blanquette de veau- pasta

photo is not mine... there is no more of the one I cooked :)
it's so delicious and luscious, it should be very complicated and take forever.. But sometimes life's unfairness is good :)

You'll need:
- veal for stew(about 1/2 lb for 2 people)
- butter (2or 3 table spoons)
- flour (3 or 4 Ts)
- salt pepper
- 2 cups broth
- 3 Ts milk
- mushrooms (about 8 white mushrooms)
- juice of one lemon (I didn't have lemon so I used lime)

put the butter in a pan, let it melt. When the pan is really hot add the veal cut in small pieces. Let it color on every side.
Then take the meat away, using a fork. Leave all butter and juices in the pan.
add flour. Whisk real fast out of the heat. It should look like a brownish dough, not much of it.
Add a little bit of broth, whisk again. Repeat adding more broth, whisking again... until all broth is in the sauce. Add the milk, keep whisking to get a nice napping sauce. Add pepper (I didn't put salt because the broth contained some).
Put the meat back in the sauce, and the sliced mushrooms.
Let it simmer 5 min (low heat).
Add the lemon juice (it really really makes a difference, THIS is the taste of blanquette like my mom cooks it)
let it simmer an other 10 min, very low heat.

The only part that requires attention are the first 10 minutes. then it's all about simmering and stirring every now and then.

Serve with rice, and peas with carrots (fresh if you can!!)

Tonight I made quick pasta.
basil pasta:
2 cups (or more?) flour
1 egg
water
dried basil (about 4 TS)
salt

mix flour, a pinch of salt and basil together.
Add egg. Mix (I use my hands) add some water until consistency of dough (like pizza dough, only less sticky). It's ready!
Then cut your dough in half, put flour on the table and spread the dough as THIN as you can. Use plenty of flour to make it non-sticky.
Fold the super thin dough in 2 or 3 and cut into tagliatelle. The longest part is to cut everything. I used just half the dough and put the other half in the fridge, when I have time tomorrow I'll cut them and hang them dry for a next time.

Boil the pasta for about 3 min.

Ready to serve with the blanquette. Et voila: super fancy homemade diner for improvised date, less than 50 min total :)