There are many great meals to prepare when planning to use dry pasta. Which pasta is going to be used, spaghetti no. 8, thin spaghetti, rotini, penne, macaroni, tagliatelle, whole grain, homemade, etc. The list goes on and on, but depending on what dish you have in mind, the pasta that you make, whether fresh or dry, can compliment your dish. What are some dishes made using fresh and dried pasta? Well, there is lasagne, ziti, rasta pasta, chicken or shrimp alfredo, salads (my cold pasta salad), spaghetti and meatballs, macaroni and cheese to name a few. You can change up on the type of noodles used to become a little adventurous and unique in making your own pasta dish.
Pasta dishes are one of my favorite things to make a meal complete especially, to get the kids’ mouths slurping AND little tummies full. If I were to take a guess, I would say that at least 60 percent of kids or more LOVE pasta. Heck, even adults love pasta! Pasta can be used as a bed when making foods like Chicken Parmesan or Chicken Cacciatore or even Meatballs. You would just lay your meat on top of the pasta. Simple and quick! Love it! It works great for entertaining kids when planning pajamas and birthday parties.
Can you store fresh pasta for later use? YES!!!!! You can store your pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator, up to two days or freeze the pasta on a baking sheet, laid out individually, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Works like a champ! When storing dried pasta, it can last for months in a cool, dry place, usually your cabinet/pantry.
Is it simple to make homemade pasta? ABSOLUTELY! Go to my recipe tab and take a go at it. Very easy, simple and fun to make. This might be time consuming, but fresh is different from dry. To start off making your pasta, you will need just a few ingredients and a pasta machine or pasta attachment to your stand mixer. Add your dry ingredients, make a well and egg, water and oil, mix with a fork and incorporate your dry ingredients in small batches until you have a nice consistency to your pasta dough before rolling and flattening out. Listen, if you do not have a pasta machine or attachment, use a rolling pin to flatten your dough. Make your dough flat enough as it expands when boiling and cut into your desired shape using a bench scraper, pizza cutter or knife. When making fresh pasta, cooking time is shorter than your dried pasta. It will probably take four minutes of boiling time to get to the point of al dente with fresh pasta. Have fun making your pasta, happy slurping!!!!
Aunt Carmen
