by Mary Hale

Created on: November 01, 2009

Ever wondered how the dried pasta and macaroni sold in stores is made? Maybe you even thought about making some at home, but decided that it would be too hard? If so, read on; homemade pasta is really quite simple and easy to make, plus it has a much better flavor and is also better for you than the store bought variety. It does not have quite as long of a shelf life, however; this is because it does not have the additives and preservatives that the store bought pastas have in them.

Pasta is made up of flour, eggs and liquid; it can also be spiced up or flavored by the addition of dried or fresh herbs and spices to make a new and delicious experience. Lets start out with a couple of basic pasta recipes, and then you can alter them to make new versions that your family is sure to enjoy.

Homemade Egg Noodles:

Ingredients:

2 cups flour (all purpose works best)

2 egg yolks (beaten)

1 beaten egg

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon olive or canola oil

1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Directions:

In a medium bowl, mix 1 3/4 cups of the flour and the salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks, and the egg. Add water and oil to the eggs, stirring to combine. Pour egg mixture into the well in the flour, and stir to combine. Dough will be stiff.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of flour onto a clean surface and turn the pasta dough out onto it. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Cover the pasta dough with a clean towel and let it rest, undisturbed, for 10 minutes. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions, and roll each portion out into a large rectangle approximately 1/16 inch thick. Let the rolled out dough stand, uncovered, for 20 minutes.

Loosely roll up the dough, starting from the widest side, as if you were making a jelly roll. Cut the dough into 1 inch wide strips and then shake them gently to separate. Cut the strips into 2 to 3 inch long noodles. Dry the pasta either by hanging it (plastic coat hangers work well for this), placing the pasta on a pasta rack, or into a dehydrator for at least 1 hour. The pasta can then either be cooked immediately, stored in the refrigerator for 3 days, or stored in air tight containers in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Basic Homemade Pasta Dough:

Ingredients:

2 1/3 cup flour (all purpose works best)

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons Olive or Canola oil

1/3 cup water

1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Directions:

In a medium size bowl, combine 2 cups of the flour and salt. In another

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