Great noodle recipes can be found online and in cook books

When is the last time you whipped up a batch of homemade noodles? Never? Now is the time to try it. Store-bought are fine but they don?t compare to those that are homemade.

Noodles are a universal food. Nearly every country and culture has their own specialty. The Hungarians love csipetke and the Chinese chow down on chow mein. Germans have spatzle and Indians dine on a snack called Wai Wai. Japanese eat soba. Ramen is a low budget staple.

Betty Crocker, the empress of cooking and baking, has great recipes including those that aren?t all that complicated. A novice cook can undertake this task and succeed.

To create homemade egg noodles you are going to invest about an hour?s time, including 15 minutes of preparation time. You need five ingredients including 2 cups all-purpose or whole wheat flour; 1 tsp. salt; 3 large egg yolks; 1 large egg and 1/3 to ® cup of water.

Mix the flour and salt in a medium size bowl. Create a well in the center of the mix and add the egg yolks as well as the water and the whole egg. Mix completely. If the dough isn?t moist enough, add a little bit more water. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour.

Divide the dough in 4 parts. Roll 1/4th of the dough at a time on a lightly floured surface. Create a rectangle shape that is about 1/8th inch thick. While you are working with the dough, keep the other pieces of dough covered with a cloth.

~

Fold the rectangular shape dough pieces that you have just rolled out lengthwise into thirds. Now cut crosswise into 1/8th inch strips to create narrow strips. If you want thicker ones cut 1/4th inch strips. For fat pieces cut ® inch strips.

Unfold the strips and shake them out. Put the strips in a single layer on towels that are lightly floured or you can hang them on a pasta drying rack. Let them dry for 30 minutes or until completely dry. If you use a pasta machine, keep passing the dough through the machine until it is 1/16th inch thick.

Once dry, break the strips into smaller pieces

Heat 4 quarts of water in a saucepan. You can add salt if you like. Bring the water to a boil and toss the pasta in. Boil the noodles uncovered for five to seven minutes. Stir occasionally. You want them to be tender but firm. Drain the pasta.

You are done. That was relatively painless!

This recipe serves six.

Taste of Home?s homemade recipe is another winner.

This recipe serves 10 and takes about 30 minutes to prepare.

You will need 1 Tbs. of canola oil, 1 Tbs. of cold water, three lightly beaten eggs, ® tsp. salt and 2 to 2® cups of all purpose flour.

Put the flour and salt in a deep bowl or pastry board. Create a well in the center of the flour and add water and eggs.

Now mix using a wooden spoon or your hands until well-blended.

Make a ball out of the dough and knead it on a floured surface until it is smooth. This takes approximately 10 minutes. If the dough keeps sticking to your hands or to the surface, add some more flour.

Divide the dough into thirds and roll out each section on a lightly floured surface. You want the end result to be a paper-thin rectangle. Use some flour to dust the top of the dough. This keeps the dough from sticking while you are rolling. Trim the edges and flour both sides.

Roll out the dough in a jelly roll style and then use a knife to cut 1/4th inch slice. Unroll the them and let them dry. Place them no paper towels to dry.

Bring a pot of salted water to a rapid boil. Add 1 Tbs. of oil to the water and then drop them into the water. Cook until they are tender but no soft, which takes between 7 and 10 minutes.

You?re done! The noodles are ready to be served.

Bon appetit! Your family is going to be so proud of your efforts and their taste buds are going to appreciate it, too.