And I can largely see his point. What is romantic and loving for us isn't red roses and chocolates on February 14. I don't appreciate my mother more on the second Sunday in May. We had to get married so we'd have an anniversary to remember, but we don't commemorate it with gifts.
But not always getting presents for my birthday or Christmas has been irksome. My philosophical approval of sticking it to the man and choosing our own moments for presents sort of runs out on the 12th of September.
This Christmas, however, he came up trumps. He came home, laden with parcels, and scurried up to the spare room, from which I was then barred.
I got a lovely bottle of perfume from Urchin. And from Paul I got an Imperia pasta maker, and a drying rack. Amazing. He didn't even realise that I had that very pasta maker in my Amazon wishlist. It was just his genius.Sadly, we then had to wait 3 whole days before we could get some 00 flour to play with it! But that time was valuably spent in discussing what our first pasta experiment should be.
We agreed that the best possible use for our very first batch of homemade pasta, would be a pasta pomodoro. Not just any pasta pomodoro of course, but made with the cherry tomato and basil sauce that we made from our home-grown tomatoes and herbs, and bottled in the summer.
And the icing on the cake? Topping it with grated home-made cheddar, from my July Forging Fromage challenge. Home-made pasta (gorgeously silky, delectable and SO easy!). Home-grown and made sauce (perfect balance of acid and sweet, lovely herbal flavour from the basil). Home-made cheese (who would have thought you could make a proper grating cheese at home?!). This may be the proudest moment of my foody life so far.I think it is safe to say that there will be a LOT of pasta posts this year!
18 comments:
Wow, I'm not surprised you're so pleased - home made everything! Has the cheese been maturing at room temperature or have you kept it in the fridge/freezer? The pasta looks amazing and I'm really looking forward to many more pasta posts this year - from a selfish point -I love pasta! Paul's definitely come up trumps this time!
That is fantastic. I can see that a pasta maker will have to enter my life soon!
Lucky for you your mother was never keen on commercially determined gift giving occasions - although I may still have some washing-up vouchers from ca 1985. I should look for them...
C - it's been matured in the fridge, which was a bit too cold and dry I think!
Mother - I am not coming to Brisbane to do your washing up! But I can recommend the pasta maker. I am not sure how Dinah is doing it, because I think it is definitely a 2-person operation.
Very thoughtful of Paul. I have the same pasta maker and have been using it a lot lately. The combination with your own tomato sauce and your own cheese was a very nice idea.
Woohoo, what a great present!
the drying rack is especially impressive
Looks like a superior drying rack! I absolutely love homemade pasta, it's a bit of effort but always worth it. I tend to avoid buying gifts on anniversaries/mothers day/valentines etc too...love Christmas though!
Simona - it's a great pasta maker! I am very happy with it.
Kat - didn't he do well?
Mother - if I had to quibble, it looks a bit much like a swastika and it's an inch too short!
Laura - I was actually surprised how little effort it was. I think it'll come out about once a week!
Wow!! A Pasta machine AND a drying rack!! And everything home made too including the tomatoes. Pretty damn amazing!! Happy New Year dear friend!
Homemade pasta is always better. Especially with 00 flour and good eggs- it's a world away from dried.
Also, nice rack.
Dharm - thank you!
Peter - you flirt!
*squee* finally, of all the things you've made from scratch, I can say I've made pasta! It's fun to swirl through the rollers, but I dry mine on clothes hangers as I didn't know such clever racks existed. Great gift.
That is seriously impressive! Making pasta is one of my mini goals for this year as I have always been irrationally scared of it (silly I know). And that homemade cheese - wow! Looking forward to lots of pasta posts...
What a lovely present. So glad the pasta worked out - I'm still in awe of anyone who makes their own pasta. And how fantastic to have made all of the ingredients for your meal yourself.
Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year
Oh WOW! What a great gift indeed! I agree that the best way to enjoy fresh pasta is a simple, yet flavoursome sauce, especially one made from your own tomatoes. Have a wonderful year!
Cranky - very impressive! I think coat hangers are perfect for this.
Gemma - one of the best things I have ever seen is a friend sitting on the living room floor, with the pasta maker on the coffee table, making pasta while we ate our starters. Easy!
Choclette - well I am in awe of your baking, so we are even!
Jo - thank you!
Fab prezzies!
Totally home made meal - I am in awe.
Yay! it is a most excellent machine! Happy new year!
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