While attempting homemade pasta the other night, I had a visit from my mother-in-law. This Nonna knows the ins and outs of her pasta, so I was more than happy to let her step in. Pasta by hand is rather hard work isn't it? I'm not really sure why I haven't bought a machine yet as it is something I've made from time to time.
In no time at all the dough was transformed into delicate little fettuccine strips. Unlike my chunky larger-than-pappardelle strips (as seen in the last two pics).
Nonna told us about her mother-in-law disapproving of the new pasta machines when they came onto the market. She used to make it all by hand, often in large batches for the coming week. It was a big family, afterall, with six children to feed.
Over dinner we talked about these harder times. Of bombings during the war. An entrepeneur-type great-grandparent.
Which makes me think that food shared can be so much more. A chance to learn, a bringing together of different generations and cultures, and reminders of those that came before us.
And the pasta? Bellissimo!
lovely to be able to pass down food traditions and family stories over a beautiful meal!
ReplyDeleteoh love this! what a great story - and that pasta looks amazing! would love the recipe if you are sharing :) how do you serve it?
ReplyDeleteKel x
I often wish my grandma was around to show me and teach me the old ways...
ReplyDeleteI am thankful to have learnt so much from my grandparents and other Kaumatua (elders) in the family...they have so much knowledge to share and rich stories to tell of a bygone era.
ReplyDeleteYour pasta looks delicious :)
x
Lovely times...our nonna sadly passed away but her recipes are tried and kept alive here in our kitchen...my latest is the zucchini fritters, oh yum and my wordy used up alot of our excess zucchinis....the kids made pasta with Nonna's 'machine' in the holidays, I havnt posted the pics on my blog yet...and they made the sheets to use in lasagne...it turned out so nice...all the little offcuts we used up in a soup last week with homemade stock, a can of tomatoes, a can of borlotti beans and some zucchini and carrot...it was rustic, it was quick, it was heart warming and it was certainly to be made again....
ReplyDeleteThat is the most gorgeous story. We need a bit more tradition and culture in our menu and life. Funny to think that the pasta machine was thought of as modern and unnecessary. We adore ours but I am going to have to have a go at making it without next time I think.
ReplyDeleteI want a pasta machine. Being pregnant and rolling out pasta is just a bit too much exercise for me at the moment. Don't tell Nonna!
ReplyDeleteI'm all for food traditions. Our family food traditions as children revolved around special occasions - pavlova for birthdays, creamy potato bake at BBQs, cakes and biscuits at Christmas. But I think you can make lots of meals more special by thinking outside the box. :)
I should really learn to make my own pasta, i eat so much of it that my husband jokes that i'm going to turn into a bowl of pasta one day!
ReplyDeletePrecious times. My fondest memories are of spending time with my grandmother. And how emotional this week, to find the death certificate of her missing mother. Two generations of lost time...
ReplyDeleteYum! Ive never made pasta with much success always too rubbery! i really should give it another go.
ReplyDeleteooh yum! I was just thinking of pasta yesterday, coincidentally, and wondering how it is made by hand. There we go! What a gift to have the skills passed on down through the family :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, food brings the family together, even those that are no longer here. We have certain recipes, like great-grandmom's rolls, that we make every Christmas, by hand in an old bread bowl, it's tradition! I am now teaching the wee one here the recipe!
ReplyDeleteI think that sharing these skills is a wonderful thing. My mother taught me how to make pasta and I am so glad she did. i think it's a great thing to do with kids,
ReplyDeleteI take out our pasta machine about 4 times a year, the last was Christmas day, I cannot tell you how nice it was all of us having a go cranking the handle or helping the sheet of golden pasta. Then sitting down to a beautiful simple lunch just us was so good.
I love making pasta and I do have a machine which I feel is so NOT cheating!! hehehe. I'd love to have a Nonna around like yours - nothing like learning from the best x
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