Making Pasta

When I want a dish to taste extra special, then I make the pasta from scratch.  It tastes lighter and doesn’t sit heavy in your stomach.  It is very easy with the right equipment and takes about an hour of work.  I have a KitchenAid Artisan mixer with the trio pasta attachment.

    

There are other kinds of pasta rollers and cutters, both hand-crank and electric.  There is also a new set from KitchenAid that has a roller and 4 different cutters including a ravioli maker…that would be nice some day, but enough about KitchenAid attachments on my wish list…drool.  You can also roll the pasta dough out by hand and cut it with a pizza cutter, but this takes a lot of time and strength because the dough needs to get VERY thin.

Here are the ingredients that you will need…

2 ¼ c flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
3 eggs
1-3 tbsp water
extra flour for dusting

1) Blend the salt and flour; add eggs, oil, and 1 tbsp water to make a dough.  Add small amounts of additional water if necessary, but do so in very small amounts.  It can get sticky (too wet) quickly.

2) Knead a few times. (I let the dough hook work the dough for a few minutes until the dough forms a ball.)

3) Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for at least 20 minutes.

4) Cut the pasta into four pieces.

5) Put some flour in a dish (about a ½ cup).

6) Flatten one of the pieces of dough into a flat disk, and sprinkle it with flour.

7) Have the roller on the lowest setting, and insert the disk.

8) Fold the rolled out dough into thirds and overlap it onto itself.  Press it together so it forms a rectangle.  Sprinkle with flour and roll again on the lowest setting.

9) Increase the setting and roll, one roll per setting until you get to your desired thinness.  I use 5 for noodles for soup, 6 for linguini, and 7 or 8 for angel hair.

10) Roll out all four pieces hanging each on a drying rack.  (I use a clothes drying rack.)

11) Switch the attachment from the roller to the cutter of your choice and run each rolled out piece through the cutter.  Place the pasta on the drying rack and let it dry for 2-6 hours.

12) When it is finished drying, you can cook it, refrigerate it to use in the next couple days, or freeze it for the next month.  I use a gallon zip lock bag marked with the date.

*Pictures are courtesy of Jen at www.flickr.com/photos/varkity/

Running in the Rain

I usually try to run in cute little outfits.  I admit that I match my top to my shorts…and possibly socks.  Don’t even get me started on committing to a running shoe color (that could change the color palette that I can work with for the next 400 miles…or 3-6 months).  Anyway, in general during the spring/summer/fall, I am one coordinated, fashionable runner.  Once winter comes around…look out!  As a good friend of mine told me in high school, “You wouldn’t know fashion if it hit you in the face and said, ‘hey, I’m fashion.’” 

For running in the cold, I use this method found on RunnersWorld.com (http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267-269-12420-0,00.html)

30 degrees: 2 tops, 1 bottom. Long-sleeve base layer and a vest keep your core warm. Tights (or shorts, for polar bears).
10 to 20 degrees: 2 tops, 2 bottoms. A jacket over your base layer, and wind pants over the tights.
0 to 10 degrees: 3 tops, 2 bottoms. Two tops (fleece for the cold-prone) and a jacket. Windbrief for the fellas.
Minus 10 to 0 degrees: 3 tops, 2 bottoms, extra pair of mittens, 1 scarf wrapped around mouth or a balaclava.
Minus 20 degrees: 3 tops, 3 bottoms, 2 extra pairs of mittens, 1 balaclava, sunglasses. Or, says Arribas, "Stay inside."

Don’t worry, I’m not one of those people who runs in under 10 degrees.  My limit is 15 degrees.  If it is raining, it feels 10 degrees colder than regular.   Running in the cold is all about keeping warm.  Another issue with the cold is that during the winter, there are less hours of daylight, so the cars will try to run you over more than usual.  Here is my get-up for a 6-miler in 41 degrees and light rain.

 

 

1-      It is difficult to tell, but I have a stocking hat under a running cap.  I’ve found that stocking hats shift around while running.  A running cap (think baseball cap but is thinner and wicks away moisture) holds the stocking hat in place and helps to keep the rain out of my eyes.

2-      This is a light that clips to my hat.  I can use it on any hat with a visor.  (A great Christmas gift from Al!!)  It’s great at lighting my way and making my appearance known so people don’t run me over…always a plus.

3-      Sunglasses are great at keeping water out of the eyes, but how often is it raining and sunny…not often.  These are yellow tinted glasses that brighten everything up and keep the rain out of my eyes.

4-      Bad guys look out!  I have pepper spray, and if I remember how to use it and don’t manage to spray myself, you are totally sprayed!!

5-      My water belt has been with me through hundreds and hundreds of miles.  It keeps me hydrated…when I remember to drink the water (apparently just wearing it doesn’t do the trick).

6-      This was something new that I tried, and it was EXCELLENT!  I saw this on the internets somewhere.  I put my foot in a zip lock bag and secured it with a hair tie (those things can do anything).  It kept my foot warm and dry.  Here is a close up…

So running in the cold/rain isn’t glamorous, but it keeps me in shape so I look cute in my coordinated, non-crazy looking, running outfits.

Mine Goes to 11

A good friend of mine from waaaay back told me in college that my bitchiness goes to 11.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with This Is Spinal Tap, immediately go and watch it (immediately after you finish reading my blog and emailing it to all of your friends).  Here is the clip which is being referenced…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbVKWCpNFhY.  Though I can sometimes…with lots of energy…hide it, I can be quite the…well…bitch.  Many things in this world tick me off.  Most are normal things like people cutting you off on the highway or birds pooping on your car (stupid purple berries!!!!)  However, much of my crazy is well…crazy.  There are a bunch of little things that get to me (just ask my husband), and this is where the name comes in.

Now, I don’t want you to think that I’m just going to bitch all day on the internets (don’t think that it isn’t possible), but I do have other interests.  I enjoy cooking and baking and will display my conquests (or failures) in the culinary world.  I am a runner.  I ran my first marathon last year, and am training for a second one…trying to get under 4 hours!  I’ll talk about the crazy things that long distance runners do (at least I’m not a boy and don’t have to tape my nipples…good times).  I’m also in the process of moving from Washington, DC to Madison, WI with my husband and two Boston Terriers.  This is bound to be a gold mine for good material.  And lastly I enjoy fashion…or rather making fun of people’s idea of what fashion is (don’t worry Ashley, I won’t completely call you out here…you deserve your own post).  One of my favorite quotes is, "I just love how modern you look...as opposed to insane." - Stacy London.  Stacy London is the best.  In my dreams we are best friends, go shopping together, and yell at people on the street for wearing obnoxious clothing.  I’m so jealous of her job…though in my dream job I would be able to yell at random people for much more than just fashion.

I hope that you will be able to stop by my blog and see what my crazy is up to.  (Yes I sometimes talk about my crazy in the third person…just another one of my crazies.)