1 month celebration: Chicken Tagliatelle w/ Vodka Cream Sauce

One month. Well, nobody that we know of celebrates a month into their relationship/marriage, but perhaps they just keep it a secret so that no one gets on them for being sappy! Regardless, we decided to celebrate. Why not? :)

So, I decided to make something special--homemade pasta! I've had a beautiful stand-up KitchenAid mixer with pasta roller attachments and a pasta drying rack sitting in my kitchen boasting it's monstrosity and beauty--quite intimidating! Given that I cook mostly Italian, homemade pasta definitely was the next level of Italian cooking I've been waiting to conquer. Yesterday was my chance :)

There's something so special about homemade pasta. First, the texture and the density is all so different from the dry pasta we buy in grocery stores. Second, it has to be good when there is so much time, love, and care devoted to creating a delicate and perfect pasta.

The dish I decided to make was chicken tagliatelle in a vodka cream sauce. It embodied all the characteristics of this first month--true, genuine, sweet, happy, and exciting. Let me tell you...this is the first time I had fresh, homemade pasta and I don't think John and I can go to a restaurant and have pasta again...the texture and taste is so different when it is fresh!

The dish was amazingly subtle and flavorful with a nice balance between sweet, spicy, and herbacious [herbacious is not a real word =P]. John couldn't stop saying, "Mmmmm!" So, let me share the dish with you!

Pasta dough

Yields 4 servings

2 cups semolina flour OR 1 cup semolina + 1 cup all-purpose flour

3 eggs

1 tbsp salt (optional)

3 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp water (as needed depending on the consistency of the flour)

After you mix and knead the dough, cover in plastic wrap and let it sit for 45 minutes at room temperature to let the gluten settle.

I used the KitchenAid pasta roller and cutter to make tagliatelle :) 

TIP: After rolling on the widest setting, fold and roll it through again. Continue to roll it twice on each setting--folding it over after the first roll out--to the second to last setting. This will enhance the consistency and elasticity of the pasta!

When boiling the pasta, cook for only 3-4 minutes! There's nothing better than an al dente pasta.

TIP: Add a slight drizzle of olive oil in the boiling pasta water to prevent sticking! :)

Vodka Cream Sauce

Vodka sauce

Grilled chicken

Heavy cream

Cayenne pepper

Red pepper flakes

Fresh parsley  

Pinch of sugar

When it comes to sauces, I never follow recipes or measurements, so I've just provided what I included in the sauce :)

After you drain water from the pasta and plate it on the dish, pour the sauce over the pasta and make sure the sauces fall through the cracks and stick on the pasta. 

Anyways, we hope you enjoy. Good food + Good company = A great time!

Thank you, Lord, for providing us food and time to eat and enjoy together. I'll cook for you in heaven one day! Amen =)