We love cooking, and the only thing better is getting to cook with friends!  Homemade pasta making is definitely much easier and more fun when you can get a group of friends together and cook all day long.  Although super simple, making fresh pasta is time consuming (and messy!), so if you are going to go through the effort, you might as well make an entire day of it and make enough to share with friends. Plus, if you plan appropriately, pasta making with friends can be a great way to play matchmaker (just ask our friends Brendon and Karen ;) ) There is just something about a bag full of flour that requires it to be used as a flirtation device… but we will leave those stories for later!

This past weekend we got some of our friends together to watch football and make pasta. By the end of the day we had a freezer full of all sorts of different types of pasta.  Since we enjoy pasta making so much and we love being able to inspire others to do fun new things, we decided to document the day.  In addition to pasta, we also made homemade sauce, all of which you can learn how to make in the recipes below!

If you didn’t already know, I am a big fan of gadgets.  So making pasta is a perfect excuse to get out all of our fun Kitchen Aid Mixer attachments.  Although not necessary to make pasta, the Kitchen Aid Mixer with ravioli and pasta attachments definitely make things much quicker.  For now we still use a hand cranked pasta roller but the pasta roller attachment would definitely be a great Christmas gift! ;) Or, if anyone from Kitchen Aid happens to stumble across our blog, we would love to test it out and feature the results on our blog! ;)

RECIPE: Homemade Pasta Dough

First up is our recipe for fresh pasta dough.  Once made, the dough can be used to make a variety of different types of pasta (from ravioli to lasagna to macaroni). Special thanks to our good friend Brendon for sharing his pasta recipe with us!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 Bag of unbleached white flour
• 1 full bag of semolina flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 – 4 cups of water
• 1 tbsp of salt (not pictured)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1: Pour the semolina flour and white flour into a mixing bowl and combine using the hook attachment for your KitchenAid Mixer (or by hand with a whisk).

Step 2: Add eggs and salt and mix on low speed or combine by hand. (Be sure to start the mixer on low or flour will be all over your kitchen!… yes, I am speaking from experience!)

Step 3: Slowly add water 1 cup at a time.  Pause in between cups to allow the water to soak in and determine how much more you need to add.

This is where things can get a little messy! :)  As your dough begins to form you may need to separate it into two bowls and prepare each half separately.

Continue to mix and add small amounts of water until a single ball of dough forms around the mixing hook.  The dough should be soft and squishy but not sticky.  If your dough seems wet or sticks to your fingers add more flour and continue mixing.

That’s it! Your dough is ready!  If you are making ravioli, place it aside and cover with a damp cloth until you are ready to use it. However, don’t let it sit out for more than a few hours as it will begin to dry up.

Onto Part 2 of Pasta Making Magicalness!

RECIPE: Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Pasta Sauce

Next up is the sauce.  You can’t have homemade pasta without homemade sauce!  So, we decided to head to the farmers market earlier that day to pick up fresh tomatoes for a homemade sauce.  Details are below! :)

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 to 10 large fresh tomatoes
• 2 red bell peppers
• 2 yellow onions
• 6 – 8 cloves of garlic
• 1 8oz can of tomato paste
• 1 tbsp rosemary
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp salt (not pictured)
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (not pictured)
• 2 tbsp olive oil (not pictured)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Step 2: Core and slice the tomatoes.  Place them in a glass baking dish in a single layer. Our baking dishes wouldn’t hold all of the tomatoes, so we used multiple.  It is important to keep a single layer in order for the tomatoes to roast evenly in the oven.

Step 3: Remove the stem and seeds from the red peppers and slice into 1/2 inch strips. Place in baking dish with the tomatoes.

Step 4: Chop the garlic and onions and add to the baking dish.

Step 5: In a small dish, combine the tomato paste, olive oil, rosemary, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and pepper.

Once combined together, add the mixture to the baking dish.

Step 6: Place your baking dishes in the oven and bake for 2 hours.

Step 7: With a hot pad, remove the roasted tomatoes from the oven. Using a food processor, blend the mixture to the desired consistency.  Be sure to pour in all the juice left over at the bottom of the glass baking dish too!

That’s it!  Pour the sauce into a container to use later!  Your sauce will last for about a week in the refrigerator or 2-3 months in the freezer.

While our sauce was baking in the oven, we used that time to start making our ravioli!

RECIPE: 4 Cheese and Bacon Ravioli

Ravioli are one of the most versatile pasta dishes.  You can fill them with pretty much anything from cheese, to meat, to Nutella (more on that later, I promise!).  This time we decide to make a four cheese bacon filling.  Thanks Krista for the recipe and helping prepare the mixture!

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 slices of bacon at room temperature
• 1 15 oz container of Ricotta Cheese
• 2 Cups of fresh mozzarella
• 1 container of fresh gorgonzola (about 1 cup)
• 1 container of fresh parmigiano reggiano (about 1 cup)
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 1 tsp black pepper
• Fresh pasta dough

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1: Combine the four cheeses, oregano, and pepper in a large bowl.

Step 2: Place bacon in a pan that is at room temperature.  Turn on the heat to medium high and cook for approximately 3-4 minutes per side.  Allowing the bacon to heat up at the same time the pan will result in more evenly cooked bacon.  Also, by allowing the bacon to warm up to room temperature first, instead of just putting it in the pan from the refrigerator, will prevent it from curling.  We want the bacon to remain flat and crispy for easy chopping.

Step 3: Once the bacon has cooked, remove from a pan, pat dry with a paper towel to remove the excess fat, chop into small pieces and add to the cheese mixture.

Step 4: Using a small baseball sized ball of pasta dough, flatten in long strips using a pasta roller.  Our roller is a hand crank roller, or more appropriate, hands roller.  Having extra hands to help at this point is key.

Start by using the widest setting on your roller and crank the past through once.

The first time through may cause the dough to tare or crack.  To fix this, simply fold the sheet in half and run it back through the roller again.

Continue to run the pasta through the roller 2-3 more times, reducing the thickness adjustment on your roller each time.  Krista cranked the roller while Karen caught the pasta.  Your sheet is ready when it is about 1/8 of an inch thick or a little bit thicker than the thickness of a quarter.

Step 5: Time for our Kitchen Aid Ravioli Attachment!  Prior to starting, we found that it would help to lightly flour the rollers of the ravioli attachment.  Fold your pasta sheet in half and slowly crank the folded edge just into the rollers of the ravioli maker.

Step 6: Add the “hopper” and fill with the four cheese and bacon mixture.

Step 7: Slowly crank the pasta through the ravioli attachment.  When the ravioli start to exit the other side grab the pasta to help guide it out.  If you go too fast, the ravioli can stick to the rollers and cause a big mess so go slow here.

Continue to add cheese filling and turn the crank slowly on the ravioli attachment until the entire sheet of pasta is used.  As you get close to the end of the sheet, remove the extra filling from the hopper that hasn’t been used yet and save for the next sheet.

Step 8: Gently pull apart the ravioli and place on parchment paper.  If you are making multiple types of ravioli, be sure to write on the paper so you know which kind is which.

Step 9: Place in the freezer overnight or for at least 2-3 hours.

Step 10: Once the ravioli are frozen, they are ready to cook.  Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.  Add the ravioli and cook for 3-4 minutes.  Since these are fresh dough ravioli, they will cook super quickly.

Once all the ravioli float to the top, they are done.

Step 11: While your ravioli are cooking, heat up your homemade pasta sauce in a small sauce pan.

Step 12: Once the ravioli are cooked and your sauce is hot, it’s time to plate and enjoy!

Thanks to Brendon, Karen, Krista, and Liz for helping with Ryan Cooks: Pasta Making Magicalness!

We did have some extra pasta dough leftover and decided to get a little crazy.  We made an amazing Nutella Churro Dessert Ravioli. Be sure to check back later this week for the recipe! You won’t want to miss it!

A few weeks ago we asked our fabulous intern Caitlin to help us brainstorm some fun DIY projects we could highlight on the blog!  She came back with like a million super fun projects that we could do!  However, when she showed us a block of wood with writing on it, we got super excited!!  Anything with raw wood that could be turned into something chic… we are on it!  ;)

It just so happens that my cousin Kaylene and her now husband, Matt, also have a love for all things rustic.  When Caitlin and I were planning the details for this DIY, I couldn’t stop thinking about creating something fun for Kaylene and Matt to have on their wedding day and beyond! We decided to create a monogramed wood block for them!

The results of this project still blows my mind!  My friends…. this project is super duper easy and the finished product is definitely something I would display in my house forever!

SUPPLIES WE USED:

• Elmer’s Glue
• Mod Podge
• Paint Brush
• 1 Piece of white Card stock
• 1 Wood Slab (I had no idea, but they sell these real wood slabs in all different shapes and sizes at Michaels! Who knew?!)

ALSO NEEDED:
A design (We used Adobe InDesign to create Kaylene and Matt’s monogram, but you could easily use Microsoft Word or similar program.)

PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1:  Paint a solid layer of glue across a full blank sheet of card stock.  Leave the painted card stock to dry overnight.  (It might be helpful to paint 2 or 3 sheets of the card stock just in case you mess up.)  When the paper is dry it will look like the picture below on the right.

Step 2:  Design a graphic that you would like to include on the wood slab.  This does not have to be a monogram.  It could be just 1 word or even a full quote!  The possibilities are endless!!!  Once you have a design made on your computer, use the design program to reverse the image so that it prints backwards (as seen below).  Put the dry piece of card stock in your printer so that the image will print on the glued side. Print the image. (Our printer is a little crazy at times so we had to help guide it through!  But it still worked just fine!)

Step 3:  Cut off the excess white space around the edges of the printed card stock.  Paint a solid layer of Mod Podge onto the wood slab.  Before it dries, place the card stock (design side down) onto the wood and press firmly.  Use your fingers to rub over the design and release any air bubbles.

Step 4:  When the paper feels firmly against the wood without any air bubbles, flip the wood over onto a flat surface.  Add extra weight to the top of the wood to assure a constant pressure.  Leave the project to dry for 8 hours.

Step 5:  This is where the magic happens!  Run the wood slab with the card stock attached under hot water.  (As hot as your hands can take!  Don’t burn yourself!).  After a few minutes you will begin to see the card stock bubble.  Don’t force the paper away from the wood… just let the water continue to make it bubble.  Eventually the paper will come loose from the wood and fall off.

The end result is an awesome looking rustic wood slab!  We gave this to Kaylene and Matt the day before their wedding and they ended up using it for some photos on the day of! It is such a great little piece of decor that they can always have in their home to remind them of their special day!!

I love this project and can’t wait to do it again!  I am thinking a simple quote would look super awesome and would be great decor for our home!  Let us know if you try this project!  We would love to see what you do with it!  Have fun!

I am super excited today… not only because we have taken over Bucknell University‘s Career Center’s twitter feed (@BisonINCareers) to share a Day In the Life of being an entrepreneur and photographer!!  (Wahoo!!… be sure to check it out and get a glimpse behind the scenes of all of the craziness over here!  ;) )…. but I am also super excited because I get to share not one, but TWO DIY projects with you today!!  Both of these projects were made especially for Kaylene and Matt’s special day!

This first project is the personalized hanger my cousin Jenna and I made for Kaylene!  Jenna and I had been chatting about a special gift for Kaylene and the idea of a personalized hanger came up!  There are TONS of super cute wire personalized hangers on Etsy, but we wanted it to be extra special.  I had seen a super cute DIY project that included rope words… so I figured why not make it into a hanger?!  Jenna was up for the adventure and we made up the steps as we went along!  ;)  We are happy to say that we are pretty excited about the results!  This Mrs. Francis twine hanger fit perfectly with Kaylene and Matt’s rustic wedding decor and it was the perfect way to add a special touch to their wedding day!

Here are the details and step-by-step process Jenna and I used to make Kaylene’s personalized wedding hanger!  It was actually pretty easy… but it is definitely messy! ;)

SUPPLIES WE USED:

• 1 Wooden hanger (from a photographer’s perspective, the notches on the ends are super helpful to keep the dress hanging!  ;) )
• 2 Eye Hooks
• 1/2 Cup Corn Starch (Check the back of your cupboards for this one… Ours expired in 2008… lol, but it is perfect for crafting!)
• Rope or Jute
• 4 oz. Elmer’s Glue
• 1/2 cup warm water
• Parchment Paper
• Pencil

You will see a trend in all of my DIY posts… they always seem to include the help of other people!  ;)  Crafting is more fun with friends!

PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1:  Screw the eye hooks into the bottom of the hanger.  I just used my hands (no tool required).  It does take some patience to get it started, but once you make a hole it gets much easier.  Screw it in far enough that the hook feels secure.

Step 2:  Lay out enough parchment paper to cover the length of the hanger.  Place the hanger onto the parchment paper.  Use a pencil to draw the name/word that you want to hang from your hanger.  For us, we wrote Mrs. Francis.  It was helpful to write it out as if it was one continuous word (as it will show when you use the twine to actually make it).  We used lowercase cursive letters to make it look best. Please note: you are using a pencil for a reason!  ;)  Don’t be afraid to erase and start over if you need to!  Once you have your name/word written, place your hanger to the side.

Step 3:  Mix the cornstarch, water, and glue into a medium sized bowl.  Mix until the mixture is no longer clumpy.

Step 4:  Unravel the rope/jute and begin to run it through the cornstarch mixture.  The rope/jute should be completely submerged and covered.  However, be sure to leave about 2 feet un-dipped at each end of the word to make it easier to tie around the eye hook.  (We learned this the hard way!)

Step 5:  This is where it starts to get messy.  Squeeze off any excess cornstarch mixture and begin to use the rope/jute to trace the name/word you drew onto the parchment paper.  Feel free to use some force to create creases and folds.  Be patient and hold the rope/jute into place when needed.

If the letters begin to look funky or illegible, feel free to go back and tweak it!  You have several minutes until it begins to hold firm.  It worked best for us to complete the name and then go back and tweak it to make it perfect.  You can add extra cornstarch mixture to specific spots where it needs a little extra stability.

Like I said… it gets messy, so don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!  ;)

Step 6: Once the name/word looks good to you, leave it to dry for at least 12 hours.  And yes, it does take that long!  Believe me, I started to doubt that it was going to stay in its shape, but the next day it was good to go!!  Once it is dry and firm, clean up the word by removing any flaky pieces of the dried mixture.  If you have any flimsy areas that need extra support, feel free to use hot glue to make it stand firm.

String the extra rope/jute at the beginning and end of the word through the eye hook and tie a knot to hold it in place!  Then Voila! Done!  ;)  How cute would this be to make for all of the bridesmaids in your wedding?!?… or of course for a Bride-to-Be in your life!

Below is the finished Mrs. Francis hanger in action on Kaylene and Matt’s wedding day!  ;)  Cute right?!?  Check out more photos from their amazing rustic PA wedding here.

Let me know if you have any questions at all!  I am more than happy to help if I can!  ;)  I would love to hear if you can think of any other fun uses for this! Have fun and don’t forget to check back in later today for another super fun and rustic DIY project!

Do you remember the first time you said I Love You?  It is usually a pretty big deal the first time you tell a significant other that you are in love.  I Love You are three tiny words that hold some significant weight.  They can change a life.

We are here today to encourage you to say I Love You more often.  Sometimes it is so easy to focus on the negative and forget about the love that is surrounding you.  Instead of arguing over something small this week, we would love for you to take the high road and tell your significant other that you love them.  Forget about the insignificant small things in life and focus on the big.

Say I Love You!