Pasta Dough

This is the pasta recipe from Worst Cooks in America on the Food Network.  It is the first pasta recipe that has ever worked for us.  We are very happy to finally have a pasta recipe that actually works, our days of using wonton wrappers as ravioli past are over.

1 lb. all purpose flour, plus extra for dustin
5 large eggs
3-4 tbsp. olive oil
salt
semolina flour, for dusting

Put the flour in a pile on a clean, dry work surface.  Make a hole about 8 inches wide in the center of the flour pile.  Crack all the eggs into the hole and add the olive oil and salt.  With a fork beat the eggs and slowly begin to incorporate the flour into the egg mixture.  Do not worry about the lumps.  When most of the flour is incorporated, begin kneading the dough mixture with your hands.  Knead the dough until it is smooth and supple, about 10-15 minutes.  It is really important to put your whole body into kneading otherwise the pasta will not develop the proper consistency.  You need to knead!  Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it relax for at least 1 hour.  If using immediately do not refrigerate.

To roll the pasta set the pasta roller on the widest setting.  Start with half the pasta dough.  Using your hands, flatten the dough as much as you can to facilitate it going through the pasta roller.  Run the dough through the roller twice dusting it with flour in between rolls if it feels sticky.  Fold it into thirds turn it 90 degrees and run it through the pasta machine 2-3 times.  Continue to run the pasta through the machine reducing the setting between each run.  Stop when you get to the second to last setting.  Always hold the pasta on the tops of your hands, palms down!  If you hold it with your fingers up you will create stretch marks and those are never good.