<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Hi, I just want to say to anyone who is wondering about making their own pasta, it is well worth it!!!! I got my pasta maker for Christmas (Creative Pasta Express) in 1995 and it sat in my cupboard until one Saturday morning September, 1996 I got up the nerve to try the beast. I took Sandra Leonard's recipe and advice which I had printed off this list and an hour later was marvelling at why I never tried it before!!!! It's the best pasta we had tried yet and the pasta machine in our household would pay for itself very quickly. So far I make spaghetti and macaroni, but the machine comes with dies for bagels, pretzels, lasagne noodles ... . Last Saturday I was in tears. I decided to make a batch of spaghetti and a batch of macaroni. The spaghetti went great, the macaroni stripped a gear. The good news is, we phoned the company and a new gear with shipping included is only $20CAD - the price of 4 packages of mail order spaghetti without shipping. A small price to pay. I am once again smiling and have decided from now on to only make one batch at a time or else clean the machine thoroughly between batches. Anyone who received a Pasta Maker for Christmas - go for it now!!!! Don't wait until September!! One final note: my pan in my bread machine (Black and Decker) caved in. The company replaced it under warranty no problem. I think it is likely due to the heat our flours reach (I cook bread with a combination rice and almond flour). Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else????? Heather Campbell Swift Current, Sask. Canada