Multi-Purpose Tools

I love tools that have multiple purposes. When choosing things for my kitchen, I keep that in mind! And oftentimes you can find purposes for tools beyond what they were intended or created to do! 

For example, I received my Butter Making Kit from Roots & Harvest and I used the butter churn to crank out some lovely homemade butter and used my butter paddles to press the excess buttermilk out of my butter and as I looked at the ridges on the butter paddles, my mind went in a totally different direction! I said to myself…. “I imagine this ridged side would be good for gnocchi!” 

Gnocchi, if you don’t know, is a simple pasta that is basically the flesh of the potatoes, (the potato is steamed or boiled and the skin is removed) egg, and flour. It’s then kneaded and rolled and cut to make small “pillowy” shapes. Gnocchi is literally translated as “little pillows”. Isn’t that cute?

Then, those little pillows of pasta are rolled over a grooved surface to make ridges on each pasta pillow. Why do you roll it you ask? Because that helps the pasta hold sauce! And we all need more sauce, right? The sauce helps to enhance the flavor of the pasta that you choose to cook! Especially, gnocchi, which is quite mild in flavor. 

It was a messy job, and I learned a thing or two that I will improve upon the next time I decide to make gnocchi… but I love that I have good quality tools in my kitchen, that I can interchange when needed. Thanks Roots & Harvest! 

Here’s a simple recipe to make your own gnocchi!

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. of russet potatoes, either steamed or boiled, skins removed, and mashed THOROUGHLY
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

• Mix your mashed potatoes with the egg, salt, and pepper. 
• Begin mixing in your flour starting with about 1/2 cup and continuing until your dough is nice and smooth. DO NOT OVER MIX, OVER KNEAD, ETC... You want to work your dough until it is soft and smooth.
• Divide dough into 8 pieces and roll each piece into a thin log and begin to cut the log into 1 inch pieces. 
• Take your little pillows and gently roll across the paddle to make ridges.
• Cook gnocchi in salted boiling water. Once they begin to float cook for 1 minute. Remove from boiling water and serve with sauce of choice.
• Enjoy!

About the Author

Hi there! My name is Chas (@heritageacreshomesteadchas)! I'm a homemaker, homesteader, a bird-watcher, a crafter, a homeschooling mom, a wife, a believer, a GRANDMOMA, a lover of good REAL food and coffee, a seeker of health and wellness, and I'm exceedingly fond of deep, hearty, laughter and JOY in life! These are just a few things about me. I like to post our life in pictures and a few words, recipes I want to remember, thoughts I want to ponder, and whatever comes our way.