How to Make Gnocchi

While in LP last weekend, 

we got some pasta-making lessons from 

Adam's aunt Mary Kay.

First up was Gnocchi

(which our fam pronounces nil-key).

This is one of our favorite dishes and 

back when we were in Italy,

we didn't let a single opportunity go by without trying it.

I ate Gnocchi in Pisa, Florence -

And Venice - 

 One day I even ordered gnocchi for lunch -

 And then again for dinner.

 It was at two different restaurants of course,

but let me just say -

Adam ate his fair share of gnocchi as well. 

 

 Regardless, each Christmas Adam's Grandma and Aunt Mary Kay 

make us delicious homemade pasta, including gnocchi.

So we figured it was about time 

we learned to make it for ourselves.

First step was some instant potato flakes -

 And hot water -

 To whip up some instant mashed potatoes.

 Then we added some oil -

And once things cooled down, some eggs -

After a quick mix, it was time to add the dough hook -

 

 And flour -

Then some more flour -

 And more flour -

Until it barely fits in the bowl anymore.

Then you'll have to knead in the last cup or two of flour by hand.

 It's easiest if you split the dough in half,

And then shape the dough into two long loafs.

After allowing the loaves to rest under a moist towel for a bit,
a chunk was cut off to begin shaping the dough into gnocchi.

The chunk above was rolled into a long tube
about the width of a cigar and then cut into smaller chunks.

Toss the little chunks in flour while they await their turn

 to get rolled across a gnocchi board -

 

You just press down on the dough chunk with your thumb

and let it roll off the board, so that it gets these cool ridges on it.

You can also use the back of a fork to make the ridges

if you don't have a gnocchi board.

We all took turns rolling -

And rolling -

Until we had stacked pans full of gnocchi.

Later that night we got to cook up some of our creations.

We boiled the gnocchi for about 5 minutes,

And then dumped it in a bowl,

And covered it with this sauce -

It's Adam's Grandma's famous recipe,

but lessons on this special sauce will have to wait for another day.

It takes 2 days to cook this pasta sauce

and Woody had it going long before we arrived.

The fresh gnocchi was delicious,

but don't just take my word for it -

 Walt loved it too!

Gnocchi

3 c. instant potatoes

3 c. hot water

1 tsp. salt

1/4 c. oil

3 eggs

6-8 c. flour 

Mix instant potato flakes and hot water in a bowl. Add salt and oil. Wait for mashed potatoes to cool before adding eggs. Add a cup of flour at a time, mixing between each addition with a dough hook. Knead in the last few cups of flour on a hard surface until dough is no longer sticky. Shape into 2 loaves and allow to rest under a moist towel for 10 minutes. Cut off small chunks and roll into cigar-sized tubes. Cut into small chunks and toss in flour, then press and roll each chunk across a gnocchi board or fork to shape the dough and create ridges. Can freeze gnocchi or boil and salt water and cook gnocchi for about 5 minutes or until they start floating. Serve with your favorite pasta sauce. 

W & Cecelia

Walter hasn't really had a chance to be around a little baby.

And since his little brother or sister 

is due to arrive in just over 6 weeks,

it was nice that he got to spend a little time 

with his newest cousin, Cecelia, this weekend.

He started with checking her out -

 And he wasn't too sure about her at first. 

 

Then he started to warm up to her -

And before long he was talking to her -

And goofing around with her -

Laughing with her -

And loving her.

I think he'll make a great big brother!

Oatmeal Banana Bread

I tried a new recipe from my sister with those bananas 

that were turning brown on my counter.

Here are the ingredients -

First, I put some brown sugar and oil in my mixing bowl.

Then I separated out some egg whites -

 and added them to the bowl.

One whole egg also went in before I mixed it all together.

Next I combined mashed bananas, oatmeal,

and some milk in a separate bowl.

Then I dumped that into my mixing bowl,

as well as the rest of the dry ingredients, except flour,

which I got a little help with.

Walt's love of baking with his mama goes way back!

We measured the flour and added it in,

and then slapped the lid back on the flour.

We mixed only until everything was moist.

 and then we took the batter,

and poured it into a loaf pan.

Here it is baked up nice and pretty -

 

 There was nothing left to do but slice it and taste it.

 It was delicious!

I loved the texture the oatmeal added, 

without drying the bread out a bit.

 Definitely a recipe I'll use again.

Thanks Brooke!

 

Oatmeal Banana Bread

1 c. brown sugar
7 Tbls oil
2 egg whites
1 whole egg
1 c. oatmeal
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 c. milk
2 c. flour 
1 Tbls baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix the brown sugar, oil, egg, and egg whites. In another bowl combine oatmeal, mashed banana and milk, then add this mixture to the brown sugar, oil and eggs. Add the dry ingredients and mix only until moist. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.