Fresh Pasta

If you give a mouse a cookie, he'll want a glass of milk.

If we're going to make fresh pasta, everyone will want fresh sauce. And if we're going make a delicious sauce, why not conjure up some tasty sides? Then there's wine and dessert, and before we know it, our lovely fresh pasta is no longer the star -- it's just one of the night's dishes.

Well not this time, Mouse.

We chose the best pasta recipe that we could find, and served it plain -- optional sauce on the side, fresh lemon juice and Parmesan for those so inclined. Alex and his brother rolled out the dough. Simple and beautiful.

Ingredients (serves 3-4):
2 1/4 cups flour
3 eggs

Instructions:
Put flour on your work surface, and make a well into the center. Break eggs into the well, and beat them with a fork, drawing in flour gradually. Continuing beating in flour until a soft dough forms. Lightly flour your hands, and knead dough for 10-12 minutes, until pliable. You can add more flour to your hands if the dough becomes sticky. Insert a finger into the center of the dough, if it is almost dry, the dough is ready for the machines. Cut dough into egg-sized pieces and roll through pasta machine according to pasta machine instructions (likely beginning at widest setting and moving to narrowest). If you aren't going to cook the pasta immediately and don't have a pasta rack, you can use clean clothes hangers. Boil water for pasta, and cook until done, probably about 5 minutes.