Basic Homemade Pasta

Ingredients

3 Cups all-purpose flour

1 Teaspoon kosher salt

1 Cup warm water

1 Tablespoon olive oil

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor place flour and salt, run the food processor to aerate the flour for approximately 10 minutes. Through the feeding tube begin to drizzle in the water and olive oil while the processor is still running. Only add enough water to make the dough form a ball. Continue to process for another 10 minutes. You may need to add additional water or flour to get to the right consistence (a smooth non tacky dough). Remove pasta dough from the food processor form into a disk and cover with plastic wrap, and set aside for approximately 20-30 minutes. Divide the disk into 8 pieces. Taking 1/8 of the dough at a time, and roll it out or roll it through a pasta machine until it's a fraction thicker than a sheet of paper (if using a pasta machine roll dough out to a #7 thickness) even the sheet of pasta out (in a rectangular shape) cut it in ½ and stack both halves on top of each other sprinkling flour between sheets. Then cut in ½ once again, follow same process. Once you have a stack of pasta dough measuring approximately 3” x 6” using a pizza cutter, cut the pasta into 1 ½ – 2 inch wide stripes. Separate the pasta so they won't stick together. Shake off excess flour from pasta and add to a pot of salted boiling water. Pasta is ready once it begins to float to the top. Add to the skillet with the beans and cook over low heat. This process will help thicken the sauce. Remove from heat and add the cheese and toss the pasta. Serve immediately. Enjoy.

Pasta Casalinga Con Fagioli ed Prosciutto Affumicato

Pasta Casalinga Con Fagioli ed Prosciutto Affumicato

(Homemade Pasta With Beans & Smoked Ham)

Ingredients

½ Cup Smoked Ham, diced

6 Cloves Garlic, sliced razor thin

1 Tablespoon Basil, finely chopped

1 Tablespoon Parsley, finely chopped

1 19oz Can cannellini beans, drained

3 Tablespoons tomato paste

1 14.5oz Can chicken broth

Salt & Black pepper to taste

Olive oil

Pinch granulated sugar, optional

¼ - ½ Cup Romano cheese, grated

Directions

In a heavy skillet saute the ham in approximately 3 tablespoons of olive oil until crisp, add the garlic. Once the garlic has softened add the tomato paste and continue to saute over low heat, until tomato paste is well incorporated. Add the beans and chicken broth and simmer for approximately 15 minutes, taste and add sugar, salt and pepper as needed (keep in mind that u will be adding grated cheese which is salty). Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and continue to simmer for an additional 20 minutes. Homemade pasta should be used if possible, the recipe follows.

Mozzarella In Carrozza

Ingredients

8 Slices bread

1 Pound mozzarella, sliced into ¼ inch slices

4 Extra large eggs, beaten

1 Cup seasoned bread crumbs

Salt and black pepper to taste

3-4 Basil leaves

Canola oil for frying

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Directions

Heat canola oil and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, add the basil and allow to crisp up. The basil will flavor the oil slightly, but this step maybe omitted.

Sandwich a slice of mozzarella between two slices of bread and dip both sides into the beaten eggs. Dredge in the bread crumbs, and fry until golden brown on both sides. Cut in half and serve while hot. Can also be served with a little marinara sauce on the side for dipping. Enjoy!!