Paws Pasta

This is the pasta maker I’m using. That is an Amazon affiliate link! I will say that I got this machine when it was on a pre-Black Friday sale and I paid about $189 for it. Now, it’s $280 so . . I think I would shop around or watch for it to go on sale somewhere. But, I do love it and am having so much fun with it.

Also, Pastidea has amazing dies and I was able to get a few when they were having a sale. The sale was based on the amount you spent, with a maximum discount of 30% and, depending on how much you spent, you could get free shipping or discounted shipping, which helped since they’re in Italy. I think even without reaching the free shipping threshold, I had to pay about $10 shipping, which isn’t bad from Italy.

Anyway, I made paws pasta yesterday with one of the new Pastidea dies.

I haven’t tried to make pasta since before Thanksgiving and I totally forgot what little bit I had learned. The way the machine works is that you put the flour in, then pour the egg/water mixture in while the machine is mixing the dough. It mixes for 3 minutes and then it starts extruding. I’ve been putting down a floured dish towel under the machine so when I cut the pasta, it falls onto the floured towel. As soon as it started extruding, I realized I didn’t have any place ready for the pasta to fall so I grabbed a plate.

Then I realized I didn’t have my pasta cutter and didn’t see it. I grabbed a butter knife hoping it wouldn’t die but there are screws on both sides that stick out and my hand kept hitting those and messing up the cut. Then I realized I had put the cutter in the little drawer at the bottom of the pasta machine so I grabbed it and was able to get going at a good speed.

Vince walked in and I was talking to him and let one get too long before cutting it. I laughed thinking that one looks like one of Cooper’s huge feet.

I was happy that the cooked pasta held the paw shape. The photo below is cooked pasta.

I’m really happy with this machine. I got Chad, Nicole and Addie one for Christmas and I’m hoping Addie will enjoy making pasta. It is so easy to make. I ordered them a paw die too.

I have a Christmas tree die and I’m going to use freeze dried basil or freeze dried sweet potato leaves and try to make green Christmas tree pasta for part of our Christmas dinner. I’ll make that ahead of time and see how it turns out before serving it at Christmas.