Pasta As Pastime

First things first. I don't wish to be counted as one of those girls who give everything--their time, their friends, their blogs--up because they finally found a fellow and are going to be married. No, I don't wish to be one of those girls at all.

So in case you were thinking that's what happening, it isn't. Granted, I've been a little preoccupied with wedding plans, but mostly I've been working and recovering from the holidays, just like everybody else.

And speaking of the holidays, I must devote the rest of this post to a present I received at Christmas. In my huge family, it is customary to draw names so that we all end up needing only to buy one big present for one person. (That's the idea anyway; usually more gifts appear and for people other than the one whose name you drew.) My brother-in-law got me, and when he asked if there was anything particular I wanted, my answer was swift: an Imperia Pasta Machine.

For me, this is the definition of a shiny object. It's bright red, solid, heavy, and gorgeous. So far I've stuck to making papardelle, but this baby is fit to turn out noodles of all sizes and lengths. I realize that making pasta from scratch isn't for everybody--it's a big undertaking, after all. But for me, it's one of the most rewarding activities I can think of. The last time we made it I was covered in flour, there was pasta hanging all over the kitchen, egg shells crowding the sink, and it was wonderful.

How many of you would give this a shot?