Homemade Ravioli

A few months ago my husband and I thought it would be fun to try to make our own pasta. It was fun, but it took us all night. We made fettuccine noodles and you have to let them dry for quite a while before you can boil them.

For his birthday I wanted to surprise him and make some homemade Ravioli. Tortellini is one of his favorites and this is close as I could get, the best part about this recipe is you don't have to let them dry for near as long. And you don't have to have any fancy equipment, just a rolling pin, biscuit cutter or water glass, and a fork.

For the filling:

Mix together and set aside

3/4 C. ricotta cheese

3/4 C. mozzarella cheese

1/2 C. Parmesan or Romano cheese

1 egg

2 T. chopped fresh basil

salt and pepper

Noodles

Place 1 1/2 C. Flour on a clean counter and make a well

Crack 3 eggs in the center

Start beating eggs with a fork, and gradually draw the flour from the inside walls of the well. As it begins to form a past start mixing with your hands.

*I'm warning you this is a very sticky mess, just keep incorporating all the flour as you mix until a dough forms.

Set dough aside and clean your work surface and hands. Lightly flour work surface and begin to kneed, work the dough for 5-10 Min's until it is smooth.

Divide the dough in half and begin to roll dough out with a rolling pin. Try to keep the dough in a circle and the recipe says to roll the dough paper thin...this was the best I could do. Our pasta was a bit hardy :)

Then use a biscuit cutter or a water glass to cut out circles.

Spoon one tablespoon of the filling onto one half of each pasta round

Fold over and press edges closed with a fork

Re-roll any trimmings and use to make more rounds. Lay pasta flat and allow to dry for 10-15 Min's. Turn then over half way so they dry evenly. This gives you the perfect time to start your sauce. I used the same recipe as I did for the baked spaghetti post except I added a carrot and celery with the onions and garlic and pureed it when it was done. I know it sounds weird but it adds so much flavor.

When the pasta has dried drop into a large pot of salted water and cook for 5-7 Min's.

This is obviously not something I want to do every week, but its great for special occasions. It is really one of those practice makes perfect kind of things. I had to start over several times, just don't let yourself get frustrated, have fun with it.

And once again your work will be well worth it.