For some unknown reason, I decided to resurrect my noodle machine and make some noodles. I say resurrect because I have not had it out of the box in more than 20 years.
Once upon a time, when I was trying desperately to be totally self-sufficient (well, not TOTALLY, since I did still buy flour) I purchased a noodle-making machine. My mother had always made noodles by rolling out the strips of dough and after they dried, she would stack them on top of each other and cut the little strips with a knife. I liked the idea of turning the crank handle and having it roll and then cut the dough into noodles.
Once upon a time, when I was trying desperately to be totally self-sufficient (well, not TOTALLY, since I did still buy flour) I purchased a noodle-making machine. My mother had always made noodles by rolling out the strips of dough and after they dried, she would stack them on top of each other and cut the little strips with a knife. I liked the idea of turning the crank handle and having it roll and then cut the dough into noodles.
I believe I stopped using it after every session ended with me digging more dough out of the rollers than I used to make the noodles. No matter how well I floured the dough, it would become gummy and stick in the rollers or the cutters. The machine cannot be washed so I would allow the 'stuck' pieces to dry and then they would fall out. It was very frustrating and resulted in lots of bad words being said. I finally packed it away. I considered selling it at a garage sale many times, but could never quite bring myself to part with it.
I found the box, carefully took the machine out and then wondered if the instructions were still in the box because as I said, it had been many, many years and I definitely had slept in that time.
I found the paper that is supposed to be the directions. It really isn't any kind of 'directions' but whatever it is, it is written in nearly every language known to man. There are only 2 pieces to this thing plus the crank handle and the piece that fastens it to the table, so how much do I have to remember? Not much; although I did originally try to attach the cutters upside down. I am ready to make noodles.........
I have a noodle recipe from my Amish friend, Rosemary. She gave me her angel food cake recipe and then wrote the one for noodles too because if you use the yolks for noodles, you have to make something from the whites, of course. Two dozen eggs make two cups of yolks, which is half the recipe. I was afraid if I made the whole recipe, I wouldn't have to buy any noodles until 2016.
Obviously this recipe was just right for the noodle-maker. I managed to get the strips rolled out and the noodles cut without one sticking to the rollers. I made some of them really skinny and some the regular size.
I had lots of noodles; more than I expected, but I'm certain they will all be used. I let them dry and stored them in freezer bags. I used some for chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes for dinner tonight.
Plus angel food cake for dessert.
As odd as it may sound, I was thinking of life; mine, yours, anyone's, while I was working on this endeavor. Perhaps we have some ideas or talents or dreams we have put in the back of our mental closets because every time we used them in the past, it was a miserable experience, just as my noodle making had been.
Maybe it's time to try again; using a new 'recipe' and just maybe, that recipe is God's word. If we read His directions, we will know what to do, even though, occasionally, they seem to be written in a foreign language. The lumps of dough are useless until they are run through the rollers where they are flattened. They are run through several times, each time being pressed flatter and growing longer. Our lives can be useless lumps of dough or we can allow God to stretch us and some times, even 'flatten' us so we will grow and be useful in the work He has for us.
When I said I was going to make noodles, a friend asked me if it is worth all the work. Some times we are asked if following God is worth it. I think the answer is yes in both cases. After all, the end results are what we are striving for; when making noodles and cakes and especially when following our Lord.