How to make homemade pasta dough with basil from scratch using a Blendtec Twister Jar (plus, I’m giving one away). The basil here is used similar to how you would make spinach pasta dough rather than just mixing in minced herbs, which results in a green-colored pasta and a strong but not overwhelming basil flavor.
This past Sunday we headed off to the farmers market to find the vendors are slowly starting to clear. It happens every year around this time when their particular items are done for the season, and with the weather dropping to below freezing this weekend, you can be sure the trend will continue in higher numbers the next two weekends.
This always sends me into a sort of frenzy where I suddenly feel as though I need to buy every single apple available, stack case upon case of tomatoes in the trunk, consider the finer points of freezing and blanching and canning and preserving and literally bite off more than I can chew in each department. The chill in the air seems to penetrate down into my soul, which I assume sits slightly to the right of where my heart lies.
I imagine that winter comes like the dementors, spreading cold across all that is living, and looking to suck my soul from my body. My personal Patronus is the act of stockpiling all that I can in an effort to keep my soul intact. (Yes, I am rereading Harry Potter with my 8-year-old.)
(Incidentally, pictured above is my 6-year-old. She still prefers Dr. Seuss for her nightly reading and her HP via video. I imagine her Patronus to be a Seuss-like mix of Hedwig and Fawkes. I apologize to everyone who is not a Harry Potter fan or forced to become one via your children.)
This is how I came to be cooking down 6 quarts of tomatoes, turning the last of my basil into pesto and pasta, baking bread, canning salsa, and simmering applesauce all at once Sunday afternoon. Luckily, I had helping hands and a gorgeous day to spend together in the kitchen prepping food for the week ahead.
As we were sitting down to dinner that night, pasta on plates eaten on the patio for perhaps the final time this year, I realized that my most treasured family moments are born out of the kitchen and the congregation that happens there. Two kids fed pasta dough through the machine at the counter, another worked on stirring sauce, and the fourth sat working on homework on the same floured table where the pasta dough was kneaded. It was chaos, but in each separate moment within the chaos was this intense calm where I could have stopped time and remained forever.
A Giveaway:
I’m giving away a Blendtec Total Blender Classic Wildside and Twister Jar to one lucky reader!
- The Wildside has a 4″ blade a a 3-quart BPA-free jar.
- Smart-Touch Tec-nology incorporates variable speeds that ensure your smoothies, soups, and sauves are extra smooth and your ice expertly crushed.
- The Twister Jar is specifically engineered for creating smooth pesto, pasta dough, nut butters and more.
- A 7-Year Warranty to protect your investment and be enjoy the blender for years to come.
TO ENTER:
Leave me a comment! Any little comment. Tell me about your blender woes (I killed my last one by leaving a spoon in it!) or your favorite things to make with a blender.
For Bonus Entries:
Tweet or share the following on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did:
Enter to win a @Blendtec Wildside Blender via @FoodforMyFamily http://wp.me/puu57-39b #giveaway
Share this recipe on Pinterest and leave a commenting letting me know you did.
THE RULES:
This giveaway is provided by Blendtec and will run until Friday, October 12, 2012 at 11:59 pm CDT and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years of age and older. A winner will be chosen at random using Random.org from all eligible entries. Chosen winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize. Good luck!
Note: You can use the Twister Jar to mix the flour into the pasta dough as well. Add the flour slowly, and pulse while turning the Twister lid counterclockwise until all the flour is incorporated. Remove the dough and knead as directed in the recipe.
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon olive oil
pinch sea salt
1 3/4 cups “00″ flour or all-purpose flour
In a blender, mix together basil leaves, eggs, and oil. Pulse until smooth, though some flecks of basil are expected. Place the flour on the table and create a well in the center. Pour the basil and egg mixture into the well. Mixing with a fork, incorporate the flour until a dough forms. The dough should be slightly tough. Knead the dough 5-7 times and then allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes.
After the dough rests, continue to knead until all the lumps are gone. At this point you can feed the dough through a pasta machine, starting on the highest setting and then moving to lower settings, or you can roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin to 1/8″ thick or thinner. Cut into strips. Hang the pasta to dry slightly as you prepare the water.
Note: Pasta can be dried completely for at least 3 hours and then stored in an airtight container for up to three days or frozen and stored for up to a month.
In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water and 3 tablespoons of salt to a boil. Add the pasta, stirring as it goes in so that it does not stick together, return to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Check the pasta at this point. Fresh pasta generally cooks in 2-6 minutes depending on thickness.
When the pasta is al dente, drain, and toss with desired pasta sauce or olive oil/butter. Serve immediately.
Makes 3-4 servings.
More from Food for My Family
https://twitter.com/MeganWyble1/status/256852882337456128
http://pinterest.com/pin/324892560587859680/
Would love to be able to make almond butter with a blendtec!
Definitely would like to try this basil pasta recipe!
http://pinterest.com/pin/530791506051718266/
https://twitter.com/jneatherlin/status/256885368387948544
This looks like an awesome piece of equipment that I’d probably not be able to afford anytime soon. I would love to try making my own peanut butter and hummus. I also love to make smoothies.
Thank you for this giveaway and the opportunity to participate.
I love to make milkshakes!!!
i’m a fan of your blogs and oh i’d love to get a blendtec too!
I would love a blender to make all the awesome recipes I’ve seen by using a BlendTec.
I’ve tweeted about this giveaway.
I’ve pinned this recipe to my pasta board.
[...] superior nut grinding ability you can even make nut butters, like homemade Nutella or homemade pasta! I never knew how effortless working in the kitchen could be with a blender like this! It does [...]
My blender woes? My blender is barely strong enough to blend water!
Thanks for this delicious looking recipe. I want to make homemade pasta some time. My daughter’s 10th birthday party was at a cooking school and they made homemade pasta, it was yummy!
Margaret´s last post ..Book Review: The Joy ‘Fit Club by Joy Bauer #bookreview
I pinned your recipe (would have done it without the giveaway to be honest! LOL!)
http://pinterest.com/pin/262264378271487448/
Margaret´s last post ..Book Review: The Joy ‘Fit Club by Joy Bauer #bookreview
Hi, Shaina! Just found your basil pasta recipe………sounds easy and I’m definitely trying it!
I’ve not done anything really infamous with my blender–just the usual like leaving the top off or having the center pop off while blending hot soup….the worst I’ve had happen is to blend bay leaves because I forgot to remove them before processing and then, of course, worry that they were blended enough not to do harm!
I make coleslaw in my blender: add cabbage wedges (this should be done in several stages), fill blender with water. Blend until all the cabbage pieces are carried to the bottom and then stop immediately! Drain in colander. Add a slice onion, slice green pepper, small carrot cut into chunks to one of the cabbage stages. (I usually squeeze my cabbage out in my hands,also). Use your preferred dressing and chill.
Also posted to my/my husbands facebook page just now for blender give-away!
Do realize it’s over….looks like a nice blender…so posted any way!
Green smoothies would be a really simple and convenient way to eat my veggies but my blender can’t handle them. I would love a good, strong blender for smoothies and also nut/seed recipes!
I need to get more veggies into my family – a Blentec would do the trick!
So, funny story. I have a 2 year old who is in that lovely rambunctious age where he likes to grab a bit of this and a bit of that. Last week, as you would have it, he decided to reach out for our old blender on the counter. That thing had been through the ringer and while it really shouldn’t have shattered… it did. After my initial shock of the carnage I scooted him out and cleaned it up. I have decided that it was really an assisted suicide considering that the blender was older than my 12 year old.
So sad I missed the contest, but happy for a good review of a sturdy blender
Thanks!
Willa Campbell´s last post ..You’re Doing Great – Reminders for Happy Homeschooling