Homemade Bow Tie Pasta Recipe

Bow Tie macaroni is a staple in an Italian pantry. Sunday is a traditional day for pasta in an Italian household. Here is a wonderful Traditional Sunday Sauce with this awesome pasta that really happens to be a favorite of mine, it's a bonus if I have the time to make them homemade from scratch. If not as long as I get my pasta on Sunday I am good to go!

 We often add meats like Braciole, Homemade Sausage and Meatballs to our sauce. Our family was happy with simple traditions, just being together on a Sunday was a treat and blessing for us to share each others conversation of the week. Yes, those were the days when mom, dad, Aunts and Uncles would all set aside the time to be with the family and to spend a fantastic day together sometimes it got very loud with debates as well but always fun. Even my Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike that lived around an hour and a half away would make it a point to drive to our home in Utica N.Y., they lived in Schenectady back then. 

Back in the early 60's and 70's this was always looked forward too every week, now and then we would have christening, communions or other big events to go to. Now with our children and next generation we have busier lives but here in my family, I am lucky enough to have two fabulous sons Chad and Curt and his soon to be wife Jenni ( and my new grandson she is expecting) now carry on those precious traditions with a passion for Italian foods. We rarely miss a Sunday dinner together. My husband Nemo has shared that same importance and it's not Sunday morning breakfast without my meatballs frying in the kitchen.

My brother John Colenzo who was the first born in the family for our mom and dad, will drive 2 1/2 hours to have this traditional Sunday dinner just to be with the family. He is happy with a simple dinner doesn't matter what it is , however there is one stipulation I must make the sesame cookies he loves!

Sometimes we have my nephews visit which are John's children Matt and Devin. That's if work doesn't get in the way. The rest of my family to include another brother Luke that lives in Upstate New York, Utica to be exact and I long for the days we can all be together in one spot again! Florida is a long drive for them for dinner!

I have several very special nieces, Alicia, Mary, Pamela and Lana (who lives in Omaha) that I miss very much and their children, it's hard to live so far away from them. They all carry on the same passion and traditions that my mom Margaret (R.I.P.) taught all of us and we have her to thank for our close bond.

So it's ok to have plain simple boxed rigatoni, bow ties or any other favorite macaroni. This is about family, good food and great conversation for us.

 Isn't that what it's all about? Family and quality time? It is for us. 

So again this Sunday will start out with fried Italian meatballs early in the morning for breakfast, as the sauce would simmer we always make a second batch of meatballs since there are none to spare for the sauce.
 The table would have appetizers consisting of olives, pepperoni, salami, cappicola, and extra sharp provolone cheese and of course fresh Ciabatta Italian bread!

Last but not least our demitasse coffee, pastries such as pusties, cannoli, sfogliatelle for dessert.

 Grandma Victoria would always make homemade pasta dough, what a special treat! She always made the time. She has the black hat on in the photo, that Grandma Victoria and Grandpa John. Aunt Mary is the bride, Uncle Mike, my Aunt Angie who passed on at a young age before I was born, my dad Carmen, mom Margaret, John is the taller boy my brother and my other brother Luke .

Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike's Wedding photo

                            Nephew Matt, Jenni, Curt, Brother John, Chad 


Well lots of time has passed on but not our love for family. 
If you really want to make a special dinner and have some spare time,  try this homemade dough recipe to make bow tie pasta from scratch.
Just cut the dough into rectangular pieces and pinch the centers. Let dry for around an hour or freeze on cookie sheets. Then boil with salt water until they float to the top. Add your favorite sauce and you have the perfect meal. Here is the pasta homemade recipe.

                                   Where it all started, Dad, Mom, brother Luke holding me, 
                                    Grandma Victoria, Aunt Mary and Grandpa John

Dough for Homemade Bow Ties

2 cups semolina flour
2 cups flour
6 eggs, well beaten
2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon salt

If mixing by hand, mix 2 flours together and make a hill of flour on a clean board. Make a well in center of the flour. Beat eggs in a large bowl and add in olive oil and salt. Pour egg mixture into flour. With your hands, mix flours and liquids together and knead until you have a ball of dough., I use my kitchen aide mixer and start with the flour first. Add cold water to moisten dough, if too dry. Dough should be firm not sticky. Add more semolina if its sticky a little at a time. Make dough into shape of tennis ball size and wrap individually, this will be easier to roll out when ready. I find that smaller portions are easier to cut and manage. Cover with plastic wrap and allow pasta dough balls to rest 45 minutes to an hour. This will help the dough while stretching and rolling it out to make it easier.
To roll: Use one ball of dough at a time. Keep others underneath a covered bowl wrapped until ready to roll. Roll out on a slightly floured surface, first in one direction, then in the other to form a rectangle. Slice into strips and cut into rectangles with a fluted edged cutter for the rippled edges,  then pinch the center.  Place on a floured cookie sheet. Dry around an hour (on a floured cookie sheet).

Boil in salted water until they float to the top, serve with your favorite Sunday Sauce.

Dad Carmen, Mom Margaret, Brother Luke, Myself and Brother John

+claudia lamascolo  Author

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