Making fresh pasta is more than cooking — it’s an experience. Whether you’re looking for a fun weekend activity with family or friends or just want to try something new, pasta-making brings people together — and the pasta is delicious.
I don’t make it as often as I’d like but when I do, it’s always a blast. I usually plan it when we have family in town, the kids’ friends over, or a themed dinner party. Everyone joins in, and everyone has a great time — and loves the pasta.
If you’re ready to try your hand at pasta-making, the Marcato Atlas 150 is a great machine to start with. It’s a classic for a reason — sturdy, simple to use, and beautifully made ... maybe even something you’ll pass down one day, along with your favorite recipes.
I keep mine attached to my baker’s table in the kitchen because it’s so pretty — and it reminds me to make pasta again soon.
All you need is good 00-type flour and this machine. It rolls and cuts dough into lasagna sheets, tagliolini, and fettuccine. You can cut the pasta into different shapes as well or add attachments to make even more.
Pasta-making slows you down — in the best way. It helps you connect with your food and the people around you. And you get to choose what goes into your dough, especially the flour.
(If you haven’t read my post on why French and Italian flours are easier to digest than most American ones, you can find it here.)
Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s easy to play. Add spinach, beetroot, or squid ink for colorful pasta that looks as good as it tastes. You can freeze the extras for another day.
If you’re new to pasta-making, try it anyway. I’ve made some fabulous pasta — and a few fabulous flops. But even the flops were light, tasty, and totally worth it. You’ll get better each time.
We’ve made pasta for dinner parties, family weekends, and spontaneous evenings when everyone ends up in the kitchen. It’s hands-on, fun, and a delicious way to make memories — whether the pasta turns out perfect or not.
And since you can freeze the extras, on a busy night you can just pull them from the freezer. Boil some water, add a few simple ingredients, and homemade pasta is served.
Once you taste your own pasta, you’ll wish you had more time to make it ... just like I do.
If you want some easy pasta recipe ideas, just type "pasta" in the search bar, and they'll pop up.
You can learn more about the Marcato pasta machine at Williams Sonoma and on Amazon.
