Noodle Day

Another hot and humid day in northern Illinois!

One of those days you can almost hear the corn growing!

I am gearing up for Saturdays first Farmers Market.

On the Thursdays before I usually make my noodles to sell .

I was up early this morning to begin.

First I mix up the dough.

Flour, eggs, olive oil and a few tablespoons of water go in the food processor.

The dough comes out a little lumpy.

I give it a few shakes of flour, knead it a couple of times and put it in a plastic bag to rest for and hour or so.

While waiting today I began pitting cherries.

The birds didn't get all of mine this year!

In fact, the tree still has quite a few left.

My secret weapon for getting the pit out,

Just a regular old bobby pin!

Poke the rounded end into the cherry and pull the pit out.

Works like a charm!

After that job was done I got my pasta machine out for noodle making time.

The dough had rested enough to give it the right elasticity.

I cut it into thick pieces and roll those in flour.

Then I roll  the dough thru the machine at its widest setting.

One pass at its widest and then the next time through at the 2nd smallest.

Then its time to cut the noodles.

My machine makes a wide fettuccine noodle or a thin spaghetti noodle.

I sell more fettuccine, so that is what I usually make to sell.

The noodles get hung on a cloths dryer rack to air dry the rest of the day.

I learned this trick from an older Amish woman that made the best egg noodles I have ever tasted!

Tomorrow I will bag them up. 

Put an ingredient label on them.

And they will be ready for market on Saturday!

I still haven't decided yet what to do with the cherries.

My grocery store is out of fruit pectin for jam.

They will either be turned into hand pies to sell.

Or I might just treat the pipeliner to a fresh cherry pie for dessert tonight!

Happy Thursday!

Liz