Feeling Italian

Last weekend at the banquet/fundraiser for the Lennon Pregnancy Center, I had some terrific ravioli for supper.  I also had some the weekend before on our date night at Antonio's.   (It's Lent so meat was not an option!) 

While I shopping at Costco a few days later, I decided to check out what kind of ravioli they had available.  It was not inexpensive and the salt content was way high, so I decided to make some.

I was a little bit afraid to try after talking to an Italian grandma who makes her own pasta.  She said it was very time consuming and the kneading was awful.  She told what machines she uses and on and on. 

Well, I only have a mixer and a rolling pin, but I was determined. 

I got to use my new mixer stand which collapses back into the cupboard very nicely when not in use. (Notice no countertops yet.  They will be in tomorrow!!) 

The dough ball turned out really well and the kneading was actually pretty easy.  As you can see, I did not make a huge amount so that has to be taken into consideration.

The filling was ricotta cheese and wilted spinach.  Yum.

I was not sure how big to make them so I guesstimated. The first half of the dough made only 4 raviolis so I rerolled the excess that I cut off and I made the next 6 or 7 much closer together. 

The square ones are the first 4, the rounder and more oddly shapes ones were my second attempt. I got a lot more out of the second half of the dough but they weren't quite as uniform and the filling tended to squish out a bit where I trimmed a little too closely.  

I was told to poke a small hole in each to keep them from exploding.  It worked and after boiling them for a couple of minutes they became this nice tan color.  

Since my dear one and I were going to do this together on Sunday, before we had a power outage and ended up with dinner from Kroger, he was going to make a fabulous sauce to put over the ravioli.  I admit I just grabbed a jar of Prego. Hey, I'm not really Italian so I only do some Italian things well.  They were fantastic and the kids actually ate them and liked them.  

I have to admit, it was time consuming and I was tired when I was done. I considered grabbing a Guinness and going back to being Irish, but I settled for putting my feet up until it was time to pick up the kids. 

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