Culinary Hotline - Clem & Megan Pedro
From dough to dish with pasta to banana loaf!
Ingredients:
- 2½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- ½ tsp salt (optional)
- Semolina or extra flour (for dusting)
How To Make Homemade Pasta
- On a clean surface or in a large bowl, mound the flour and make a well in the center.
- Crack the eggs into the well.
- Add the salt if using.
- Using a fork, whisk the eggs gently, gradually pulling in flour from the edges until a shaggy
dough forms. - Knead the dough by hand for 8–10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- If it’s sticky, dust with a little more flour. If it’s dry, add a few drops of water.
- Wrap the dough in cling film or cover with a bowl and let it rest for 30 minutes at room
temperature. - This relaxes the gluten and makes it easier to roll.
- Divide the dough into 4 pieces.
- Flatten one piece slightly, keeping the others covered.
- Roll out with a pasta machine or rolling pin to your desired thickness. (Dust with flour if needed
to prevent sticking.) - Cut into fettuccine, tagliatelle, lasagna sheets, or your preferred shape.
- Dust lightly with semolina or flour to prevent sticking.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the pasta for 2–4 minutes (fresh pasta cooks quickly!).
- Drain and toss with your sauce of choice.
Ingredients:
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups (625ml) full cream milk (warm)
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional but classic)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¾ cup grated mature cheddar (or gruyère for a nutty flavor)
- ½ cup grated parmesan (or pecorino for more sharpness)
How To Make Cheesy Béchamel Sauce
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Once melted and bubbling, whisk in the flour.
- Stir continuously for about 1–2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste—don’t let it brown.
- Slowly pour in the warm milk while whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Continue stirring until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken (about 5–7 minutes).
- Add salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
- Simmer gently for another minute, stirring constantly.
- Lower the heat and add the cheddar and parmesan.
- Stir until completely melted and the sauce is velvety.
- Pour over cooked pasta immediately and toss to coat or use as a base for baked pasta dishes.
Ingredients:
- 3 Bananas, slightly overripe
- 200g brown sugar
- 150g butter
- 2 free range eggs
- 240g cake flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
How To Make Banana Loaf
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Using a hand mixer, beat the bananas until smooth.
- Don’t worry if some lumps are present, this will only make the bread taste better.
- Add the brown sugar, butter and eggs to the smoothed banana.
- Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl.
- Slowly begin adding the dry ingredients to the wet mixture while using the hand mixer on the lowest setting.
- Pour the batter into a 23 cm X 13 cm loaf tin. Bake for 45 – 55 minutes.