The quest for eggy pasta

I have been begging S for a pasta-making machine. I love pasta and eating noodles of all kinds, but something about the chewiness of the home made variety really makes for a different level of fooding.
I set out today to endeavour an egg pasta without the machine. I used about 600g of flour and mixed in 4 eggs and 2 egg yolks, a dash of olive oil and a pinch of salt to begin the process of making the dough.


After much kneading, I begin adding lashes of water every now and then as there really was too much egg in this recipe and the dough was not moist enough.
My grandmother used to make us noodles every Saturday when we were kids, so I channelled a lot of my memories of her into making this dish. After a long time of kneading and not seeing the silkiness that the dough should have started developing, I enlisted the help of my brother who gave it a good few hard kneads with his muscles to finish off the process.
After resting the dough for about 30 minutes,


we took turns rolling out small pieces of dough on a floured surface to make a flat piece. It took a few goes, but I found the process much easier if we cut off slices of the dough and begin rolling them out lengthways. Once you get it quite thin, flour both sides and fold it a little like an accordion and with a dry sharp knife you can begin to cut the noodles out in the width you want the noodles to look like.
We ended up making something like a fettucine:

And then turned it into this finished dish:

It was a really good bonding session with my brother. I kind of feel what Helen and Steve on the current My Kitchen Rules must feel like when they cook together. We shared so many memories of the wonderful meals our grandmother used to make whilst we made the pasta together. It was a rare ocassion where we weren't bickering or getting on each other's nerves.

I loved the pasta. It was certainly very al dente. Much like the ones that I remember from Italy. It is no wonder the Italian girl I met at surf camp said to me she didn't like the pasta in Australia. She said they all tasted like they were cooked in cold water. I realise now that if you eat hand made pasta like we did, there is a big difference in texture from the store bought variety.

Serve the dish straight from the stove on a rainy afternoon such as this one, and then wash it down with my new favourite drink, mineral water with a dash of creme de cassis for flavour. Looks pretty and makes me feel like I am having a cocktail.

Another V day post

Just because there is such a flurry of emotions today at the workplace (I work with many young females) and all the energy I put into making a normal weeknight dinner a VDay special, I really wanted to do another random post on the pretty things surrounding me today.






Passion fruit macaron from work






The Christian Dior saddle pochette in blue that I am wearing because it is tres romantique.






Centerpiece for our dinner from our very own garden!






This is how I have plated up our fried rice tonight to be had with grilled barramundi and sweet and sour chicken






Dessert of fruit salad and home made raspberry and macadamia ice cream

And our bedroom air is now infused with a lovely blue ocean scent from these essential oils I purchased to set the mood.

Ooooh can't wait for hubby to get home from work!


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Xmas bake

So what's a girl to do when there are heaps of family left to buy pressies for and you've got Xmas eve eve off work but am not game to brave the crowds at the shops?





I made stars, aspiring jingle bells, Christmas trees and holly. My little bro thinks they taste good and my friends squealed with delight when I produced them at Christmas eve eve dinner last night. Success!

Haha...





Feliz Navidad

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Last bits of DIY

One would think that this close to the wedding the creative juices might stop flowing, but the thrifty bride in me is still grumbling over just how much things are in Wedding land.

This week I got out the craft box again and attempted to make the seating chart frame for the reception.



All it took was a thrift store frame for $11, the leftover pearls from the invitations and the lace I decorated the wishing well with. I think I am pleased with the results. S might think it too girly though maybe?

I also embellished the wishing well a bit more and now can decide which version I'd prefer.



Or this one?




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The DIY ring pillow

I left work early yesterday to go to Urban spa for a full body scrub, back massage and facial. I feel so soft and new all over! Am wondering if I should go one more time before the wedding?

That isn't the most exciting thing that made my day however, our wedding looming ahead I decided to apply my sewing skills to making our own ring pillow using the lace for the cake that I am now no longer using and scrap material I have just lying around. It's peach and it's got pearls and lace. What do you think?

Back view






Hehe plus my engagement shoot pics have been edited and are in the mail! I hope I get them today. Can't wait to lay my eyes on them! I promise I'll post some good ones up!

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Centerpieces update

So I know that I had made my centerpieces way ahead in time, but the luxury or curse (depends on how you see it) is that this affords me the time to make little adjustments to them. Hopefully for the better...

For example, this week, I thought I'd add in some baby's breath cause I was bought a bunch of them for $12 from the dollar shop. And this is what transcended:

And I do like them better this way... I also made an extra one just in case we end up having more than the sixteen tables I originally thought we were having. I also started thinking about what I would like to have as the centerpiece for the Bridal table as I had ordered that one from the florist and this will be fresh flowers. As it is an asian style reception, we get a round table amongst the guests, but I will have it distinguished with ivory chair sashes instead of the peach ones the other tables get.

I think I like this for an idea. It kind of ties in the rest of the centrepieces (I will ask for the colours to be matched where possible) but is a grander version on its own.

And I will just get some tealights for the table I suppose. I wonder how much extra she'd charge me for the crystals and the mirror plate if I hire those from her?

Otherwise, I can just as easily buy those from the dollar shop I am sure! Am really excited about discussing this idea with the florist then!

My DIY projects...

for when I really want something but its proving too expensive to get the things I want:

1)My Quill Pen for the signing of the Register Of Marriage:

2) My Guestbook:

3) My Centerpieces

 4) My Wishing Well!!! Hahaha, well, it will be when I am done decorating it with some organza or tulle to keep the envelopes from falling out.

I love it! And it opens in half instead of having an awkward little door and has a solid base which makes it so perfect for a wishing well. And guess how much I paid for it? $15!!!

5) Our monogram, although I am still not sure where I'd be using this logo yet. FH is a superman fan if I haven't already mentioned this?