Italian Recipe Chatter

Like all food, pasta tastes best when it is homemade. While the task may seem daunting to some, there are some simple pasta recipes that virtually any home cook can create. Here is one of my favorites:

Ingredients:

3 whole eggs + 2 yolks
2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of canola oil

Directions:

Beat the eggs and oil with an electric mixer, and then add the flour until the dough becomes too thick for the mixer to turn. Take the dough out of the mixer, and knead with flour until it is stiff. Divide the dough into balls about the size of an egg. Run the balls through the thickest setting of the pasta machine.

You will want to achieve a balance between keeping the noodles too wet and keeping them too dry. When the noodles are in a perfect, malleable, yet stiff state, cut them and you will have perfect homemade noodles.

The last few years I have developed somewhat of an affectation for watching the Food Network. Even though I rarely use the thing I learn to prepare my own food, the channel has definitely expanded my knowledge of the culinary arts. While the host of any program is a crucial element, it is especially important on Food Network, as they are one-on-one with the camera the majority of the time.

One of my favorite shows to watch on the Food Network is Everyday Italian, hosted by Giada De Laurentiis. Admittedly, one of my main motivations for tuning in is seeing a gorgeous Italian woman for half an hour, but I also have learned a lot about Italian recipes and cuisine. Despite the fact that I am somewhat of a novice in the kitchen, I have been able to learn the staple ingredients of Italian cooking and develop some of my own recipes.