Homemade Cheese and Sausage Ravioli

Does your family only enjoy ravioli at restaurants?  Spoil them and serve it at home this weekend.   Follow these easy 
instructions and surprise them with the best ravioli they have ever had.  The filling is optional.  You can easily substitute
beef for the sausage, use only cheese, or add spinach.  Be creative!!

For Filling:

1 T. butter
2 strips bacon, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped carrots
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
3 garlic gloves, chopped
1 lb. mild Italian sausage - ground
1/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in heavy skillet.  Sauté' bacon, carrots, celery, onion and garlic until vegetables are softened.  Remove to a 
bowl.  Add sausage to skillet and brown.  Return vegetable mixture and simmer for 15 minutes or so.  At this point if
the mixture seems especially dry I sometimes add a ladle of the tomato sauce.   Remove from heat and allow to cool 
slightly.  Stir in mozzarella and parmesan cheese.  Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.

For Dough:

 You can use an authentic Italian pasta recipe, but this egg noodle recipe is easy, and the dough, to my taste is
easier to handle.  Tastes good too!

3 egg yolks
1 whole egg
3 Tbsp. cold water
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

Beat egg yolks and whole egg in mixer until very light.  Add water and salt.  Stir in flour and work with hands to
form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and allow to rest for 15 minutes or so.

If you are making the pasta by hand. Cut dough in half and roll out on floured surface to desired consistency.
If you are using a pasta maker or attachment, divide dough, flour lightly and run through the widest setting 3 or
4 times.  Add flour as needed.  Decrease opening and continue to run through to desired thickness.  You want it
thin, but not so thin you can't work with it.

See step by step directions for making ravioli below.

For Sauce:

Use your sauce, a good quality purchased sauce, or, better yet, use Michael's Tomato Sauce.

To Finish:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add 2 T. salt.  Gently add ravioli, cover and return to boil for about 4 minutes.
Test before removing.  Drain ravioli and add to warmed sauce in a large serving dish.  Garnish with chopped fresh
parsley or basil.  Enjoy!