Coloured Pasta

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This was my first go at coloured pasta, I’ve seen loads of posts on instagram showing beautiful colour pasta shapes and needed to give it a go. It was a lot easier that I originally thought, although my filling shape needs to be improved. lol! Practise makes perfect as they say….lol.

I use my Kitchen Aid pasta roller for this but any handheld pasta roller or even a rolling pin will do.

The general rule of thumb when making pasta is:-

100g ‘OO’ Flour, 1 egg, pinch salt. (makes enough for 2 small portions)

If you need more simply double everything ie: 200g flour, 2 eggs etc, 400g flour, 4 eggs etc.

 

For the basic past dough:-

100g ‘OO’ Flour

1 egg

Pinch of salt

For the Colouring:-

1 tsp Beetroot Powder (Red)

1 tsp Blue Pea Powder (Blue/Purple)

1 tsp Spinach Powder (Green)

You can of course use any colour you wish.

Extras:-

Semolina

Baking Sheet

Pastry Cutter

Filling:-

60g Ricotta

60g Marscapone

1 tsp nutmeg

handful chopped Dill or Spinach

40g Parmesan grated

 

  1. Make a well in the middle of your flour on a flat surface.
  2. Crack the egg into a jug, add the tsp of colouring and salt and whisk until blended, pour into the well of flour.
  3. Gently with a fork mix a little of the flour into the egg, once it starts to come together use your hands to bring together into a dough. If it is too dry just dip your fingers into water and add. You want the dough to be like a child’s play dough type texture.                                                                                                                                            20191025_181244
  4. Once in a ball wrap in cling film and leave to rest for 30 minutes.
  5. Using the pasta roller, roll through on 1 twice, then fold the edges in, this is to try and keep the pasta sheet shape, then roll through on 1 again twice then 2,3,4,5 twice then a final roll on 6 then 7 just once. Sprinkle some semolina on a baking sheet and lay pasta down, this is to try and stop it from drying and sticking too much.
  6. Once all your sheets are ready, change cutter to tagliatelle. Choosing just 2 of the colours, pass through the cutter, then coat the strips in semolina to stop sticking together.
  7. Take each strip of colour and lay onto the final colour past sheet and press down, then put through the pasta roller to combine on setting 4, then 6 then 7 just once.
  8. Now you can decide on your shape, cut using pasta cutter.
  9. If filling, turn upside down 1 sheet and add dollops of your filling leaving enough space between, using a little water to edge the pasta (this allows the seal). Take the other pasta sheet and place on top and press around filling to seal ensuring no air bubbles. Freeze the filled pasta and then cook from frozen when required. (By freezing you ensure that the filling doesn’t leak when cooking)

     

    I had some tagliatelle left over, so I just cooked in a little salt water for 2 minutes using my steam pot on my pasta setting, drained and mixed with the left over cheese mixture (quick little snack)

     

If you have any excess, allow to completely dry out by hanging (48 hours) then just bag or jar (ensuring covered with semolina to stop sticking).

Enjoy.

 


Fluffiest Omelette

 

I saw this idea on the KitchenAid Recipe FB site and decided to give it a try. Oh my…..it is by far the fluffiest and lightest omelette I’ve ever had. Great idea of using the Mixer and separating the eggs.

 

Makes 1 omelette

3 eggs

1 tbsp milk

Salt & pepper to taste

Dill or chives (your preference)

Choice of fillings (again your choice) I used sweet peppers and spring onions.

Handful of cherry tomatoes to serve – grown in my own garden.

 

  1. Seperate the eggs and whisk until fluffy with. Pour the milk into the yolk mixture. I whisked on power 6 for 3 mins, the 4 for 2 mins.

 

2. Gently fold the yolks into the whites and season.

3. Heat 1 know of butter in a non stick pan. Gently fry off the peppers and spring onions. 20180902_124142

4. Once browned pour the egg mixture into the pan and gently cook for a few minutes on eash side.

5. Remove onto a plate, cut in half the tomatoes and gently brown in the pan for a few minutes and serve.

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Chocolate & Black Cherry Ravioli

O.M.G. what can I say, another satisfying little dish. Ever since I got my pasta maker I’ve been keen to use it, so this weekend I decided to try something different. So deliciously scrumptious!

Serves 6

For the Ravioli

300g Plain Flour

1 tbsp of cocoa powder

3 eggs

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp of milk

For the Frangipane

100g ground almonds

100g powdered sugar

100g butter

1 egg

1 tbsp flour

1 tbsp dark rum

 

Others

200g caster sugar

1 vanilla pod

Handful of Black cherries

1 egg for wash

 

  1. Prepare the dough for the ravioli by mixing all the ingredients together in a mixer. Allow the dough to rest for about 1 hour covered in cling film.
  2. Meanwhile, mix up the frangipane by mixing all ingredients in a mixer until you get a thick mixture. Put into a piping bag and refrigerate until ready to use.                                                                                                                                      20180324_160519_001.jpg
  3. Cut the dough in half and flatten with your hands, then feed through a pasta maker (No. 4 or 5 setting) (or roll out to about 2mm if you don’t have one).

     

  4. Lay the pasta on a floured surface, with the piping bag place a dollop of frangipane evenly spaced on 1 of the sheets, then place a cherry on top and brush around each one with egg wash.
  5. With the other sheet of pasta lay on top and press down to seal. Cut the ravioli using a cutter and seal the edges with a fork.                                                          20180324_163707
  6. Bring about 2 litres of water with the sugar and vanilla to a boil, place the ravioli in the water and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon.                                                                                          20180325_131128
  7. Meanwhile, heat up some custard.
  8. Serve in soup bowls, pour custard in bowl and add in the ravioli, add in some black cherries and grated some dark chocolate over for extra sweetness. Yummy!

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Creamed Sweetcorn &Chicken Wontons

 

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I was so excited last week as I received my Pasta Maker Attachment for my Kitchen Aid Mixer. I decided to give Wonton wrappers a go…….well what can I say, I just love this little gadget, so easy to use and perfect wraps. I decided to cook them 2 ways, 1 boiled and 1 oven baked for a crispy texture.

Unfortunately I didn’t cut them big enough for actual wonton shapes so wonton rolls/parcels it was……lol. (lesson learned)

 

Serves 2

For the Dough

150g plain flour

1 egg beaten

pinch salt

1 tbsp oil

2 tbsp hot water

For the Filling

1 tbsp oil

3 spring onions – chopped

250g chicken – minced

2cm ginger – finely chopped

1 clove garlic – finely chopped

2 heaped tbsp creamed corn

1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce or kepcup manis (if you can get it)

1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

1 tsp dried chillies

 

  1. Using the flat beater on your mixer, mix together flour, salt, hot water, oil and egg for about 2 minutes, change to the dough hook and knead until you get a soft silky dough, approx 8-10 minutes. Wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate for about 30mins-1 hour.                                                                                                                                                                                           20171211_123915
  2. Remove from fridge and with floured hands knead for 30 secs. Cut into slices about 2cm thick.
  3. Attached the pasta attachment and flour, firstly put dough through on level 1 then pull through and fold then put through on level 2 twice, now turn to level 4 and turn through twice again, then finally turn to level 6 and turn through 2 or 3 times until the dough is almost see through. & repeat.                                                                                                                    20171211_174254
  4. Lay dough sheets onto a lightly floured surface and cut into rectangles                                                          20171211_141554
  5. Meanwhile, heat oil in a fry pan and gently fry the spring onions, garlic, ginger and chicken mince until browned. (if you have breast just use a processor to blitz into mince)                                                                                                                        20171211_143043  20171211_142024
  6. Place chicken mix into the mixing bowl, then add creamed sweetcorn, sauces, chilli, sesame seeds and salt & pepper, mix for a minute until combined.
  7. Lay dough sheets out and take 1-2 tsp of mixture and place in centre, lightly moisten the edges with water to help seal and pull up the edges to make a wonton, make sure it is tight and no air, if you’ve cut the dough too small (like me..lol) just roll them up and pinch the sides (almost like a spring roll type parcel). Repeat     20171211_145905
  8. To boil….bring a pan to boiling point reduce by 1 and place each wonton in to cook for about 3-5 minutes depending on size.                                                                20171211_180433
  9. To Bake….preheat oven to 200 deg, place on a lightly greased baking tray and bake for about 12-15 minutes.                                                                                              20171211_180450
  10. I served with sweet chilli sauce (shop bought)……….oh so yummy!