It’s been a hot minute since I blogged. You know, life has a way of being very distracting at times. Life is super weird right now. Uncertainty, frustration and cabin fever. I find my time is consumed with listening and watching the news almost obsessively, as things seem to change daily. However, I have to take a step back and realize that I have good distractions in my life right now. Like a little girl arriving in September. That keeps us positive and even more intent on doing the right thing and following the suggestions by the medical wizards that are trying their best to find a solution for this madness.
Since I am pregnant, my usual stocking up on wine and cheese and enjoying great bottles isn’t how I have prepared for this crisis. Instead, I am concentrating on great healthy meals and sometimes some good old comfort food. For the time being my blog will mostly consist of meals and DIY house projects directed at getting things ready for Meow (our nickname for the kiddo). Maybe even the occasional mocktail. I have tried a few non-alcoholic wines and they are just dreadful. So bad I cant even bring myself to write about them. I have had small glass here and there, and honestly, nothing replaces the real thing! I have found that some beers have great non-alcoholic options. Not a big beer drinker, but for some reason they taste real good to me now.
With all of the craziness in this world right now, I have taken much more time to think about all that I am grateful for. My family and their health (lets keep it up guys!), Emily Osters book that made me feel less scared about all the things to eat or not eat or drink during pregnancy, the occasional glass of wine, the three crazy cats we have, my Peloton and the time I have to make healthy tasty meals for my husband and myself.
Sunday always seem like the perfect day to maybe take a step to the side of the daily healthy meals and go for something more comforting. Like fresh homemade pasta. I could eat pasta every single day, and this is not a pregnancy craving, this is and everyday of my life craving. Making homemade pasta is not nearly as challenging as some think. But I don’t have a pasta maker? You don’t need one. Ugh, I don’t have an electric mixer to make the dough! You think back in the day they used mixers to make pasta? I generally do use my Cuisinart to make the dough, but only because it makes less of a mess than making it the old school way.
I have no shame in admitting that the other day when I went to make the dough I decided to make it the old school way only because I didn’t want to get the Cuisinart out and then have to clean it. I’m pulling the pregnancy card on this one. The old school way is simple, pile that flour up on the counter and make a nice well. Add eggs. Stir. Combine flower until dough forms. This particular recipe had me kneading it for a good 8 minutes. Make a disc, then cut into quarters. Cover. The recipe I use most of the time has the dough rest 30 minutes. This one did not.
If you don’t have a pasta maker, use that rolling pin you only use that one time of the year make holiday cookies. Take one quarter of the dough you cut and start rolling. Fold over once and roll more. Get the thickness you want. Generally, I go thin for my fettuccine. If you have a pasta maker start on the lowest setting. I start on 1 and skip to 3 then to 5 and finish on 6. Once you have all of your sheets laid out you can cut that pasta two ways. Take a knife and literally cut down lengthwise OR fold the sheet until its much smaller and cut along the open end. If using a pasta maker, use the fettuccine attachment. Lay pasta in nests or hang to dry. Fresh pasta cooks pretty quickly. Make sure you salt the water well. I cook our pasta for about 3 -4 min.
I just did olive oil, lots of pepper and parsley with some parmesan. I made pork piccata on the side with some roasted broccolini.
Fresh pasta freezes well. If you make more than you need, before cooking, make nests with your pasta strands. Its easier to freeze that way.
So in this time of crisis and uncertainty, remember all you have to be grateful for and remember, social distancing is key. So stay home and make some fresh pasta.
Pasta dough recipe:
- 2 cups of flour with extra for rolling
- 3 eggs
- pinch of salt
The Wandering Blonde Wine O 