Kitchen Pasta Maker Coming to a Kitchen Near Me Soon

My kitchen of course.  After many hours, I finally decided on what I wanted for a starter kitchen pasta maker.  It took some work, too, believe me...but I finally landed on a nice little start-up kit that I put together myself (I think ;) ).

Here's what will be arriving, courtesy of Amazon, in a matter of a week or so....

• CucinaPro 177 CucinaPro Pasta Fresh

• Norpro Pasta Drying Rack
• Norpro Ravioli Maker and Press
• The Pasta Machine Cookbook

Can't wait for it to get here!  Of course, I'm sure that it'll take some trial and error, but I'm looking forward to my first-ever fresh homemade pasta.  And I can't wait for the heifer to calve and to be making fresh cheese and fresh cheese ravioli with it - yum! And to think of the the combos creatable once the fresh garden veggies get growing.....*sigh....

Pasta, Pasta, Pasta!

Pasta, Pasta, Pasta!

...It's what's on my brain today.  I already love making my own homemade pasta sauce (and am a little sad to be down to only 2 jars left from last year's garden :[ ).  I always think when I use it, though, that it's kind of a shame to be pouring it over that crap from a cardboard box.  So my latest craze is to make my own pasta!  Yes, I want to become a kitchen pasta maker, too, and so that's where I've been spending my "spare" time these last couple of rainy days.  Hey - with those backyard chickens of mine producing more than a baker's dozen a day, I've got to use all those eggs somehow!!

Basic Rules to Build Small Chicken Coop

Today, more and more people are looking for ways to become self-reliant. I built a small chicken coop big enough to house three to five laying hens in my backyard. I wanted to design an attractive chicken coop. One inspired by some coops in my area is the one I chose to build. Small chicken coop meant small price. I only spent around $40 for chicken wire, lumber and siding to complete the coop.

I saved money by using damaged siding, scrap wood as well as leftover hardware and paint. I was able to get the damaged siding half price at the local lumber store. The other materials that I used were scrap and leftovers from previous projects, and scraps from a condemned house nearby. I was sure to get permission to take the materials from the property. In addition, I was able to get shingles from a neighbor who recently put a new roof on his garage.

The basic rules to designing a small chicken coop are as follows:

      • Be sure to provide adequate floor space for all of your chickens
      • Your coop should be properly ventilated.
      • Remember to provide some type of temperature control.
      • Predator protection is key when designing your chicken coop.

If you live in town, or only want to keep a small flock to provide enough eggs to feed your family, a small coop is ideal. Owning your own chickens is safer and more economical than buying eggs from the store. Best of all, you do not have to pay taxes on the eggs you eat or the food you feed your chickens. Now, that is a win-win!