Homemade Egg Noodles - Easy and Delicious

If you have a pasta machine you know how delicious fresh, homemade egg noodles taste.  If you do not have a pasta machine you can still easily make homemade noodles.

I use a food processor to mix the dough but you can also make it by hand and simply knead it a bit on the counter or a floured board. 

An important tip is to make sure you give the dough time to rest.  This relaxation time helps the dough to roll out easier and seems to make a nicer pasta.

The ingredients are simple and you can dry them for a few minutes, an hour or dry them over a broom stick and cook them at a later time.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups flour - I use winter wheat as it is softer - This can be found as 'Bread Flour' in supermarkets
1 tsp salt
3 eggs
A tiny bit of water, if necessary

Additional flour for kneading and rolling out

Method:

If you use a food processor to mix the dough, just dump everything in and turn it on.  Process until the dough forms a ball that sticks together.  If necessary, add a few drops of water until this happens.

If you are using a bowl, mix the flour and salt together and make a well in the middle.  Crack and check the eggs and put them in the well.  Stir with a spoon until well blended.  At this point, if the dough is too dry, add droplets of water until it begins to form a ball and cleans the side of the bowl.  Turn out onto a lightly floured board or the counter and knead until the dough is soft but not too sticky.

Wrap the dough and chill it for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.

On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to the desired thickness (anywhere from 1/4 inch to paper thin). Be sure to rotate or otherwise move the dough between each pass of the rolling pin to keep the dough from sticking to the work surface. Sprinkle everything with flour as necessary to keep the dough from sticking.

Cut the dough with a sharp knife or even a pizza cutter.  They can be as wide or narrow as you like.  Allow them to dry until you are ready to cook them.  I have used baking racks but mostly I hang them over a dowel or broomstick.  Most like to cut their noodles perfectly but as you can see by the photo at the top, my little granddaughter prefers her free form method.

Boil the noodles in salted water or broth until tender to the bite - the timing will depend on how thick the noodles have been rolled - usually between 10-15 minutes.  Enjoy!

Parker House Rolls - Rich and Delicious

Have you ever wanted to make homemade dinner rolls but felt they were too much work?  Do you crave that rich roll flavour but purchase them at a bakery because you want them to come out looking perfect?

Now you can make delicious Parker House Rolls - so easy even a 4-year old can shape them!

My granddaughter shaping rolls. 
She is making half a batch and using an 8x8" pan

Rich Roll Dough

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups warm milk (or milk substitute)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (or sugar substitute made for baking)
2-3/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (or one package)

1/2 cup butter (or margarine)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 cups bread flour

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

13x9x2" pan, lined with baking paper

Rolls in 13x9x2" pan, ready to bake

Baked Parker House Rolls

Method:

Warm milk (to about 110°F/43°C
Pour into large bowl.
Add sugar and stir
Sprinkle yeast over milk mixture and let set until it becomes a bit frothy

Melt butter or margarine and pour into milk mixture.  Check egg and add to milk mixture.  Mix until combined.   Add about 2 cups of the flour and the salt and beat with a spoon or use a mixer (this helps to develop the gluten and makes a nice, soft dough) 
Put two cups of the flour on the counter or a board and make a well in the centre. Pour the mixture from the bowl on top. Knead for about five minutes, adding up to half a cup of flour so the dough is soft, smooth but not sticky.

Turn dough into an oiled bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in bulk - about an hour if your house is warm.

Melt the 1/2 cup of butter in a bowl.  Line your baking pan. Set on the counter where you will be working.

Using a rolling pin (or a wine bottle :) ) roll out the dough until 1/8" thick.  Using a round cutter or a glass, cut circles from the dough and set to the side.  Roll extra dough out again and repeat until all dough has been cut into circles. 

Dip each circle of dough into the butter and then fold in half.  Place in pan, folded side down.  Repeat with each dough circle, arranging them as in the photo at the very top.  Once they rise, the rolls will fill out the pan and be stuck together to form little loaf-like rolls.

Allow to rise, covered, on counter until doubled in bulk.  Pre-heat oven to 350°F/175°C. When oven is hot, bake the rolls for 15-25 minutes or until tops are golden brown and rolls are puffy.

Place on a rack to cool for 5 minutes then turn out from the pan onto a serving platter or rack. 

Enjoy!

K (D) or (P) if margarine and milk substitute are used