Down South, we know the best memories are made in the kitchen, and there’s no better way to get kids involved than by making homemade pasta. Making pasta is part cooking, part craft, and all kinds of fun. Plus, what kid doesn’t love playing with dough?
The best part of making homemade pasta is that you don’t need anything fancy to make it happen. You just need some flour, eggs, a pinch of salt, and a splash of olive oil to create core memories. Let the little ones crack the eggs (of course,expect a mess), and mix it all up until it starts coming together. Then comes the kneading, which is basically an edible version of play dough. Let them squish, press, and roll until the dough is smooth and ready for a little rest.
Once it’s good to go, roll it out nice and thin. If you have a pasta machine, let the kids take turns cranking it, but a rolling pin works just fine too. Now’s the fun part – cutting the pasta. Classic noodles are great, but cookie cutters make it even more fun. If you’re going the traditional route, have them sprinkle on flour like fairy dust to keep everything from sticking!
The cooking part is easy since fresh pasta only takes a couple of minutes to boil. Top it with butter and cheese for picky eaters or a simple tomato sauce for a little extra flavor. If you want to get fancy, sprinkle on some fresh herbs to give it that homemade Southern touch.
Watching kids light up when they take that first bite of something they made themselves, that’s the real magic. It’s messy, sure, but so is childhood. So roll up your sleeves, embrace the flour covered chaos, and make some memories! I’ve written up an easy homemade pasta recipe to do just that.
Ingredients
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
6 large eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil (optional, for smoother dough)
2-3 tablespoons water (only if needed)
Instructions
On a clean surface or in a large bowl, pour the flour and make a well in the center.
Sprinkle the salt over the flour.
Crack all 6 eggs into the well.
Add olive oil, if using.
Use a fork to gently beat the eggs, slowly incorporating the flour.
Once the mixture starts to form a dough, use your hands to knead it.
Knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
If it’s too dry, add a tablespoon of water at a time. If sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap or cover with a damp towel.
Let it rest for at least 30 minutes (this makes rolling easier).
Use a rolling pin or pasta machine to roll the dough thinly.
Cut into fettuccine, tagliatelle, or use cookie cutters for fun kid-friendly shapes.
Boil in salted water for 2-4 minutes until tender.
Drain and serve with your favorite sauce!
Chelsea Gieselmann is a mom, photographer, columnist, food blogger, and home-cook. Cooking has been a passion of hers since she was old enough to cut out biscuits with the mouth of a mason jar. Her great-grandmother taught her the basics and she is ever so grateful to have been able to learn from her. Since then, she has continued to hone her craft, even beating Alex Guarnaschelli on The Food Network’s Outchef’d!
Instagram: @Southrngritskitchen
