Do you like to eat pasta?  Have you ever made homemade pasta?  Well today is your day!

If you like to get your hands in the flour, use a rolling pin and eat lotsa pasta…this is the recipe for you!

Super easy, oh so yummy and fun to do with friends

Here’s the step by step how-to:

Step 1: Measure 3 cups of flour and put into a food processor.

Step 2: Crack open 4 eggs

Step 3: Add 1 Tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil to the eggs

Step 4: Add 1/4 teaspoon salt (or a small dash, pinch, shake…not too much)

Step 5: Whisk the eggs, oil, and salt together.  Then add to the flour in the processor

Step 6: Process on high until dough comes together and forms a ball or looks like a clump of wet sand. Pasta dough should be a just a little bit sticky.  You can add a drizzle (about 1 teaspoon) of warm water if mixture is too dry.  But only a drizzle at a time.

Step 7: Place dough on a lightly floured surface (the table or countertop) and knead until it is smooth and not sticky; about 15-20 times.  You may need to add a tiny sprinkle of flour if the dough sticks to the countertop…just be careful not to add too much.  A little at a time.  You’ll know when it’s just right!)

When you knead, fold the top down, then push with the palm of your hand, then turn the dough clockwise.  Fold, push, turn…Fold, push, turn…sing it with me:  Fold, push, turn. We tap our toe while while knead and sing!  Try it, it’s fun!

Step 8: Wrap the pasta dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for 20-30 minutes.  This is important for the pasta to be light and tender to eat.   While it’s resting, clean up the mess and get ready for more fun!  It’s also time to get a large pot, fill it with 3/4 full of water and get it on the stove to boil.

Step 9:  Now it’s time to roll the dough into a rectangle shape and roll it very, very thin.  Thinner than a flour tortilla.  So thin, that when you hold it up, you can almost see through it.  If it’s not thin enough, it’s going to be way too thick once you cook it.

Step 9: Cut your super thin pasta into 1/4-inch strips of fettuccine pasta!

Step 10: Pull up your beautiful fettucinni and place it on a lightly floured sheet pan.

Step 11:  Place fresh pasta into a large pot of boiling water.  Cook for 10-12 minutes or until pasta floats to the top and is light and fluffy.

Put some of your favorite marinara sauce on it and let the pasta party begin!

What do you think?  Are you going to try this?  You can do it!  Leave a comment and let us know, we love to hear from our readers!

Happy Pasta Cooking!

pasta

Easy Pasta Dough

Ingredients

Print Recipe

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• drizzle warm water, as needed

Directions

• Add flour to food processor
• Whisk eggs. Add oil and salt and whisk together.
• With food processor turned on high, add egg mixture. Process until mixture begins to come together, forming a ball. Add a drizzle of warm water as needed to help dough form. Dough is ready when it feels slightly sticky. If dough becomes too wet, just add a little more flour.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 5-10 minutes. Wrap in plastic and set aside to rest 20-30 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of hot water to a rolling boil.
• Roll dough out into a very thin, almost see through, rectangle shape. Cut into 1/4-inch wide strips and place on a floured baking sheet.
• Boil until tender and fluffy pasta floats to the top; about 10-12 minutes

Servings: 6-8 servings

Total Time: 45 - 60 Minutes

Have you ever eaten the inside of an orange?  Of course you have…who hasn’t?

Did you know you can eat the outside of an orange too?  You didn’t know that?  Well, today is your day!

The outside of the orange peel is call zest.  Z-E-S-T.

Here is an easy, yummy recipe that includes the zest of an orange: Chocolate-Orange Smoothie!

Step 1: Call a friend over and take turns zesting the outside of an orange by rubbing the orange in a downward motion on a zester just like the girl in the picture below.

Step 2: Chop orange segments (the inside of an orange) into bite size pieces

Step 3: Place the orange zest and chopped segments into a blender

Step 4: Add your favorite yogurt (we used vanilla yogurt)

Step 5: Add some chocolate syrup

Step 6: Add a drizzle of honey

Step 7: Ask yourself if the mixture is now a solid or a liquid?  Answer:  Both!  Blend until well mixed and see if you notice any changes?  Does the texture change?  What about the color?  Cooking science is super-cool!

Step 8:  Get out a cup and straw, do a little smoothie dance and slurp to your heart’s delight!

The print out recipe is below; Happy Cooking!

Snack

Chocolate-Orange Smoothie

Ingredients

Print Recipe

• 1-2 teaspoons orange zest
• 1 small orange, peeled and chopped into bite size pieces
• 2 cups vanilla yogurt

• Drizzle Honey
• Drizzle chocolate syrup

Directions

• 1. Zest the outside of an orange, using a zester.
• 2. Peel the orange. Chop the segments into bite size pieces
• 3. Add zest, chopped orange segments, yogurt, honey, and chocolate syrup to a blender.
• 4. Blend until well mixed. Pour into a cup, add a straw and let the slurping begin!

Servings: 4-6

Colder days bring wishes for warm and coziness.  Nothing starts a day off better than warm bacon and eggs!  Here is a fun and easy version called Bacon & Egg Cups.  Easy-schmeesy and fun to make the morning after a sleepover with friends.

Here’s the step by step how-to: (the print out recipe is below)

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 12-tin muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray

Step 2:  Place a slice of bacon around the sides of each muffin cup

Step 3: Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Step 4:  Crack 6 eggs into a bowl that has a pour spout

Step 5: Add 1/2 cup shredded cheese to eggs

Step 6: Add 1/2 cup half and half (you could use 1/4 cup heavy cream plus 1/4 cup whole milk if you want them to be puffy…puffy is cute!)

Step 7: add a dash of salt and pepper

Step 8: Whisk together

Get creative…add your favorite veggies or herbs.  I added fresh thyme…it’s your world, go for it!

Step 9: Pour into muffin pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Step 10: Cups are done when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean

Tah-dah: Bacon and Egg Cups!  Happy Cooking

Breakfast

Bacon & Egg Cups

Ingredients

Print Recipe

• 12 slices bacon
• 6 eggs
• 1/2 cup half and half (equal parts whole milk & heavy cream)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon fresh herbs (thyme, basil, parsley, etc)-optional
• 1/2 cup your favorite vegetable, chopped-optional

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12 cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Line sides of each muffin cup with a slice of bacon. Bake for about 10 mins.
• Add eggs, half and half, cheese, salt, pepper, herbs and veggies to a bowl with a pour spout. Whisk together.
• Pour into muffin pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick inserted into the middle. Toothpick should come out clean.
• Ring the dinner bell or send a text to your friends and family that breakfast is ready! Happy Cooking :)

Servings: 12 servings

Total Time: 35 Minutes

`Want to make an easy, tasty snack?  Try a fruit roll-up.  Easy and oh so yummy!

Even Santa Claus can make one.  Here he is drizzling honey:

Yea Santa!

If Santa can make a fruit roll up, you can too!

Here’s what you need:

flour tortilla
peanut butter or soybutter
banana
honey
chocolate covered sunflower seeds
paper towel
plastic knife

Here is how you do it:

Step 1: Spread peanut butter or soy butter all over the tortilla…just like spreading mayo on bread

Step 2: Place a slice of banana on the peanut butter near the bottom edge of the tortilla

Step 3: Drizzle honey on top of banana

Step 4: Sprinkle chocolate covered sunflower seeds on top of honey

Step 5: Begin at the bottom edge of the tortilla near the banana and roll like a sushi roll

Step 6: Roll tightly

Step 7: Tah-Dah: a fruit roll up!

Watch this video of some kids making fruit roll-ups.

It’s really easy and you can get creative with the ingredients?  Instead of peanut butter, why not try nutella or strawberry jam?  How else could you change it?

The recipe is below.  Make one and send us a picture with your first name and age and we’ll post it for everyone to see!

Happy Cooking!

Afterschool Snack

Fruit Roll Up

Ingredients

Print Recipe

• 1 flour tortilla (or whole wheat)
• 1 Tablespoon peanut butter or soy butter
• 1/2 banana

• Drizzle honey
• Sprinkle candy-coated sunflower seeds (optional)

Directions

• 1. Spread peanut butter onto tortilla covering as much as possible.
• 2. Lay banana near the bottom section of tortilla (closest to you)
• 3. Drizzle honey over banana
• 4. Sprinkle sunflower seeds, if using
• 5. Beginning at the bottom near the banana, lift edge of tortilla and roll up like a sushi-roll..rolling away from you. Tah-Dah! You've made a Fruit Roll Up! Now, think of ways you could change it up to add different ingredients. What could you substitute for the peanut or soy butter? Ever heard of Nutella? Good job! Keep on Cooking :)

Servings: 1

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

I’m sure you’ve heard your mom or dad or grandparents say, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are sweet and crisp and yummy, but did you know that they are also healthy too?

There are many different colors and varieties of apples.

Apples are full of healthy minerals like potassium and calcium. They also have tons of great vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 and even Vitamin C. They are full of fiber and low on calories. Apples are nature’s sweet treat.

There are red apples,

Apples grow on trees and are naturally ripe during the cooler months of the year. Most apple growers have huge orchards filled with rows and rows of apple trees. These growers hand pick the apples when they are ready and sell them so that people all around the world can enjoy them.

Green apples,

If you love apples then right now is the perfect time to enjoy them because fall is apple season! That means that right now is the perfect time to make all kinds of delicious delicacies with this tasty and versatile fruit!

Red and green apples,

Apples can be baked in pies or tarts, tossed in fruit salad, mashed into apple sauce or even grilled in a grilled cheese sandwich!

And even yellowish-greenish apples,

Next time you want a sweet treat, ask your mom or dad to help you make homemade apple sauce! Here’s the step by step picture how-to but the printable recipe for this tasty dish is below.

Step 1: Wash and peel the apples

Step 2: Core them (this is fun when you use an apple slicer/corer)

Step 3: chop the apples.

Ask an adult to help with using a knife.  Using a knife is better than a chopper because the pieces come out the same size.  That’s important for cooking.  See the difference in the picture above and below?  The apple below was chopped with a small chopper.

Step 4: Put the chopped apples in a pot, add enough apple juice or water to come half way up the apples. (Don’t cover the apples with liquid)

Step 5: Cover and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until the apples are soft.

Step 6: Add the sugar and lemon juice and cook 5 more minutes.  Then remove from heat and mash with potato masher or press through a strainer.  Mash or press until the applesauce is as chunky or smooth as you like.  (I like mine a little on the chunky side)

Why don’t you try cutting this recipe in half to make some just for yourself? Or, double the recipe and share it with your friends!  Cutting in half or doubling…who knew math was involved in cooking?

Dessert

Easy Applesauce

Ingredients

Print Recipe

• 12 apples, Gala and Red Delicious
• 1/2-1cup apple juice or water
• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Directions

• 1. Wash, peel, core and chop apples.
• 2. Place them in a large pot and add the apple juice (or water).
• 3. Cover and cook over medium heat until they are nearly soft, about 15 minutes.
• 4. Add the sugar and lemon juice and cook 5 more minutes.
• 5. Remove from heat and mash with a potato masher or press through a strainer. Add cinnamon to taste.
• 6. Count your blessings and be thankful for apples!

Servings: 5 cups