My chef friend, John Fernadez is an amazing chef who is classically trained in Italy. The other night, we had our friends over at our place for a ‘Pasta night’. We made three different pastas and tiramisu….Seriously I have never had pasta like that in my life. It literally melts in your mouth! Emily (my dear friend & fellow food blogger) and I, Chef John, his friend Niki and Susan(Pastry instructor at my culinary school-my favorite class) working in the kitchen and Susan’s boyfriend, fong and my husband hovering in the background…what an amazing time and food we had!!!
I don’t have exact recipes for these dishes since they belong to chef John…and we didn’t quite measure things-we like to eyeball the ingredients. We added everything…..you know…till it makes sense. I will briefly explain how we made them at the end of this post…so you can add everything….you know….till it makes sense to you…:)
You know one good thing about hosting a party at your place? You get to keep the left overs! Yes, I had left over Tiramisu for lunch for next 3 days….:By the way, I microwaved pasta carbonara :::: Do not do that!! If you try to microwave it like myself to warm it up, you will end up having scrambled eggs. Warm it on a very very low heat slowly…but it’s always better eat it as soon as you make it. Many many thanks to John and all my friends for helping and eating! Good times!!!!
Ok, I’m going to trace back my memory and briefly explain how we made all these. Sorry for not having exact recipes…hope this makes sense to you…:) You can do it. Don’t be afraid. Just trust your instinct and hungry stomach.
Pasta: 2 cups Four, 3 egg yolks (Make sure you use dark yolk eggs-Trader Joes has them), Make a well in center of the flour, drop in eggs, slowly incorporate flour into eggs with a fork. Knead the dough till it becomes smooth, run it through pasta machine. (till Pretty thin. #6~8)
Brown butter sage sauce: Melt butter and cook till brown – Add sage leaves then take it off of the heat (make sure sage leaves don’t burn)
Pumpkin filling: Cooked pumpkin(or pumpkin puree), ricotta cheese, salt & salt. (You can add crushed italian cookies, like amaretti)
Carbonara: Small dice pancetta and onions, saute till brown and crispy – Add garlic – Add cooked pasta – Off the heat – Add beaten eggs and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Bolognese: Ridiculously small tiny dice on onion, salary, carrot (You can pulse them in a food processor if you want) – Saute till all the water evaporates. (Be patient, this is where big flavors develop) – Add ground beef and cook till brown – Add tomato paste cook till brown – Add wine and cook till wine has reduced by half – Add stock or water and reduce. – Add bay leaf and thyme bundle – Add more liquid and reduce more.
Tiramisu: Layer of mascarpone mixture (water and sugar-cook till soft ball stage, whip egg yolk , gradually add sugar mixture to whipped egg, whip till it become cool enough, add whipped cream)
Layer of lady fingers or sponge cake – Pour strongly brewed coffee – Another layer of mascarpone mixture – another layer of lady fingers – Last layer of mascarpone mixture – Top with shaved chocolate.
This is simply not fair — I’m STARVING, and this looks absolutely spectacular. Great pictures, and what amazing recipes. Thank you for sharing!
🙂
I made homemade pasta with a group of friends once. It was a fun experience, not to mention delicious!
I should be tired of cooking after having that responsibility for 100 years,,,,but when I see a blog such as yours, with your enthusiasm and passion for cooking, I get all riled up too! Thanks for souping up my cooking engines! Bring on the pasta!
Ronnie
The food looks amazing!
So hungry now. Beautiful pictures. I wonder if I can make pasta without a pasta machine. My mom used to do it when I was a kid…make her own pasta, slice it into wide noodles, hang over chair backs to dry, then cook it, fry it a little in butter with some onions, and then add thick cream just until the noodles soaked it up. That’s it — I’m inspired….
No way, that’s a great idea. I should try that non-pasta machine version…..mmmmmm
I just had to go in the kitchen and eat. No kidding. Looks fabulous and easy too. Guess I’d have to improvise since I dont have a pasta machine.
http://valentinedefrancis.blogspot.com
Oh my goodness. Agreed – it looks so good.
Mmm home made pasta looks amazing
Va Bene!
Homemade pasta is always the best!!! This looks great! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
That looks like my kinda partay!!
So much fun to make and eat. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, my. These dishes look absolutely amazing! I wish I had a pasta machine..
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
@graylinsample
yepindeed.wordpress.com
Beautiful food. Making my own pasta is definitely something I want to try.
Yummy! It’s making me hungry!! >.<
This looks awesome! I tried making homemade pasta once to some disastrous results, maybe next time it will be better!
Wow! I just put a pasta attachment for my KitchenAid on my Christmas list. My grandmother used to make all her pasta by hand and I often make gnocchi, but I haven’t tried my hand at other kinds of pasta. I can’t wait to try this out!
Gorgeous blog!
-Kristin
http://www.coupletastic.com
Oh my goodness these look so delicious – and I’m so hungry! Great pictures and post 🙂 Send some pasta my way, please!
Hi Christina.
A great post with photos and recipes. Glad you and your friends love to cook and
eat Italian food.
Keep enjoying your cooking and sharing on your blog.
I will mention this on my wordpress blog and on twitter. I have followers that love Italian food and wine.
Tony.
Thanks, Tony!!!
Beautiful pictures! I just wrote about the wonders of homemade pasta. It really does change everything.
I know…I only had this thick home made pasta at a restaurant….but this one we made was so thin & light….I don’t think I can go back to store-bought pasta….spoiled me…haha 🙂
My goodness!
I received the KitchenAid pasta attachment for a wedding present and have been too intimidated to use it. This is the inspiration I needed!
Amazing looking! How is the kitchen-aid pasta attachment? I recently got an old hand-crank pasta machine and love it, but it is quite a bit of work. Wondering if the kitchen-aid attachment would be a worthy upgrade..
I have a Kenmore elite mixer and we used John’s kitchen-aid pasta attachment. (It fits!) and I think it worked great! You’d better get that on your Xmas wish list now! 🙂
Glad I could make all of you hungry….heehee 🙂
Man that looks soooo good.
LOVE this idea! You can’t go wrong with homemade pasta, wine and tiramisu! Do you find that making the pasta from scratch saves you any money? It seems like a lot of work but may just be worth it (not to mention what a fun experience!).
K
I think so. Dried pastas are so expensive now. All those organic, gluten free, whole wheat….and all. I do like DeBoles pasta. But they are $$$! I just used regular all purpose flour (no special semolina flour) and we always have flour and eggs in stock, right? So yes, $ saving for sure!!!
i so love pasta. and seeing those fantastic pictures makes me hungry.. cant wait to try them myself… thank you for sharing. c”,)
http://travellersdiningdepot.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/jamie-olivers-perfect-steak/
Hi, I am inspired to try pasta making again – looks like you had a Lot Of Fun. I might invite some friends over for a ravioli evening!
g
Delicious!! And beautiful photos as well. I’ve done the homemade tiramisu before and it always turns out better than any that I’ve ordered at a restaurant. Now the homemade pasta – that will be an interesting thing to try 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!
mmmmmmmm…. I too have recently become enamored with homemade pasta.. its soo good, and fun to make! I just can’t eat store bought anymore! Thanks for sharing your experiences, they look yummy!
This looks amazing!! I’ve always wanted to try homemade pasta!
My hubby is Italian so I can totally relate! And our daughter is a great cook(Italian & French specialties and pastry wonder maker! Your photos are great! Enjoyed this post!
Everything about this post is delicious, the recipes, the pictures, everything! Awesome!
So now everyone on WordPress will be dying to come to your next pasta night! Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
I will make it sometimes….
I really love pasta, but I never have the right recipe…
Thanks for sharing…
I love your blog….
🙂
Awwweee Thanks! 🙂
LOVE PASTA! I will try to make your pasta recipe.
If it tastes like it looks I would kill for it!
Oh wow, this looks amazing! I’m a huge pasta lover, and would love to make my own pasta, it would make it so much more satisfying! Thank you for sharing this, and making my mouth water… It’s making me dream of Italian holidays…
I can certainly relate to all that wonderful homemade (and handmade) pasta. I love to make it, too. The photos are spectacular.
I’m already writing an email to my girlfriends to schedule a pasta making party for our next girls night. All I kept thinking was Yum!
Yeah pasta making paartay~ have fun and keep me posted! 🙂
Nothing beats homemade pasta. Your pictures made my stomach grumble! 🙂
Very sumptuous! These will be a sure hit for the hungry stomachs! Whoah! I should schedule a pasta party soon! Thanks for sharing!
Lovely photos to illustrate your journey to what looks like an amazing meal! I’ve been enjoying my husband’s homemade pasta for years. There’s no turning back…
Wow, what a fantastic meal! I’ve made the tiramisu before but had troubles with the pasta. Didn’t use the right flour and had sticky pasta. Will try this method next time of making it on the table, looks like a better method. Now I’m hungry. Thanks so much for sharing these great pictures, I can almost smell it cooking!
I’ve tried making fresh pasta and seriously, it changes everything! but since i still don’t have a pasta machine, i still use a rolling pin. but by december, my cousin will be sending me a machine! exciting times!
this was the comment i was hoping for! i’m also without a pasta machine (and, living in thailand with little hope of obtaining one), but oh-so-inspired by this post. have you had good results with your rolling pin? any tips or tricks?
Maybe divide the dough into manageable batches to roll easily? and strong biceps! Who needs a gym membership?! 🙂 keep me posted on your result, ok? xoxo
SO DELICIOUS and simple. Thank you so much. I wish my family had pasta nights 🙂 Keep posting!
Wonderful. Thanks. I’ve been meaning to make some for awhile. I want to to get Kitchen Aid Pasta attachment. Keep Blogging. Keep Writing.
I’ve always wanted to make pumpkin ravioli and this gives me the confidence I needed! I can’t wait to make them. These all look delicious!
YUM YUM
This is a great post! My boyfriend and I are always trying to make new dinners (in the rare occasion there is actually time to) I never thought to make your own pasta. This is really great! Definitely something I’m suggesting to him that we try. Thanks!
That is what I call dedication! My mom used to make vermicelli from scratch 🙂
No way….vermicelli from scratch?!? Lucky you….do you have a good pho noodle recipe maybe from your amazing mom? 🙂
The only time I made pasta was when I was seven and got one of those kiddie pasta machines for a birthday present. It was such a disaster (and tasted terrible) that I’ve never tried again, but this post has inspired me. Looks so yummy!
your pasta is amazing………love it!
Love Pasta very much. I need more this kind of recipe. Please post more like this. I always try new type of food. This morning I made Horiana Tea. It is one kind of tea. This tea is very testy to me.
i love pasta and i am drooling now. :/
i love pasta!!
wow…. yummy…..
i always want to make my own pasta..
but i am too afraid to ruin it..
*sigh*
+ i’m not sure with all the ingredients, i might have forget some…
yummiiii, best dishes and desert. Love Italian food.
You can’t beat it can you! once learned how to, I’m surprised people go back to buying dried other than when short on time. Your recipes, pictures and the menu looks delicious. My favourite is crab ravioli’s with a sage butter sauce, not unlike yours. Whilst on honeymoon in Lake Garda, we realised how much of an artform Pasta is in Italy, and how we were doing it wrong here in the UK; too many heavy sauces, portions that are too large. Wonderful stuff.
I was reading your post and watching photos while waiting for a recipes. Finally it’s there 🙂 And I’m very happy for it 🙂
my mom loves making homemade pasta…she made ravioli once…we couldnt take the waiting! lol
Looks divine!
awesome recipe, i cant miss this i will definitely try this.
Looks delicious! I’m so jealous… hehe
🙂
uponatlas.
As Italian having spent some years in the States I know how sometime the Italian recepies are “updated” with Amarican taste. I’ve really appreciated (looking at the pictures) yours effort and the results look very good. Just a little comment about the “Carbonara”: please don’t use “pasta fresca” (homemade pasta), and use instead “bucatini”, then avoid garlic and onion. For a best result, instead of use all eggs replace some with only yolks.
Buon appetito
Wow this looks sooooo good!! Im going to have to try this! 🙂
This reminds me of the stuff they make on food network :D, that’s how we’ll done it is. I didn’t know you could make dough out of eggs and flour. Is that the only thing you can use the dough for?
I will try at home … look nyummy …
This looks divine!
Sorry people… the real italian homemade pasta doesn’t want a “pasta-machine”! You MUST use a rolling pin (“mattarello” in italian)… 😉
Greetings from Italy.
It looks so delicious….
Goodness me, the very first photo made my mouth water! And to think I just had pasta (the dry mass produced ones)! Simply amazing and yummmm! =D
I’ve been thinking about making pasta for a week! Thanx for giving me the extra kick needed. We WILL have homemade pasta, tonight! 😉 Great post.
There is nothing more satisfying than making your own pasta. Yours looks far more delicate than mine, but I agree the taste just knocks the socks off dried pasta. What a fun evening.
Italian fare is my weakness. These dishes looked amazing and delicious! Inspired me to cook pasta this weekend! I’ve never made it fresh, though. Something I’m going to have to do, I think.
Kat
WOW! Utterly brilliant!
That looks beautiful! Homemade pasta always seems so daunting but it is totally worth it! Great pictures.
It all looks wonderful! Yummmm.
Have made ravioli on several occasions but don’t have the enthu or courage to make pasta. Besides we don’t have machines for them here. Just ate pasta tonight and decided to add the broccoli that was beginning to get a bit yellow to use it up. Not a good idea for it was so overpowering.
Those pictures look mouthwatering! Too bad making your own pasta takes a lot more patience than preparing the kind from a box :/
Yum! And beautiful pictures!
Wow, that looks so delicious!
Wow!!!
lovely very nice i like it…..
great work keep it up.
Oh my goodness! Talk about a mouth watering post! I’m not a big pasta eater (as in I don’t incorporate pasta in my daily meal choices), but I definitely want to give this a try. Thanks for sharing this!
These pasta dishes look fantastic! I have never made homemade pasta before, seems interesting. I will have to try this with my kids. Thank you for sharing this.
What kind of mixer/pasta press thingy is that??? I want to find it.
Oh, wow! Had I known, I would have gate crashed…I absolutely adore pasta…YUM!!
looks delicious! reminds me of our recent trip to italy. i wished i was good enough to just “add until it makes sense”.
This really looks amazing. I love your pictures, especially the bolognese. I write an Italian food blog, check it out. http://www.basilicopomodoro.com
very delicious !!!
I need to go and eat a sub-par breakfast now thanks to these delicious, delicious photos. But seriously. That. Looked. Phenomenal. I tried to make homemade pasta once when I had just moved into an apartment in college. Mine neither looked like nor tasted like what I expect those to taste like….
This has made me very hungry! Love it!
Wow. It sounds like so much fun! Great photos too!
Your words please my palate..I taste real pasta…
God Bless You
paul
Being a Computer Science Student, Food is one of the great Aspect, and Damn I Need that Pasta!!
Because of this.. Im craving for Pasta now 🙂
Who isn’t up for a good pasta especially home made. I’m not sure I could be bothered making it myself from scratcch. I just don’t have that kind of dedication:)
This is evidence that pasta should be a main food group. Thanks for sharing the recipe along with the stunning pictures. And I completely agree with the trusting your gut idea when it comes to cooking. That’s often what produces the best dishes.
Looks like a totally awesome night…
Bless You
paul
Great Blog i come again to your blog …..:)
see this
http://www.allitreview.com/
Where’s my dinner invitation? I’m pretty sure I was supposed to be there! 🙂 Seriously, I’m a carb-o-holic and this looks like heaven!
Love your pasta bolognese. Fresh pasta looks great, yummy! ^.^~