in most supermarkets nowadays

cerys · 27/07/2005 16:14

you might love it and make lots of fresh pasta. In which case, can I come round for tea?
I wanted it to be a success, but am not that keen a cook. Sort of Can Cook, But Can't Always Be Arsed.

serah · 27/07/2005 16:16

I thought my supermarket used to do a massive variety of flours Spacedonkey - until I wanted one of them - they seemed not to be bothering anymore, and as for the semolina, an assistant proffered a can of "ambrosia"

Original poster
marthamoo · 27/07/2005 16:22

LOL @ Sort of Can Cook, But Can't Always Be Arsed.

Will look out for flour - the booklet that came with the machine just says plain flour but I always buy 100% durum wheat dried pasta, so I'll see what I can find.

OP posts:
spacedonkey · 27/07/2005 16:22

waitrose would definitely do it