Lindas Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Fresca Food

PASTA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water with a splash of oil to keep it from sticking together. Boil for 12 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain well and allow to cool. Place the pasta in a bowl and add the tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
• For the dressing, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, capers, salt, and pepper in a food processor until almost smooth.
• Pour the dressing over the pasta, sprinkle with the Parmesan and basil, and toss well.

LINDA'S SUN-DRIED TOMATO PASTA FRESCA

Steps:

• Put flour and sun dried tomatoes into your food processor and whiz for about 30 seconds. Check the size of the tomatoes since they should be pulverized. Whiz another 30 seconds if you need to.
• Add the eggs and pulse a few times, scrape down the bowl, and whiz until the pasta starts coming together.
• If the pasta dough is too crumbly to hold together when you squeeze it in your hand you should add another egg yolk and whiz some more.
• Just as in the pasta fresca recipe you should dump everything into a zip lock bag and press together to form a log.
• Store in the fridge for 30 minutes to relax the gluten.
• Cut the log into 8 discs.
• With your pasta machine or mixer attachment knead the discs 4 or 5 times until they are smooth and satiny. Flour is your friend so make sure you use lots of it when rolling and cutting pasta!
• When all are kneaded, roll them to the desired thickness one setting at a time. On my Kitchen Aid I roll to #6 and on my Atlas I roll to #7.
• Attach your fettuccine cutter and cut strips flouring like mad so they don't stick. Spaghetti and other cuts do not work as well as fettuccine cutters.
• Let dry while you boil a large pot of salted water with a tablespoon of olive oil in it and make the simple sauce described above.
• Remember, fresh pasta cooks lots faster than dried pasta from a box. Check fettuccine after 2 minutes and keep checking until the desired tenderness is reached.
• To freeze pasta fresca, separate into four portions and loop them into little nests. Freeze in small containers so they are not crushed and don't stick together.
• In my pasta fresca recipe I neglected to say that I stir my frozen pasta with either a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon. This works better than spoons and the many pasta ladles on the market.
• I hope you enjoy this recipe.

PASTA FRESCA

Steps:

• Put a large pot of water on the boil for the pasta.
• Put aside 1 cup of the tomatoes and a couple of basil leaves.
• Puree the rest of the tomatoes, basil, garlic and olive oil in a blender until smooth.
• Season.
• When the pasta water is boiling, stir in the pasta and cook until al dente[approx 10 minutes].
• In the meantime cut the reserved basil into thin strips.
• Drain the cooked pasta and toss it immediately with the mozzarella.
• Add the sauce and mix well.
• Top with the reserved tomatoes and basil.
• Serve immediately.

LINDA'S SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• In a 5 quart pot stir together the tomato sauce, tomato puree, tomato paste, basil, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, fennel seeds if using, and dry red wine; simmer over medium low heat for 1 hour.
• Stir frequently; do not allow sauce to stick; lower heat if needed.
• While sauce is cooking, brown beef and onion; drain well.
• Add hamburger to the sauce at the end of the hour.
• Simmer sauce for 1/2 hour; taste; adjust seasoning as needed.
• Simmer for additional 1/2 hour.
• Serve over your favorite pasta with Parmesan cheese.

GARLIC SUN-DRIED TOMATO PASTA

Steps:

• In small frying pan, saute all ingredients (on low) except pasta.
• Do not let the garlic brown.
• If it does, remove from heat immediately and let sit off of burner.
• The longer it sits, the stronger the flavour in the oil.
• Boil the pasta according to directions.
• For a variation, you can add frozen peas to pasta water, or you can add broccoli flowerets to the last couple of minutes of boiling.
• Strain pasta and toss with oil mixture.
• Top with parmasan cheese and enjoy!