The March 2009 challenge is hosted by Mary of Beans and Caviar, Melinda of Melbourne Larder and Enza of Io Da Grande. They have chosen Lasagne of Emilia-Romagna from The Splendid Table by Lynne Rossetto Kasper as the challenge
This was a fun Daring Bakers‘ challenge. I’ve never made pasta before and don’t own a pasta roller. I debated about buying one, but decided against it. Because I rolled and stretched the dough by hand, I decided to mix and knead using my stand mixer. Hey, I’m lazy! I had to add an extra egg to make the dough moist enough, but other than that kneading it was a breeze.
I made half the dough into short lasagne to fit my short baking pan. I made the other half into tagliatelle (or is it pappardelle?) because I wanted to roll it up and slice it and pick it up with my fingers like I’ve seen so many TV chefs do (I’m picturing Jaime Oliver here, yum).
I hung the pasta up to dry using chopsticks and my fruit basket. My husband walked into the kitchen and got scared for a bit. He thought I was going crazy and setting something up like a weird horror-movie Children of the Corn type sculpture. After I explained what I was doing he calmed down.
I made the béchemel sauce as directed. Instead of the meat ragu, I made Salsa di Pomodoro Invernale the vegetarian Winter Tomato Sauce from The Splendid Table to which I added a package of Trader Joe’s dried wild mushroom mix. What was great about this is that I was able to spread out the making of all the parts over a few days so assembling and baking the lasagne was a breeze.
The lasagne baked beautifully and the béchemel sauce smelled wonderful with a hint of nutmeg. Individually, all the components were tasty. We’re having it for dinner tonight. I can’t wait!
Ohh, looks wonderful in your baking dish! I also had the experience of “are you nuts” from my boyfriend. He walked into the kitchen and there were pots, pans, bowls, plates, glasses, baking sheets…etc. everywhere. He just backed out with a forced smile!
Wow, great job! I’m really impressed that you rolled the dough by hand! I’ve been wanting to make pasta but I don’t think I’m brave enough to do it without a pasta roller.
Wow, your pasta looks amazing. And without a pasta roller, I may just have to try making homemade pasta now.
Looks awesome!
I love the shot of the chopsticks in the fruit baskets. I used to do the chair thing, with the chairs on the table so the dogs don’t get them. Hubby then built me a rack for pasta.
I do make it a lot and the third egg was necessary. I think you will be making your own a lot more often. Put the KA rolling set on your Christmas list!
Now I have a craving for fat strips of pasta pushed into my mouth with my hands…
Oh wow, your lasagna looks amazing! I am wishing I would have done a sauce like yours, and the dried wild mushrooms sound delicious in this. I have a huge jug of dried wild mushrooms that I bought on amazon and have been not quite sure just what to do with them, but you’ve given me a few ideas :)
You extra tagliatelle looks great, and I’m laughing at your husband thinking you went crazy in the kitchen! Sometimes I have stuff all over every counter working on a recipe and I get the same look.
Oh man, does this look good! I’m so impressed that you made your pasta without a pasta machine. Love your baking dish!
Wow your pasta looks so perfect for hand-rolled!! I’m so impressed. Really pretty lasagne!
Your pasta came out beautifully! And, your lasagna looks fantastic!
Your noodles are gorgeous!
Your pasta looks perfect! How did you get them so straight by hand?
Good golly, that looks tasty! I think you’ll find this is a case of the taste of the whole being more than the sum of its parts.
Looks good. I think it funny that you call yourself lazy while making YOUR OWN pasta because you used your stand mixer! I wish I was more lazy like you. :-)
~ingrid
um yum! last time i went to make pasta i found out the attachment my stand mixer had broken so i, too, was stuck rolling it out by hand.
It looks yummy! Good job :)
I love the chopsticks! What a great idea.
Beautiful pasta! I love making pasta at home, and often “cheat” by making it with my stand mixer…
I also have a thing for lasagne- yours sounds great! I like how you made a vegetarian version.
Mmm, your lasagna turned out deliciously!! I love the picture of your pasta drying on the chopsticks. Seems like you had a great time making this recipe, and it shows!! The dish looks wonderful.
What a lovely lasagna, it looks like it came out perfectly! :)
You courageous, hard working, beautiful pasta maker! LOL …I didn’t get to try this month… but from a novice to another, I’m glad to see you’ve succeeded! Bravo! Very well done challenge!
I’m less apprehensive now! …for I will make them eventually, when I find the time and… courage! LOL
What a beautiful lasagne! I’m so impressed that you made your own pasta! I’m not that ambitious – yet!
Oh yum. I love spinach pasta, and mushrooms, and I know I would love your version of this dish!
great job w/the challenge. LOL at your DH walking into the kitchen w/the drying pasta
Your pasta looks so stunningly green! Great job on the challenge…and your millet fried rice looks pretty fabu as well!
Lovely looking pasta — so nice and green. I’d say between your chopsticks and my ironing board, we’d have a great scary Halloween set-up!