fresh pasta - recipe and instructions

Karmacat

This is a great thread! I too have a freecycle pasta maker - I picked it up yesterday, just as lbt was writing that post that brought this thread back to life! I was whirring all the rollers around and lots of bits fell out - so I make some pasta dough and "waste" it, that sounds right. I've also googled "cleaning pasta makers", believe it or not, and there's one set of instructions online about dismantling the things with Phillips screwdrivers, plus a video on youtube about cleaning with a dowel and a brush. Somebody recommended paper towels soaked in vinegar to be run through the machine (tho it was then said that vinegar contains too much water to be safe), or greasing with food-safe grease - that seemed to be the concensus in the end. Who ever knew there was so much to it?

lbt_2

Hi Karmacat

Are you trying it out today? Let me know how you get on.

I am going to give it a bit of a clean - it has never been used but the box was quite dusty, and I don't fancy dusty pasta. I have promised the girls we can try it out today and they can make some for their dinner - so fingers crossed

I love freecycle, I have given quite a lot away recently because we cleared out our garage but I have got some lovely treasure in return.

Good luck!

Claire x

lbt_2

Just had an idea about cleaning the pasta machine. Mine hasn't been used yet so it doesn't have any food in it but it has a bit of oil etc on the rollers so I have been rolling kitchen roll through and it is coming up really well.

lbt_2

A pasta update

All in all very successful. The pasta was delicious but took quite a long time this time because even though I made a batch to clean the machine with I still got a few black marks on the edges of the pasta after rolling which I had to trim off each time.

Definitely worth the effort though and I will make it again.

How did you get on Karmacat?

Magentasue

Glad you found it worthwhile! I'm far quicker now, partly because I'm now very organised before I start.

lbt_2

Hi Sue

I followed your instructions to the letter so thank you very much. I see what you mean about giving yourself space!!

It was very therapeutic I must say

I will do the basic version a few more times, then try something a bit different ... I am off to search for some recipes now

belfastgirl23

I am planning to dig out the pasta making macine over xmas and do something interesting with it. Has anyone tried anything beyond ordinary spaghetti etc type pasta? Vegetarian especially welcome! I have about 4 bags of pasta flour to use up so need to figure out something nice