We have had whole night rains for the last three days which has culminated in large ponds and pools forming on the farm. It is extremely wet; the goosies are loving the splishing and sploshing! We are stuck at home and the pasta maker done broke two days ago after a three day pasta marathon. Gnome said:

“…hmmm…things aren’t made to be used any-more…people just have these things as kitchen decoration or ‘one day I will make pasta with my pasta machine…'”

Oh dear…the poor machine did not survive the rigorous challenge of a Munchkin and Gnome marathon…we actually only got 12 hours out of it!

Anyway, Gnome has already taken the whole contraption apart and is in the process of fixing it. Meanwhile, I will sneak in a few more of our pasta pictures…

Another Picture:

This one was an experiment. We put yeasted dough, flavoured with cinnamon and sugar, through the pasta maker and made long mafaldine strips. They puffed up very nicely when fried in oil.

Gnome tells me that this type of fried dough is called chiacherre in Italy. His Mum says that it is called frappe’ in Rome. You can use vodka, dry martini or even white wine to make the dough. I had never considered using alcohol in dough (what a waste of a perfectly good beverage!) but it actually gives a distinctive flavour to it and is worth doing if you like good food! A definite thumbs up from Munchkin who has been experiencing the joys of Italian food making and eating for the last few days.

Have a Great Weekend. Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you…we think the Flood Flies are coming out tonight. There has been so much rain that we think that this will stimulate the flight of the termite queens. From our point of view, it just means that there will be a right old mess of wings to clean up the next day! Remember to switch all lights off, close all doors and windows! Early to bed tonight…