Fettuccini Alfredo

I sometimes forget how easy it really is to make your own pasta. Especially with the help of the pasta roller on my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. And the taste is just incomparable. Last night's dinner was Fettuccine Alfredo and Focaccia Bread... and I just want to say this bread is very addicting!

Fresh Pasta

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 large eggs

1 Tablespoon kosher salt

1/3 cup water

1 Tablespoon olive oil

Place flour, salt, eggs, and olive oil in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for a few seconds until blended. Add water through feed tube two Tablespoons at a time. When dough starts to form a ball stop adding water. Process an additional 30 seconds. Remove from bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow dough to rest for 30 minutes.

Remove a tennis ball size piece of dough. (keep remaining dough covered to keep from drying out) Dust with flour, and flatten in a disc shape with your hands. Pass through pasta machine set at widest setting. Fold dough in half, dust with more flour if needed and pass through machine again. Repeat this process approx. 20 times dusting with more flour as needed. Then without folding dough pass through machine increasing the setting each time until desired thickness is required. Place dough on lightly floured surface until ready to pass through pasta cutter. Cut in desired shape. When ready to use boil for only a few minutes in a large pot of salted water. Watch carefully, fresh pasta cooks extremely fast. Drain and add sauce and toss. Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese.

Fettuccine Alfredo

2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

In a medium size saucepan heat cream and lemon juice over medium heat. Add butter and lemon zest, stirring occasionally until butter is melted. Reduce heat to low and add Parmesan cheese , whisk until incorporated. Remove from heat and add nutmeg, salt and pepper. Pour over pasta and toss. Grate additional Parmesan cheese over top if desired. Serve.

And the recipe for the Focaccia bread can be found in one of my new favorite cookbooks, Cooking Dinner http://www.atavolatogether.com/index.php Check out their website and blog for fabulous recipes.