Thursday, January 27, 2011

A Ravioli Party

 

Years ago I bought an Imperia pasta machine and it stayed in the box until this past weekend when we decided to make ravioli. During that same time period, I also purchased a ravioli mold. So I researched recipes for pasta dough and fillings and off we went to gather the ingredients.

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The ingredients went into the “Christmas” Cuisinart and processed until a ball formed around the blade.

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We rolled and divided the dough and let it rest while we made the fillings.

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Ricotta, parm, lemon zest, salt and pepper, and fresh basil leaves made one filling.

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Mushrooms, spinach (very well drained), ricotta and nutmeg made the second filling. And then the fun began.

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We topped each ravioli with a torn piece of basil rather than chopping it into the ricotta mixture.

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A little corn meal stops the sticking. Then we stopped for lunch and went antiquing for a bit

 

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We made the dessert and I wanted something light. I purchased pound cake and blood orange sorbet and with a little help from Grand Marnier, dessert was in the freezer.

Now it was time for dinner. Caesar salad and our delicious raviolis, some breads from the market and a glass of red wine completed the dinner. The table setting was minimal. Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn were the providers. The roses are in an American by Fostoria pitcher. The candlesticks are vintage.

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Very Bon Appétit!

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I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Michael at Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday. Please visit their blogs to see the beautiful dishes and the wonderful food. Thanks for stopping by.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Woom... very nice, I lake it!!!
Beautiful table decoration, ravioli, bravoo!
Kisses and greetings.

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

What a wonderful meal! I'll bet it was lots of fun to make your own pasta/ravioli! I'll bet a fun time was had by all! Now I want to make pasta!

Unknown said...

Wow, I can almost taste how fresh that must taste. You make it look so easy. I would love to get one of those machines. We all love pasta in our house.
Karen

From the Kitchen said...

Carol: It sounds to me the perfect day--pasta making and antiquing! The table is beautiful. I want to purchase some white dishes. I love my Fiesta pieces but sometimes white is just the ticket!

Best,
Bonnie

Anonymous said...

Homemade ravioli!! How ambitious. Something we have never done, but wow... are they ever pretty and most likely yummy too!

Di

Unknown said...

Carol,
What a simple but elegant table! I believe there is a place setting for me? You can't go wrong with fresh pasta! Thanks for stopping by a leaving a sweet comment! Andrea

Maggie said...

Carol,
Your pasta looks so professional, and very very appetizing.
The table is beautiful, love the roses.

podso said...

This looks like a lot of work---but well worth it! Yum! And pretty table.

Slice of Pie said...

Your ravioli looks fantastic! That's my weekend project ... thanks for sharing.

Elaine said...

What gorgeous yummy photos! I especially love the idea to tear a piece of basil for each, rather than mincing into the cheese mixture. I hope it was as good as it looked!

Flavia Galasso said...

This kind of parties..is mi favourite one!!!
Anyway ..with your Imperia machine...try to prepare Tagliatelle..!!! Hugs, Flavia

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Oh, this meal looks delicious! And I give you credit - homemade pasta and ravioli fillings is not as easy as you make it seem! Beautiful table setting, too.

Mary said...

This is a very pretty table scape and delicious looking meal! I would like to invite you to link this up to my new link party, Masterpiece Monday, at Boogieboard Cottage. The link will be up all week. Take care, Mary :O)

Rettabug said...

Yummo Carol!! How nice that your sweetie likes to help you in the kitchen. Not mine!!! LOL

Everything looks beautiful & sounds delicious. I've never done homemade pasta or ravioli, either.
BRAVO you!

We're heading your way. Email me via my blog, please so we can connect?

http://jackieinsurrey.blogspot.co.uk/ said...

Whose a clever girl then! The ravioli looks delicious and your table very inviting. Well done on using the machine after so many years.

Best wishes, Jackie.

Beverly said...

Guess whose coming to dinner at your house? ;-)

Chubby Chieque said...

Amazing! It feels I am there waiting for the palatable meal your preparing (I wish §;-) huh?)

Your such a talented gorgeous Lady, therefore I am saluting you for everything you share in you blog (at least me). You know for sure, my world? A filipino-swedish style and now, American started to inspire me with everything. Awesomeness!!!

Love it a lot.

Happy TS & have a great w/end ahead.
hugs,
/chie

Tricia said...

Carol, your table looks so warm and inviting -- and your ravioli look ravishing! We used to make pasta and ravioli fairly often, but our pasta machine has languished in a cabinet for a while now. Maybe I can talk my husband into making it again! It's definitely a two-person job!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

What a wonderfully textured table, Carol. Love how warm this is, and the food looks absolutely scrumptious. Do you have an extra place for me???

XO,

Sheila :-)

Scribbler said...

This looks absolutely divine! Who cares about the dishes with food like that! Just kidding -- your table is very pretty. I have my mother's Fostoria pitcher -- now I will have to try it with roses.

Lynn said...

Looks beautiful! Even with the KA pasta roller I feel I need 3 hands! Your dinner is fantastic, I'm sure you enjoyed it:@)

Decor To Adore said...

Ravioli is one of my favorites and boy does this look good.

I am wondering is there some way you could incorporate some of your tiara postcards in a tablescape and particpate in the Royal Wedding linky? I sure would like to see them.

Southerncook said...

Your ravoli looks delicious, YUM. Your tablesetting is beautiful as well. I have those chargers but have never seen the coasters. I will be on the look out for them. A lovely post.

Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

Red Couch Recipes said...

Carol, what a fab idea for a party. Your ravioli looks like little puffs of heaven -- I love the pic with the long sheet of pasta. Beautiful tablesetting too. Joni

Anita Diaz said...

Carol, what a perfect day! I cannot imagine making pasta, but I don't have any of the equipment. If I did, I bet my kids would love making ravioli! Beautiful, elegant table too!! Thanks for stopping by:-)

Jacqueline said...

Oh, these made me want to make some. While in college my roommate who was part Italian and I checked out cookbooks and started making homemade ravioli. Nothing from the freezer section can compare. These look just wonderful.

Lori @ Dining Delight said...

YUMMY! Your ravioli looks so delicious and you've set the table perfectly for that type of meal - casual, cozy and comfortable! Perfect! You really captured the meal with your photos, I like the angles you used. I wish I could have been there to taste everything!

DD

Ms. Bake-it said...

Your raviolis look wonderful! Your post brought back some great memories.

I love making homemade raviolis and do so a few times throughout the year. It is also a tradition in my family to make them for Christmas every year. I especially loved Christmas ravioli making day when I was younger because we had four or more generations in the kitchen and it was so much fun to listen to the stories of the older generation. Hah! Now I am one of the older generations!

~ Tracy

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Oh my gosh, your ravioli look wonderful. I've only made fresh ravioli once and I know how wonderful that fresh pasta tastes. Delicious post and your table looks beautiful!

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

Wow! This looks like a fabulous party, and a lot of work. The end result is beautiful though, and I'll bet it was delicious.

Tiffanee said...

There is nothing better than fresh pasta. Yours looks and sounds devine. The table was beautiful as well as all the food. What a wonderfully delicious meal.

Marigene said...

What took you so long to take the pasta machine from the box...fresh pasta is soooo good. Beautiful roses.

Entertaining Women said...

What an amazing undertaking! You have my admiration. Thank you for sharing the pasta process and your lovely tablescape. Cherry Kay

Yasmin said...

This pasta looks to die for! I can almost smell it! I love the layout of your dinner table, the party must have been a hit!

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