Homemade Noodles--Ready to Eat

Making your Noodle Dough (Step 1)

Recipe for Fresh Pasta #1
2 eggs (scramble with a fork)
half tsp. salt
Add in:
2 cups of flour
3-4 tbsp. rich cream (I use 18% table cream) + water, as needed

1. Mix with a wooden spoon and add liquid to moisten flour
until a dough ball forms. Knead until light and smooth.
2. Roll out on a floured board and keep working and rolling
dough (adding flour) until it is no longer sticky.
3. Roll out dough until it is quit thin because it puffs up
when cooking. 4. Cut your noodles with a knife or a pizza
wheel. Making homemade pasta noodles with a pizza wheel saves
time and is so much easier.

Recipe #2: Homemade Noodles
6 eggs
1tsp. salt
6 tbsp. water
1.Add enough flour to make a stiff dough.
2.Knead well, then roll into thin sheets on a floured surface
and cut in long strips. 3.Cook in boiling water until noodles
float.

Recipe #3: Homemade Pasta Noodles for Two
1 cup of flour
1 egg
salt to taste
a few drops of milk or water
Make noodles as outlined above.

Cutting your Noodles--Tricks that Make the Process Much Easier
(Step 2) There are two methods that make cutting your noodles
much easier.

The very texture of noodle dough is such that if you try to cut
it with a regular knife, it stretches and, at times, tears.

A pizza cutter makes the process one hundred percent easier.
The wheel effortlessly slices through the noodle dough and you
will have long strips of noodles cut out in record time.

A hand-cranked pasta maker also makes the process easier and if
you want professional-looking noodles, you can feed your pasta
dough through one of these and noodles will slide out the other
end.


Cooking Your Homemade Noodles (Step 3)
1.Drop homemade pasta noodles into boiling water and cook until
the noodles float. Scoop noodles out with a slotted spoon (and
place in a strainer) to save your hot water, then drop in the
next batch of noodles. Serve immediately. Reheat noodles you
plan on using later in the day. Freeze remainder.

Storing Homemade Noodles

Drain noodles in a strainer
Lay noodles out on a tea towel to drain and dry then freeze in plastic bags or plastic containers
Leftover Noodles--Ready for the Freezer

Drying Your Noodles (Step 4)
If you prefer to dry your homemade pasta noodles, inexpensive
drying racks are preferable--over using a chair back (as was
done years ago) or a broom handle--and can help to drain
moisture from noodles prior to freezing.

Place your fresh noodles on a drying rack and allow to
completely dry. Store as you would for regular pasta

Suggestions for Homemade Pasta Noodles

Plain: Serve fresh pasta with butter, salt and pepper, and
seasonings of choice.

Italiano Noodles: Toss noodles with olive oil, salt and pepper,
basil, crushed garlic, and parmesan. Top with sliced black
olives.

Homemade Pasta as a Side Dish: Top homemade noodles with
chicken or turkey gravy and serve along with baked chicken or
turkey. Homemade noodles topped with gravy are delicious!

Noodle "Chips": Place noodles in a greased roasting pan and
drizzle oil over them. Bake until crispy and golden brown. Dip
noodles in dipping sauce of choice.

Cheesy Noodles: Place noodles in a greased casserole dish and,
when warm, toss with butter. Top with grated chedder and serve
when cheese is bubbly.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup: Homemade noodles have a velvety
consistency and go particularly well in homemade chicken noodle
soup. Prepare soup and drop in frozen noodles before serving.

Homemade Pasta in a Hurry

A large batch of homemade pasta noodles can be made ahead of
time so that when time is at a premium, you have a supply of
homemade noodles that are ready to be dropped into boiling
water. Making homemade pasta ahead renders a supply of tasty
noodles.

Homemade noodles can e made using different flour to add
wholesomeness to the mix. Why not try homemade whole wheat or
homemade buckwheat noodles?


Cream Sauce for Homemade Noodles #1:

1.Melt 2-3 tbsp. butter in saucepan with 1 clove of crushed
garlic
2.Brown 1 cup of sliced mushrooms (optional)
3.Whisk in 2-3 tbsp. flour.
4.Add 1 can of chicken broth
5.Stir until thickened and reduce heat
6.Whisk in 1 cup of cream or can milk
7.Season with freshly grated pepper, salt to taste, and a dash
of parsley or fresh dill Ladle over homemade pasta noodles and
dust with freshly grated Parmesan.

Cream Sauce for Fresh Pasta #2

Melt 2-3 tbsp butter in a pan,
whisk in 1-2 tbsp flour,
add 1-11/2 cups of milk,
simmer, stirring until thickened.
Add 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese.

Top homemade noodles with sauce and, if you have them on hand,
garnish with finely chopped chives and cooked crumbled bacon.

A platter of homemade pasta is a hit at any dinner table and is
a nice change from the usual dinner fare.