Homemade heaven

"Pappare" means to gobble up, in Italian. And pappardelle are my favorite noodles, wide and wonderful.

So when I discovered a classic pasta roller, vintage 1970, in my mom's garage -- complete with original sales ticket for 20 bucks, plus attachments for turning out spaghetti and fettucine, and even making ravioli -- and noticed that it had never been used. . . .

Well, I determined to use it. Simple: flour and egg, a while to rest, and then start cranking to roll and roll and roll and roll.

Then make a sauce: Get pancetta, garlic and pine nuts crispy. Add cream and the best parmesan, coarse-ground black pepper and tiny tomatoes, sage and basil from the garden. Toss it all. Add more cheese. Always more cheese.

All you need then is a fork and a mouth: Pappar- delle alla Romana.

Robert took a bite and said the nicest thing: "Velvet!"