Lemon Pepper Fettuccine

I love Italian Cuisine. One of the things I love is fresh pasta. Making your own pasta is a satisfying way to work with your hands to create something delicious from ingredients you choose from your pantry. This is my first try at making pasta, and I think it came out pretty nice. There are so many ways to make homemade pasta these days, but I wanted to start out by taking a basic pasta recipe and putting together some wonderful flavors for my first attempt.  

Kitchen Tools to Make Homemade Pasta

• My hands ( smile )
• KitchenAid 2-piece pasta cutter set. Includes Pasta Roller and Fettuccine Cutter.
• One of my wine racks is to hang the pasta to dry. This tool was a last-minute creative drying rack. In my next pasta-making adventure, I will have the real thing, and that is “Pasta Drying Rack”. 

Basic Pasta Recipe

• 1 ½ cups (350 grams) Pasta Flour, Unbleached All-Purpose, or Semolina. (I used Semolina for this recipe.)
• 3 large eggs @ room temperature
• 1 egg yolk
• 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice ( about the juice of 1 lemon)
• ¼ cup grated lemon zest ( about 3 lemons)
• 2 teaspoons freshly milled black pepper

You will need extra flour for dusting your board and pasta roller/cutter. Also, add an extra 1 or 2 tablespoons of water to make a softer, pliable dough that’s easy to roll.

Steps

  

1.     Place flour in the center of your pastry mat, large wooden board, or other work surface. You may also use a large bowl. Form a flour volcano with a crater or hole in the middle.

2.     Combine eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl, blend well, then pour the mixture into the crater.

3.     With your hands, begin to incorporate the flour, starting with the inner rim.

4.     Once the flour has been incorporated and the mixture has formed a mass of dough, transfer the dough to a floured work surface.

5.     Keep incorporating the flour, turning the dough mass over several times while kneading so that the moist side of the dough is exposed to the floured surface, making sure the flour will be absorbed. Scrape up and discard any leftover hard bits of dough.

6.     Use the heel of your palm to push the dough down and away, and then fold the edge back over the top to keep a round dough ball. Do this process for about 5 minutes or until the dough is smooth.

7.     Now let the dough take a rest for about 30 minutes.

Now set up your KitchenAid Mixer with pasta roller attachment, then cut your dough into four (4) sections and flatten each section with a rolling pin. Be sure to keep your working surface dusted with flour. No, dust your pasta roller with flour and then feed your pasta into the roller. (You may follow the instructions supplied by the manufacturer.)

Once you complete the rolling of your pasta, then change out the pasta roller attachment with the Fettuccine attachment to make your pasta strips.

Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake Bars with Oatmeal Ginger Base

 

Rich pumpkin cheesecake bars on a crunchy oatmeal-gingersnap walnut crust, topped with chocolate chips and caramel for the perfect autumn treat.

Servings: 4

Time: 70 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats

• 1 cup crushed gingersnap cookies

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

• 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 14 oz canned pumpkin puree

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• 2 large eggs

• 2 tablespoons whipping cream

• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1/3 cup caramel topping

Instructions 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.

2. In a medium bowl, combine oats, crushed gingersnaps, chopped walnuts, and melted butter. Mix until evenly moistened.

3. Press the oatmeal cookie mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and let cool slightly.

4. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy using an electric mixer.

5. Add sugar, canned pumpkin, flour, and pumpkin pie spice to the cream cheese. Mix until combined and smooth.

6. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add whipping cream and blend until the filling is fully incorporated.

7. Pour the pumpkin cheesecake filling evenly over the cooled crust, smoothing the top with a spatula.

8. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the filling, then drizzle the caramel topping in thin lines on top.

9. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the center is set and edges are lightly golden but the center still slightly jiggles.

10. Remove from oven and cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours before slicing into 4 bars.

11. Use the parchment paper overhang to lift bars out of the pan, slice, and serve chilled.

Citrus Salmon Wraps with Fresh Greens

 

Light lemon-poached salmon combined with crisp veggies and herbs, wrapped in soft tortillas for a refreshing, healthy party snack.

Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with our zesty Citrus Salmon Wraps with Fresh Greens! Imagine succulent salmon, poached to perfection in a tangy lemon bath, mingling with a vibrant medley of crisp salad veggies and aromatic herbs. All of this deliciousness is lovingly drizzled with a refreshing lemon yogurt dressing and snugly wrapped in wholesome whole wheat tortillas.

This delightful dish is not just a feast for your palate but also a breeze to whip up in just 25 minutes. Perfect for a quick, healthy meal that serves four, these wraps can be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature. So, roll up your sleeves and get ready to roll up some wraps that are sure to make your taste buds dance! 🎉🥗🐟

Bon appétit! 🍽️✨

Servings: 4

Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb. salmon fillet, skin removed

• 2 cups water

• 1 lemon, sliced

• 1 tsp lemon zest

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 4 large whole wheat tortillas

• 2 cups mixed salad greens

• 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced

• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

• 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

• 1/2 avocado, sliced

• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp olive oil

• Fresh black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a wide skillet, combine water, lemon slices, lemon zest, and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer.

2. Add salmon fillet and poach gently for 10 minutes or until cooked through. Remove and let cool slightly, then flake into large chunks.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, and black pepper to create a light dressing.

4. Lay out tortillas and evenly distribute mixed greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red onion on each.

5. Add flaked salmon pieces over the veggies.

6. Drizzle each wrap with the lemon yogurt dressing and sprinkle with fresh dill and parsley.

7. Add avocado slices on top and gently fold or roll each tortilla wrap tightly.

8. Cut each wrap diagonally and serve chilled or at room temperature.