Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo w/ Broccoli

...a few tuesdays ago i woke up to realize my whole day was wide open. i had no obligations or plans other than to make supper that night. when i have a free tuesday, which i rarely do, i try and cook something fun and that takes a little bit more time and effort than my usual meals. i decided to make Fettuccine Alfredo w/ Broccoli, and i wasn't just going to cook this dish; i was going to m-a-k-e it. so i pulled out my pasta machine i had received a while back ago and set it up. surprisingly, i have found that making pasta is really not all that hard, it's just time consuming. first you mix up all the ingredients. next you have to let it sit for about 10-15min. after that you break a little bit off and roll it through the machine over and over again until you reach the desired thickness. then you have to lay it out and let it dry for a bit, about 10-min. next you put it through the cutter attachment and after it's cut, lay it out to dry again. so as you can see it takes some time, but i love doing it. it makes me feel like i'm in italy.  here are a few of the pictures i took during the process.

inserting the pasta through the cutter,

the pasta coming through the cutters

you can kinda see the pasta layed out to dry in the right of the picture.

the finished product. it was delish! (this is one of my favorite meals.)

i also made some pumpkin bread to go with it. (another one of my favorites!)

Recipes:

Traditional Egg Pasta Dough
makes aprox: 1lb.
Ingredients: 
3 eggs
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

Directions:
[1] Pour flour into a mixing bowl and make a "well" or pit into the center. Break the eggs into the well. Using a fork, slowly blend the flour and eggs until they are well blended. (If the mixture is wet, slowly add a little flour; if the mixture is dry, slowly add a little water.)
[2] Spread a light coating of flour on a table or counter top. Place the dough mixture on the floured surface and begin to firmly knead the dough. Continue kneading until the dough has a consistent color and texture.
[3] Form the dough into a mound shape and cover with a damp towel. Let the dough rest for 10-15 minutes to allow the ingredients to blend together.
[4] After the dough has rested, cut off a piece approximately 1/4" thick, re-cover remaining dough with a damp towel.
[5] Lightly flour your work space. Insert the dough through the rollers until it reaches the desired thickness. Let the sheet rest for about 10 minutes.
[6] Cut a piece of rolled out dough long enough to be easily handled. Lightly flour the sheet to prevent it from sticking to the cutters.
[7] Run the dough through the cutter attachment
[8] Lay your freshly cut noodles out on a lightly floured surface or on a drying rack to dry before cooking.

Notes:
At this point the pasta will either store in your refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month. Be careful when cooking the pasta as homemade pasta cooks fast and will be done in 3-4 minutes.

Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo
SERVES: 4-6

Ingredients: 
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. grated Parmesan
8oz. cream cheese, cubed
8oz. Fettuccine, cooked and drained

Directions: 
[1]In a large saucepan, combine cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, butter and milk.
[2]Stir over low heat until smooth.
[3]Add Fettuccine and toss lightly.

Notes:
I steamed broccoli and then added it on top. I also sauted pieces of chicken and mixed it in with the sauce.

Downeast Main Pumpkin Bread
SERVES: 12
Ingredients:
1/2 (15oz.) can pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/3 c. water
1 1/2 c. white sugar
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/8 tsp. ginger

Directions: 
[1] Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour one loaf pan.
[2] In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
[3] Bake for about 50 minutes in the oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.