I have recently acquired a pasta machine. I was just wanting to make simple pasta and looking for recipes. This book is maybe more for someone looking to make really, really fancy pasta or maybe sell pasta. it had a purist sort of bent to it. It went into wooden dies and hand shaping pasta, and it did have some recipes just for the pasta itself. It has lots of pictures.
One thing that raised my eyebrow a bit was the discussion on eggs. The author goes into a detailed discussion of eggs but I was left feeling like maybe she really didn’t know much about them in spite of the fact she wrote a lot about them. For instance, we have free range chickens, and the best eggs are the ones right out from under the chicken, but the author says eggs aren’t good for 2 days after they are laid. I suppose my family would just disagree. Also, she leaves out a very important tip about fresh eggs, that the easiest way to tell if one is bad is just to float it in water. Good eggs don’t ever float. The best sink quick.
This book would be great for you if you are looking for sources to buy wooden or high end pasta shapers and plates.
If, however, you’re an every day cook that has a pasta maker and could care less if your plates are bronze vrs plastic, there might be better beginner books out there. I’m going to try to find another one that’s more appropriate for a beginner like me.

I have recently gotten into making homemade pasta and was looking for a book to provide me with a variety of recipes, techniques and education on various types of pasta and this slim volume totally delivered on that request. It is also filled with gorgeous color photos on evey page illustrating step-by-step instructions for producing perfect pasta every time. This is not a source book for sauce recipes – this focuses solely on making the pasta itself. I like its focus on simple, inexpensive hand tools rather than expensive gadgetry, and its in-depth info on various aspects of the simple ingredients used to create great pasta at home. I highly recommend this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Artisan-Pasta-Handmade-Dumplings/dp/1592537324/ref=sr_1_1?#038;ie=UTF8&qid=1325997788&sr=1-1

Customer Video Review Length:: 4:08 Mins

I have a lot of cookbooks, anymore it takes a pretty special cookbook to get my heart thumping and inspires me to immediately take it in the kitchen and get to cooking. Making Artisan Pasta is just such a book. I have other pasta books, such as the joy of pasta, and usually they are maybe 25% actual pasta recipes, and the rest is sauce or soup or casseroles using the pasta. There is nothing wrong with that, but Making Artisan Pasta is a book about the pasta, about what ingredients to use, how to use them, how to make the pasta, form the pasta, and tons and tons of ideas and tips on making amazing pasta.

The pictures are simply inspirational. From step by step photos of how to accomplish making the pasta, to beautiful and inspiring finished products. This book could be intimidating, working with dough and various ingredients and appliances and gadgets, making different shapes. But it’s totally not, Aliza Green writes clear simple instructions that would make the most dough-frightened person feel enabled to make luscious pasta. Between her clear instructions and tips, and Steve Legato’s amazingly clear instructional photos, this is a book to really give a person confidence and a can-do attitude.

There are some pastas that simply call for special gadgets to make them, it’s the nature of the pasta, but if you don’t want to spend a penny on new fun equipment there are still plenty of pasta recipes you can easily make. The author gives several techniques on how to make pasta. She gives three ways of mixing (hand, stand mixer, food processor) and different ways to roll out the pasta- rolling pin, sheeter (hand cranked pasta machine) and the extruders. Through out the entire book there are variations so if you want to make ravioli you can buy a really cool ravioli pan thing, or she shows you how to simply put the filling on the bottom sheet and put the second sheet over and cut out the dough.

The pasta I made was easy to work with and tasted delicious. I started simple, but can’t wait to get into the variations like green pasta, or the one with the parsley leaves pressed in between the sheets.

The book covers basic pastas, stuffed pasta, dumplings, pot stickers, gnocchi, pastas I haven’t even heard of but can’t wait to try! This is honestly a book that has me excited to get in the kitchen and start making pasta.

This is a beautifully illustrated and very well-written book that fills a pressing need – how to make delicious gluten-free asian dishes (that are typically hands off for those who don’t eat gluten). The author has a nice voice, the pictures are very inviting and the recipes are creative and sound great. Only tried a few so far – and with great success. My impression is the author is scrupulous about testing and retesting each recipe – reassuring quality control. Also that the author – who is a noted writer and advocate in the “gluten-free arena” – is clearly dedicated to her mission.

Looking forward to working my way through many more of the recipes.

On another note, my friend who is a Nutritional Therapist and very particular about recipe books – especially those that focus on gluten-free food – calls this “a great book”

If you love Asian food and have to be gluten-free, you want to buy this cookbook. Some recipes are complex but others are easy enough to do on a weeknight (more involved recipes like the dough for the pot stickers can be started ahead). Scared of rice paper? Don’t be, after you read thru these recipes. Miss lovely Asian dip-able finger food? There are recipes for that. Always wanted to try some Asian food but you can’t now that you’re gluten-free? You’ll be covered. And the ingredient lists and instructions are very well done and easy to follow (and also adapt).

OMG. This cookbook is so well done. Thank you so much Laura Russell! I haven’t had a dumpling in 18 months since going gluten free. We are now devouring the Gingery Pork Pot Stickers and the Sticky Rice Dumplings with Chicken and Mushrooms.I particularly liked the section “Identifying Sources of Gluten in Common Asian Ingredients.” I now know to be careful of several I had no idea might contain gluten. And now, since this cookbook includes several sauce recipes with a great variety of flavors, I can make my own for home use or to take along to my favorite asian joints. Highly recommend. Fantastic.