Traditional Italian Risotto Recipes

Risotto is a term for traditional Italian food that use rice as the main ingredient. Risotto recipes are made by combining short grain rice with a variety of ingredients to make a delicious dish which is commonly served prior to the main course for dinner. However, risotto may be served with classic dishes such as Ossobuco alla Milanese, which is a popular veal and vegetable dish made combined with stock and white wine. When served with the veal dish, it is served as an entree. When making risotto, a vegetable, meat, or fish stock may be used.

The reasoning behind using short grain rice to make risotto, is that it has a more sticky consistency than long grain rice. When it's cooked, the starches in the rice are released, creating a much thicker sauce than long grain rice. Each person has their own variations of the dish, and the type of rice used to make risotto, varies with each cook. Cooks in Italy usually use one of several varieties of rice for their risotto recipes, and the flavor and consistency of the dish will vary depending upon which one is used. Vialone Nano and Carnaroli are both high quality products, but are more expensive than some of the others. Carnaroli is more difficult to be overcooked, and is a good choice for anyone who isn't experienced in making risotto dishes. Roma, Baldo, Padano, and Arbario rice may be used. To create a dish with the best consistency, Vialone Nano is the choice of many cooks, since it absorbs liquid and spices better than most varieties. Originario and the other varieties previously mentioned are suited well for making soups and other dishes.

Hundreds of risotto recipes are available, but no matter which condiments and additional ingredients are used, they all begin with cooking the rice. The soffritto, or base, is started by combining either garlic or onion with butter or olive oil to coat the rice. If using olive oil, pure virgin olive oil is the best. The rice mixture is then combined with red or white wine, depending upon your personal preference. When the wine is absorbed by the rice, the stock is added, a little bit at a time while the rice is stirred to prevent sticking. When the liquid is absorbed, a mixture of butter which has been diced, and grated Italian Parmigiano Reggiano cheese are stirred in to give the risotto a cream-like texture. For risotto to be cooked in the correct manner, it should be al dente without excess moisture. When making a seafood or fish risotto, cheese isn't usually added, since it overpowers the flavor of the fish.

Risotto may be made in various combinations, depending on personal preference. Those who don't live in Italy sometimes make their own versions of the dish, but true Italian risotto is made basically the same way, with a variation on some of the ingredients. Seafood risotto may include shrimp, salmon, tuna, or prawns. A tasty combination of vegetable risotto may use mushrooms, artichokes, asparagus, or any fresh vegetables in season. Meat risotto may contain chicken, lamb, or beef. The most important consideration when making risotto is to take the time to make it properly for the best results.

Traditional Italian Cooking Methods

Delicate flavor and richness of Italian dishes often make us think that Italian cooking methods are definitely complicated. Now, let me tell you that this is not true. Cooking Italian delicacies are not at all difficult. You only need to put your heart and soul and a little effort to achieve the delicious taste. People of Italy mostly prefer pan-roasting, frying and saut©ing ingredients. They also braise, grill, simmer and bake food items. However, the secret of the delicious taste of Italian delicacies are the freshest ingredients. Italians hardly buy pre-made ingredients found at the store. Continue reading to find out the traditional Italian food cooking methods. And I am sure that you will find the methods quite interesting.

Vegetables

The food loving Italians prefer to roast vegetables like eggplant, artichoke hearts, Zucchini, sweet peppers with exotic herbs and garlic. And they love to savour roasted vegetables as appetizers. Roasted vegetables are traditionally served with small pieces of toasted bread, popularly called €crostini€ in Italy. Toppings are added on the slices of bread to enrich the taste. Some of the most commonly used toppings are anchovies, olives, cured meats and sundried tomatoes. Vegetables like potatoes, carrots and spinach are not only roasted but also steamed or boiled and offered along with the main course.

Braising and pot roasting are the most preferred ways of preparing meats in Italy. Meats are generally slow cooked in pots in presence of liquid like, vinegar, wine or tomatoes. Slow cooking of meat cuts make them tender and luscious and the flavour also intensifies as the amount of liquid reduces. Water is added, if the liquid evaporates too fast. It prevents the meat from getting burnt.

Pasta

Italians are very meticulous in preparing the dough for pasta, as it is the key to prepare a delightful pasta dish. Eggs are mixed with semolina flour to prepare the dough. Traditionally, a well is made in the middle of the flour and eggs are cracked into the centre. Virgin olive oil and salt are sprinkled all over. Now water is added and all ingredients are mixed thoroughly until the dough is prepared and becomes silky smooth. Earlier Italians used their hands to roll the dough. Nowadays, machines are also used in rolling dough to achieve desired thickness. Pieces are made in desired shapes and baked. Exotic toppings are added before serving.

Sauces

Delicious sauces are a key ingredient used in preparing lip smacking Italian delicacies. The traditional method of preparing the sauces in Italy is quite interesting. Onions and garlic are saut© in a saucepan. Then herbs and chopped tomatoes are added to intensify the flavour. Sometimes sweet peppers and celery are also used. Gentle simmering makes the sauce thick and flavoursome. Puttanesca is prepared with black olives, anchovies and capers. Minced beef is added to saut©ed onion while preparing Bolognese. Herbs and tomatoes are added afterwards.

Risotto - a delicious preparation of rice

Risotto is a wonderful creamy and rich rice dish that has gained immense popularity throughout the country. Carnaroli and Arborio are the widely used rice varieties used in preparing Risotto. They are preferred due to their starchiness. The starchy property helps in creating the creamy texture of Risotto. While preparing the dish, it is important to heat the water or broth before adding it to the rice. Traditionally onions are fried nicely and then rice is added. Vegetable or meat stock is slowly added to the preparation. Other ingredients like mushrooms or fresh and crunchy spring vegetables are also added. Now the entire preparation is slowly simmered. The preparation is completed when the rice is ready to eat. Just before serving, parmesan is added to the rice to make the dish more savoury.

Methods of cooking delicious Italian foods are primarily based on the use of fresh and seasonal produces. And the best thing is you just need to put minimal effort to cook a superb Italian dish.

Creating Italian Food Gift Baskets: Great Authentic Food

Italian food gift baskets present a delicious variety of Italian foods, snacks, wines, and desserts. They make the best gift for Italian relatives or friends especially, as a lovely way to observe their heritage. They could be filled with an assortment of delicious food choices and create excellent gifts for holiday seasons such as Christmas, birthdays, Mother's and Father's day, and even Italian national holidays. The huge assortment that may be discovered inside these assortments may give you lots of 'food for thought' as you shopped for your loved ones.

Italian food gift baskets can be found in several containers which can significantly effect the presentation of these food choices. Wicker assortments have a tendency to give the gift a more rustic, countryside feel. Several times these baskets happen to be matched with faux grapes dangling off the side for a pretty accent. At times it is amusing to include the container in the overall usage of the food. For example, many smaller collections are attached to a cutting board instead of a basket, allowing the recipient make use of the container and purchase enjoyment out of it. Some assortments are associated to main courses included inside, such as pasta dish ingredients. A pasta dish basket might come in a fancy strainer that may become both delightful and adaptable for the making of the dish.

Italian food gift baskets are specifically tasty, because the Italians specialize in food choices such as sausages and cheeses. Wikipedia names around 400 cheeses that are thought to be Italian. With such a large variety you are sure to find a few exotic and exciting cheeses when browsing for different food assortments. Italian food is additionally popular for it's pastrami and salami, which produce the best gift basket food and present for an exotic and delectable snack.

A couple food gift baskets likewise contain principal dish ingredients, such as noodles, sauces, and components to create a lasagna or spaghetti. Also typical is dried pizza dough blend and some components to produce a real Italian pizza. Food sets with these kinds of main course fixings create an excellent present for those who love to cook and who cherish exotic foods, or who happen to be Italian themselves.

A couple of these Italian food gift baskets are found with an excellent wine, such as a Tuscany wine or wine from other Italian provinces to bring out the rich flavors of the meat, cheeses, and predominant courses. Food baskets could additionally be discovered that also incorporate Italian specialty desserts, such as the fixings to make tiramisu or cannoli. Nearly all commonly biscotti is included as a dessert item in Italian baskets, as it is a delectable and shelf stable commodity. These desserts could be matched with an authentic Italian coffee or cappuccino, resulting in a perfect relaxing snack or after dinner spread. As you can see, Italian food choices provide a plethora of realistic and established food choices that can be incorporated into gift baskets to produce an unique and delightful food experience and a very glad receiver.

Religiously Mandated Meals That Are Ready To Eat

Halal rations are important to the military service as it covers the needs of those who have religious beliefs to fulfill. With the mandate and a code of conduct, they can only eat the food that is duly approved for consumption. The said entrees are studied properly to ensure that no rules are dishonored.

This belong to the MRE category, also known as ready to eat meals. By being self contained, it houses in the needed supplements to keep a person full. The main difference is that it does not come in flexible bags, which means that the entrees and accessories are separated into bags.

The entree has complements to make the pack more useful to the person. While the food is ready to be eaten, there are components like the seasoning to make it more enjoyable. Utensils are also found in the packaging as well as a heater for those who want to warm their food first.

There are about 1200 kilocalories contained in the menu which is decided on by an expert dietician. This is deemed the right amount for all the components to provide the much needed daily energy for the individual. With around 48 percent for carbohydrates, 40 for protein fat and around 13 percent for protein, this makes up the dietary needs.

With the heater, the food can taste better when warmed. However, even when cold, it is still fit for eating as it is designed to be readily taken in. All in all, it is made conveniently to ensure that soldiers can still keep to their duties without starving.

Given the fact that deliveries have to be made to specific locations, the shelf life of the food also has to be longer than usual. In this way, even when the packets have to be stored, they will still be fit for consumption. Usually, the validity is good to up to 10 months at the delivery phase.

Although there is a commercial equivalent in the market for ordinary consumers, those intended for the military service are ordered by the management. They order by bulk as it is easier and cheaper that way. Of course, they also take into account the specific needs of those who are bounded to their religious beliefs with halal rations.

When soldiers have to fend for themselves, usually they have no time to cook during certain situations. It is also a hassle to carry around tools when there are packets that are ready for consumption. With the said rations, individuals can stick to their mandated dietary routine and eat conveniently.

Campbells Recipes: Your Partner In Home Cooking

For over seven decades, the Campbell's Soup Company - more popularly known as Campbell's - remains one of the leaders in the American food market as well as all over the world. No home will be complete without Campbell's tasty canned soups and other related products in their cupboards.

While Campbell's soups can be eaten straight out of the can, they can also be used as ingredients in a wide variety of home-style and gourmet dishes.

More than 10,000 of these Campbells Recipes have been collected in the highly popular Campbell's Kitchen website. Not only can you find recipes that have been created by the company's nutritionists and food experts as well as from famous chefs, ordinary housewives can also contribute their Campbells Recipe to the site's growing database.

There are Campbells Recipes for chicken, pork, beef, fish and other sea foods, and vegetables. You can also find tasty sandwich recipes for your kid's lunch and scrumptious desserts. Homemakers who cook meals for family members with special dietary needs, such as those on weight loss programs, vegetarians and diabetics, can find delicious Campbells Recipes for them. In all of these recipes, you are sure to find among the ingredients a Campbells product or two.

Make Campbells Recipes your partner in home style cooking. Give these two sample recipes a try in your own kitchens...

Pot Roast in A Crock Pot

Ingredients:

3 to 4 lb. beef roast (any cut will do), raw

3 potatoes }

2 carrots } These should be thinly sliced.

1 celery stalk }

1 small onion, chopped

1 can Campbell's French Onion soup, undiluted

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Layer all the vegetables at the bottom of your crock pot.

Place the roast on top of the vegetables. Season the roast with salt and pepper as desired.

Pour the entire can of French Onion soup all over the roast and vegetables. Cook on low heat for 8 to 10 hours.

Remove the roast and vegetables out of the crock pot. Wait for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Green Bean Casserole Amandine

Ingredients:

2 cups French-Style fresh green beans (if unavailable, use frozen green beans)

1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced

1 shallot, finely minced

2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

1 10 oz can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup

1/2 cup vegetable stock

1/2 tsp soy sauce

1 tbsp Kosher salt (for the boiling water)

1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper

2 tsps Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp melted butter

1/4 cup slivered almonds

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Boil 3 quarts of water with 1 tbsp of Kosher salt added in a large saucepan.

Add beans and celery to the boiling water and cook until tender (but not soft).

Using a large slotted spoon, transfer your cooked vegetables to a bowl filled with ice and water for shocking. The green beans should retain its bright green color.

Grease a casserole baking dish with butter. Arrange the vegetables at the bottom of the dish.

Combine 1/2 cup vegetable stock, 1/2 tsp of soy sauce, and mushroom soup. Pour mixture over the vegetables.

With the use of a skillet or inside a microwave, heat the almonds, garlic and shallot in butter until the butter melts. Sprinkle buttered almonds over the top of the casserole. Pour in any remaining butter.

Bake the casserole at 350F for 20-25 minutes, or until the top turns light brown and bubbly.

Shortcut Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (around 1 pound)

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)

1 tbsp butter

2 tbsps water

2 tbsps Chablis (or change with a preferred dry white wine)

1/2 cup Swiss cheese, shredded

1/2 cup cooked ham, chopped

4 cups medium egg noodles, cooked and drained

Instructions:

Heat butter in a 10-inch skillet with medium to high heat. Add the chicken breasts. Once one side of the breasts has turned golden brown, turn it over and cook the other side. Ideally both sides of the chicken breasts should be cooked for 10 minutes.

Stir in the soup, water, wine, cheese and ham to the chicken. Bring everything to a boil. Let it boil for 2 minutes before setting your heat to low.

Cover and cook for 5 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

Serve the chicken and sauce with the egg noodles.

Top 10 Italian Dishes

With temperatures dropping, the evening chills can be avoided by finding a hot, Italian meal to warm you to the core. Our unofficial Daily Top 10 staff has come up with an opinion of the best tastes of Italy. Feel free to disagree and weigh in with your own choices in our comments section.

1. Chicken parmigiana -- A classic dish that also works as a sub sandwich. Virtually anything breaded and deep-fried with melted cheese is going to be a hit.

2. Fettuccine alfredo -- One of the heavier Italian sauces, a creamy alfredo sauce sticks best to wide noodles like fettuccini. While store-bought packages don't do the dish justice, one can find the best alfredo-style sauces at Al Fresco Ristorante at 11710 Jefferson Ave. in Newport News.

3. Lasagna -- A classic dish, lasagna is a conglomeration of ingredients that reflect the taste of the person making it. The best lasagnas are home-made and include plenty of ground beef, sausage, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesean cheeses.

4. Linguine with clam sauce -- Clam sauces vary, but the best examples of this dish come in a garlic and oil sauce and use whole clams. Il Giardino's at 910 Atlantic Ave. has Linguine alla Vongole, the best local take on this meal.

5. Veal marsala -- A good marsala wine sauce is loaded with mushrooms and scallions. However, the thought of veal turns some people off and chicken can be too boring. A refreshing twist to this dish is a sirloin marsala, offered by Carraba's Italian Grill at 12363 Hornsby Ln. in Newport News.

6. Chicken Saltimbocca -- "Saltimbocca" is a combination of Italian terms that means, "jumps into one's mouth." Most of these italian dishes combine a meat, such as chicken, with prosciutto ham, spinach, and mozzarella cheese. Luigi's Italian Restaurant at 15400 Warwick Blvd. in Newport News has the best saltimbocca dishes.

7. Pasta primavera -- One of the most well-known Italian vegetarian dishes. "Primavera" means springtime and can include any combination of vegetables over pasta in a variety of sauces. Olive Garden's Shrimp Primavera is a tasty deviation from this traditionally veggie dish.

8. Shrimp fra diavolo -- Italian food with a kick. "Diavolo" is Italian for devil and this style of red sauce relies on crushed red pepper and garlic. The best fra diavolo sauces are made at home, as the person cooking can decide how spicy to make the dish.

9. Penne alla vodka -- Vodka sauces have become popular in recent years. Usually a mixture of marinara and a cream sauce with basil and a shot of vodka, a reddish vodka sauce is a savory experience. The best vodka sauce is made at Amalfi Ristorante at 2010 Colley Ave. in Norfolk.

10. Spaghetti with tomato sauce -- Don't forget the old mainstay. This dish is simple, inexpensive and has a number of options to add, including meatballs, mushrooms, broccoli, sausage, or ground beef. Spaghetti with tomato sauce is quick and simple enough to be made at home any time.

Easy to Cook Recipes

The fantastic taste of Indian dessert recipes has the power to make any event special and royal with its exquisite flavor and richness. Try these easy to cook dessert recipes and make your dinner special. You can also serve these simple dessert recipes at the time of welcome to your guests as well.

Easy malai kulfi

Ingredients

 2 cups whole milk

 1/2 cup condensed milk

 1/4 cup dry milk powder

 2 teaspoons white sugar, or to taste (optional)

 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

 1 pinch saffron threads

 1/4 cup chopped pistachio nuts

Directions

1. Stir the milk, condensed milk, and dry milk powder together in a heavy-bottomed pan and bring to a boil. Add the sugar, cardamom, and saffron to the boiling milk; reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature; fold the pistachio nuts into the mixture.

2. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze until solid, about 1 hour

APPLE AND ALMOND HALWA RECIPE

Ingredients

 4 Apples (grated) 

 1 cup Almonds 

 2 Green Cardamoms 

 2 inch stick Cinnamon 

 1 cup Milk Powder 

 Â¾ cup Sugar 

 Â¼ cup Pure Ghee

How to make Apple and Almond Halwa:

 Parboil the almonds and blend to make a paste.

 Heat oil or ghee in a thick bottom pan and add grated apples and sugar to it and cook stirring till the texture begins to change.

It is essential to add sugar along with the apples, so that the apples do not get completely mashed.

Add cinnamon sticks and whole green cardamom and stir it well. Add the almond paste and stir cook on high heat for 2-3 min.

Reduce the flame and add milk powder. Stir and cook on low heat till you get halwa consistency. Serve hot at room temperature.

Rose ice cream

Ingredients

 1 pinch saffron

 2 tablespoons warm milk

 1 1/2 quarts vanilla ice cream, softened

 1 1/2 tablespoons rose syrup

 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

 1/4 cup chopped pistachio nuts

 

Directions

1. Add the saffron to the warm milk and set aside for 15 minutes.

2. Combine the softened ice cream, saffron with milk, rose syrup, cardamom, and pistachios in a large bowl. Stir until the ice cream is smooth and pink in color. Scoop the ice cream back into the container and freeze 2 hours, or until ready to eat.

The world of dessert recipes is very huge. Here you can easily find end numbers of easy Chocolate Recipes [http://post.jagran.com/sakhi-articles-chocolate-recipes-1335943005] and simple dessert recipes for various events.

Gourmet Food

Gourmet Food is defined as a cuisine with superlative quality, delicate making and creative preparation. The expression gourmet is predominantly French that means a wine broker hired by a wine seller. Moreover, a gourmet is an individual who is somebody with selective taste. They are well aware of the grounds that separate good food from regular ones.

It's quite obvious that Gourmet delicacies are rare and classy. The constituents are pretty costly and of high quality as they are uncommon. But what actually makes gourmet food different from all other types of food is in the way that it is cooked. An in-depth study and immense look after is needed to make quality gourmet food. More than its taste, it is the manner in which the delicacies are prepared. Unquestionably, gourmet preparation is an exotic piece of art. Loads of hard work, sweat and thoughts are required to be put in while making gourmet food.

Whatever you know of gourmet is absolutely correct. People generally forget what makes gourmet exquisite. It is the quality and class that makes it so special. The eminence of constituents and the way in which they are made is the most superlative description to explain gourmet food. On the whole, the better-quality ingredients, the delicacies needs, and cumbersome making it calls for, has made gourmet food costly in contrast to other kinds of foods and cuisines. Gourmet is simply one of the most exotic delicacies that one can ever come across.

Today, you will come across that on the web there are number of restaurants and chefs, who explain about their affinity with Gourmet delicacies. In every corner of the world, there are numerous Gourmet food makers and each of them promises to be the best. The Budding Gourmet is one the trusted platform giving every single information about Gourmet Food. It has been years since, The Budding Gourmet is in the business of rendering solutions pertaining to Gourmet Food. The website understands the needs of the customers that are essential to help them serve better than before. A huge selection of Gourmet Food, available here, helps patrons to choose only the classiest one as per their requisites.

The Budding Gourmet provides you with the recipes, food menu and restaurants. The website has everything for everyone to make his or her tummy filling up experience unforgettable. The Budding Gourmet has talented chefs and cooks that are sure to mesmerize your senses with their magical hands. The food, available here is, Baked Mediterranean Vegetables, Chicken Tagine, etc. If you're a seafood buff then you should try out Salmon Fillets with Caper Sauce and Sauteed Mussels with Garlic and Herbs. For all those who want to indulge in an Italian affair, they should taste the Wild Mushroom and Fontina Tarts and Amaretti Figs with Raspeberry Coulis in desserts. The Budding Gourmet exhibits food as scrumptious and captivating as it can get. The above mentioned categories are just the tip of the iceberg, there is a lot more than what meets the eye to allure you! 

Meals Ready to Eat - Even If the Sky is Falling Down!

In case of a natural or man-made disaster, having meals ready to eat (MRE) on hand gives you peace of mind for your family's survival. The end of the world has been predicted long before the Mayans recorded the last day as December 21, 2012. On Twitter, it is being reported that Oprah calling it quits in 2011 is a sure sign she has insider tips and wants to enjoy her last remaining days before the fat lady sings! In all seriousness, whether 2012 turns out to be a repeat of Y2K (I still have the t-shirt!) or an actual doomsday scenario, it pays to be prepared ahead of schedule!

To prepare for any emergency take the following steps:

• Stock a two week supply of water at your home and office.
• Store a 2 week supply of meals ready to eat non-perishable food at home.
• Assembly a First Aid Kit and include extra medications your family (including pets) may need.
• Keep blankets, flashlights, batteries, multipurpose tools, and a portable radio on hand for home use and stored in your vehicles.
• Pack a 3 day supply of MRE meals in all your vehicles.

One of the companies that produce MRE survival food for the United States military also producing the Sopakco "Sure-Pak 12" for civilians. The packaged MRE foods contain much of the same emergency food as the military MRE such as the entrees, side items, and desserts.

With ordering the ration packs, you have the option of purchasing the meals ready to eat with or without heaters. Optional flameless ration heaters are included in the meal kit which is activated using plain water. For additional savings, the Sure-Paks without heaters cost around $9 less than the emergency meals with heaters.

Each Sure-Pak case comes with twelve separate meals. There are typically six different menus in each case for variety. An example of a MRE survival food menu includes the following:

• Chicken Fajita
• Grilled Beef Patty
• Chicken Cavatelli
• Chicken Strips in Salsa
• Sloppy Joe
• Cajun style rice/beans with beef sausage

Being prepared is the easiest part of survival. Once all your plans are in place, you can forget it and go on with your normal routine. Although, you will be two steps ahead of the game!

Make Your Own Fresh Pasta At Home

Calling all pasta lovers! There's a strong reason behind our love for pasta. It is food fit for kings... only, Italian kings. If you are currently reading this article, there's a good chance you love pasta. You could live on pasta all your life! Because even though you are a fan of chocolate fondue, or other types of crappy junk food, you genuinely love pasta. Of course you do, who doesn't!

The whole idea of having a bowl of creamy spaghetti or lasagne al dente for dinner is itself mouth-watering. But let me tell you something, if you make your pasta fresh at home, your dinner will taste 10 times better than any takeout menu. And that's why I'm bringing the perfect recipe for you, on how to make fresh homemade fresh pasta - right from scratch. Frankly speaking, making your own pasta is skill every pasta lover should know. Because it doesn't require much effort, only love for top quality food should suffice.

It's such a simple process and doesn't take more than 15 minutes to whip up. So here we go...

For this recipe you'll need to have these ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

tsp salt

3 eggs

1 tbsp whole fat milk

1 teaspoon olive oil

Method: For starters, you need to sieve the all purpose flour and salt through a clean and dry sieve. And then, sift it on a clean and dry pastry board or counter. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and olive oil until well blended and light. Make sure to whisk it all in one single direction and a steady speed. If you aren't comfortable using a hand held whisk, you can use a food processor on medium speed. Making a well in the flour, pour the egg mixture into it gradually (a little at a time) and mix it using your fingers.

Pour all the wet mixture into the dry mixture and combine it well with your fingers. Be very gentle as pasta needs to be handled with tender love and care. Once the mixture is combined well, you will be left with a soft ball of dough. Now what you need to do is, lightly flour the surface of the pastry board and knead the dough on it.

Fold the dough in half bringing the opposite side towards you and knead it with the ball of your palm, pushing it away from you. Keep turning the dough and continue to knead in this manner for 5 minutes adding some flour as and when necessary. Then wrap the dough in a plastic wrap and let it stand for 15 minutes.

Unwrap the dough after 15 minutes and knead briefly for 2 minutes. Now, using a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into an 8 inch circle with a thickness of 1/8th of an inch. Okay, I know we all are terrible at measurements, so you'll just have to trust your own instincts. But just for the record - 1/8th of an inch is approximately as thick as a slice of cheese wrapped in thin plastic.

Once you have the circle ready, make sure it's even. Let it rest on the surface for 2-3 minutes or until dry. Finally, roll the dough-circle on the rolling pin very lightly so that it hangs on it. And slip the pin out. Now let the dough fall flat on the surface and using a sharp knife slice it into thin long strips of equal width or any shape that you fancy. At this moment, your pasta is ready to be dried. Hang it on a pasta-drier or suspend some clean and dry chopsticks on a deep dish and hang the pasta on them. Once thoroughly dried (for 2-3 hours), store it in an air tight container.