Homemade Ravioli

Saturday I had a 'day off' from being a mom that is! Daddy too Ebi-kun to see the football, they have become supporters of the local team! That meant I had the day free, so of course, I went to Nippori. My Japanese teacher wants me to make her some zabuton covers and left me to pick the fabric, it took me forever to decide, I hope she likes it! And, because I didn't have to rush back I mooched a bit, went into lots of new shops (new to me), I picked up some lovely new fabric for the shop, quite a bit of boys stuff, think robots, trains, diggers, some funky socks for more sock monkeys, a bobbin holder - I never knew these existed but what a fab invention, no more knotted up bobbin mess! I had lunch, dumped what I had already bought in a locker at the station and went back for more. Tomato was hell, moms all buying fabric for the yochien (kindy) bags. In Japan the child has to take several bags, all with set measurements - which are different for each kindy and there is a big thing about them being homemade - no matter if the mother can sew or not. There are many stressed out moms here in Japan right now! Trying to get round the store was awful, you are supposed to leave your stroller outside but there were people with them inside, screaming kids, harrassed mothers, useless fathers (who, should have taken the kids to the park and left the moms to it!) - awful, I won't be going back until the kids have started yochien in April!

I will try and get the new fabric up in the shop sometime this week.

I spotted Jeans post the other day about making ravioli and it has been playing on my mind ever since, so that is what we did yesterday. We actually make the dough in the bread machine, I will put the recipes at the end, for those who want to give it a go!

Once the dough was made a rested we rolled it out, it is quite springy so it was a tough job rolling it out. Then we cut out circles using a cooking cutter.

Add a small amount of filling - spinach and cottage cheese (poor mans ricotta!)

Damp the edges with a little water and pop the lid on, squash the edges together.

done! Boil in salted water for 3-4 minutes

Eat with a tomato and basil sauce, yum!

Everyone gave it the thumbs up and we will be making it again, Ebi-kun really enjoyed doing the filling and putting the lids on, a child friendly recipe.

This made enough for 2 adults and a small child!

For the pasta dough:

Strong (bread) flour 150g

Durum Semolina 150g (available at Ishii Seijo or Kaldi for those in Japan)

Salt 5g

1 egg beaten

water 110ml 

Olive oil 5ml

Put into the bread machine, choose the pasta/udon course and Start. takes about 15mins.

Place on a board & cover with cling film, let it rest in the fridge for 1 hour. Cut into 2 and roll one piece at a time.

Filling

spinach 110g

ricotta (cottage cheese in our case) 55g

olive oil

egg yolk

pepper to taste 

Boil the spinach for 3 minutes, drain and squeeze dry - I used the salad spinner, worked a treat.

Pop everything into the food processor and blitz until combined.

And a Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there, especially mine, because, she is of course the best one ;o)

Mothers day in Japan in on a different day so I always forget and end up having some rushed pressie delivered, hurrah for the internet :o)

Right, I have GOT to get some sewing done....