Making fresh pasta?

[kirsty b]

Hiya peeps

I was lucky enough to get a pasta machine vis freecycle the other day and I'm dying to try it out. (have wanted one for ages!)
Do any of you have a foolproof recipe for fresh pasta that I could try please?
I plan on making lasagne for my first go at it.

MAny thank
Kirsty xx

[zazen999]

OOh - I love fresh pasta, but am loathe to buy a machine [at those prices???]...yes - I'm tight.

I was going by the Jamie Oliver recipe, which my brother uses and he is an ex chef so it can't be all bad

Basic pasta dough recipe | Fresh egg pasta recipe | Pasta recipes | Jamie Oliver recipe

[Hilary B]

Just flour (I used bread flour the few times I did it) a bit of salt, and eggs.
8oz flour would probably need a generous pinch of salt (you could make it without any if worried about salt in general) and 2 eggs. I didn't actually measure, just a heap of flour, with a 'well' in the top, pour in the beaten eggs, and mix rather like a small scale version of cement mixing. If there isn't enough flour to make a nice dough (and it is probably better to underestimate), add some more flour, and keep mixing...... DO NOT start thinking it is too dry. It probably isn't!
Not having one of those rolling-out machines it was a right ...... to get it thin enough for ravioli, which is the main reason I didn't make it more than a couple of times.

[vicky]

I've used the JamieOliver one and it works fine, although you need a big kitchen or to spread into the dining room too as the pasta takes over!

[Nicos]

I find it keeps well in the fridge wrapped in clingfilm - I'll make it in the morning and have it handy to roll in the evening.

I was given a pasta tree which is brill

looks a bit like this.....

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-Wy19Y1Xcy...emadePasta.png

should be easy to make, and as it's not glued you can take it to pieces to store afterwards!

[Nicos]

Talking of spaghetti trees- why don't you just go and pick some????.........

YouTube - Swiss Spaghetti Harvest 1957

[vicky]

I used a clothes airer to hang mine up on, with bamboo canes balanced between it and the table for extra space/something else to be knocked over by children...

[Bren In Pots]

Kirsty I use 4oz plain flour, 5oz semolina, 2 eggs or (one large) a drop of olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Mix with dough hook then put through pasta maker.

[Incy]

Kirsty I use 4oz plain flour, 5oz semolina, 2 eggs or (one large) a drop of olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Mix with dough hook then put through pasta maker.

Haven't made it in years but I never bothered with the dough hook. We used to have pasta parties at uni so you'd each have a mound of flour eggs etc.. and mix it with (clean) hands till it was the right consistency.
You can be inventive and add spinach or tomato puree for different colours too.
Someone even made chocolate pasta at one party

[Bren In Pots]

Think I'll pass on the chocolate pasta

[Sunbeam]

I've made the Jamie Oliver recipe (from his italian book) and found it a bit dry - add a slug of olive oil to loosen. I was bought a pasta rolling machine by OH and he came home to find all the cupboard doors open and tagliatelle hanging over them. DO NOT over roll (as much fun as it is) as this makes the pasta tough