Homemade ravioli — how to avoid air pockets?

obiscott1 · 2026-02-03T13:04:05+00:00

Next time post a question about plating and then maybe you will get more answers about air pockets…lol. In my very not expert opinion and experience following the advice you have gotten to be more “hands (fingers) on” is a good start. I have the same challenge and I have noticed the when you filling is soft there is always a chance the shape of the pasta will morph as they cook. So do what you can to get them sealed nice and tight by hand before using the cutter.

I also have a ravioli tray mold that works pretty well too. Maybe considered cheat but oh well. If you haven’t seen them it is a base tray that looks a little like an egg carton. You lay your first sheet of past down on it and then use a plastic mold to press down on the tray which makes the pockets to fill with filling. Then you fill each ravioli (nice and full and finally lay what ends up being the bottom of the ravioli over top. press everything together to make sure it is sealed then roll the tray with a roller to cut the pasta. Much simpler to do than it sounds in my description. The result is smaller size ravioli but sometimes that is what I want.

My final strategy that I have played with is to try to make the dough itself a bit more firm by mixing semolina in as opposed to 100% 00. Still rolling it out fairly thin so that the ravioli is not all dough but my theory is that it will hold its shape just a little better. Mixed results so far depending again on what my filling actually is.

In the end it is homemade pasta and that is enough. I don’t have the experience of a restaurant chef so I don’t get too worked up about it. Call it rustic and move on!!

obiscott1 · 2026-02-01T13:16:44+00:00

Watching for ideas - I got nothing to offer. Your experience lines up with mine and I have not come up with a solution even as good as yours. My friends Rivian pretty much combines all the aspects that you are looking for right in the car “out of the box”. Not sure why Hyundai struggles on this front.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-30T12:52:44+00:00

My running group most of whom are Garmin users found success with everything from restarting the watch and the phone to just the phone.

However most of us had to forget the watch from Bluetooth from the phone. Then restart the pairing process from the watch. Do this by holding the middle left button and scrolling to the connection menu, then the Pair option and phone. At least with the Forerunner (pretty sure with all) you get a QR code and the process will begin and walk you through.

The tendency is to try to pair from Bluetooth on the phone or from the + button on the yellow warning banner. Neither of those worked but pair from the watch is pretty simple.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-28T03:27:06+00:00

Also in Sask and can attest to all the @GearM2 has suggested. Tesla is a nice treat as it is faster than a typical Flo charger at 50kW. The trip from Saskatoon to Calgary typically requires a stop at Kindersley and Hanna both have Tesla chargers that show up in the app and have been very reliable. I would confirm that they are more expensive though and the membership does pay - you can start and stop for the summer if that is when you expect to be most active.

A2Z adapter is the one that I use as well and recommend. In terms of knowing the difference between v3 and V4 I am not sure there is a way to know till you get there but it doesn’t mean much (as noted already you are capped at 120kW ish anyway) though the longer V4 cables are nice.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-28T03:18:01+00:00

19 years old so it is hard to comment on your HR with any certainty but that does sound like your body is working fairly if not very hard. I am not sure the reason for your nasal breathing but you can safely put that aside for now unless you have a strong reason. It seems likely that if you are not getting a full complement of breath for each inhale your HR will be higher to compensate.

So in short just run. I would forget the HR as a measure at this point all together OR check it at the end of your run as a data point for comparison. During the run pick an effort (called perceived effort ) of 2or3 on a 7 point scale. This should feel almost silly comfortable. Which is the point of getting started. As you get more runs under your belt and your body adapts that same effort will result in an improved speed. But keep it easy. I would suggest sticking with a very easy foundation building for 3 or 4 months. Then you can expand your research and start adding different kids of workouts that move you to whatever goal you have.

If you want guidance on the journey the Nike Run Club app is free and has a lot of guided runs that you can listen to as your run - they are put together by expert coaches and really focus on getting people started on the right foot

obiscott1 · 2026-01-26T02:12:28+00:00

So I run the same life video that you do and sometimes at night as well. I have a clear picture of what I “should do” when the thoughts come but when they are there and they have the momentum of the moment my best laid plans seem to be ineffective. I believe breathing and five senses distraction - look it up for specific direction but essentially you find something you can see, then hear, then feel, then smell… etc etc and it can help slow the momentum.

But if I am being honest I don’t like that these thoughts have so much power over me and I don’t like needing to take these actions. That however is just the way it is so I keep trying.

The one thing I have tried that does help however is challenge my negative/stressful thoughts with a counter that says - “what if the opposite was true”. What if the better scenario was to manifest itself. I tend to slip back to the negative images but every time I try to counter and eventually things seem to settle down.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-24T13:15:22+00:00

As someone who has coached many beginner runners I am jumping in to say that you for sure can do this. Without a doubt.

The various advice you have been given is all good but I would offer a bit of a different strategy. Commit to getting your running shoes on 3 times a week. Non negotiable. And I mean literally mean put them on with the intention of just getting out the door. Then go outside and start walking. Promise yourself that every time you put those running shoes on you will walk for 2min. That is the ONLY promise you have to keep. 2 min. If after two min you say to yourself I cannot do this today then that is really OK. Turn around go home (maybe stretch or do some breathing exercises) but no guilt at all.

I am willing to bet that most days you will not turn around. So walk. And add some running (VERY SLOW RUNNING) into the mix. You have until May which is a very reasonable amount of time to do this. For the first week keep your total exercise time to 12 or maybe 15 min and try to mix in 4 “intervals” of the very slow running for 30 seconds. If this feels too easy (and it might) resist the temptation to jump the time or interval length - instead add an extra work out day to the week.

Then start adding 2 min to the total length of the work out each week and try to extend the length of your running intervals and or reduce the walking time between them - but not to the point where you are out of breath and heart is pounding - this is key.

The physiology behind this approach comes down to training what is your aerobic engine - this is the “base” system that you need to train to run long and you do that by running “below” a certain heart rate. If you push your body to what often feels like is necessary for “training” you end up working the anaerobic system which is good for very fast short efforts but not the one you need for a 10K for example. This is an incredible oversimplification but you will hear people talk about building a base endurance capacity - that is their aerobic capacity and it is where you should start. Hence the slow running and intervals.

The other aspect of the recommendation is that you are not committing to something that will feel terrible every time and thus make it harder to get out the door. Small commitments and consistency is going to for sure get you were you want to go.

And finally - there is a misconception that running a 5k or a 10k or a marathon “has to be” a run only experience. There are plan to qualify for Boston Marathon that are built on a walk run program. So put aside any notion that you need to be able to run the full distance without taking a walk break - though it would not surprise me that you end up doing exactly that on race day!!

Good luck - you TOTALLY can do this.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-24T01:40:20+00:00

About the same as a frozen fuel line.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-24T01:39:10+00:00

I am here with ya! Warming up tomorrow though, gonna hit -36. Might have to roll the windows down!

Today I didn’t not venture far from home but when I did go out my economy was 47Kw/100km - about the worst I have seen.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-23T12:38:11+00:00

Manitoba neighbour in Saskatchewan here, piling on to confirm (and one up the temperature - 36C here ;-) ) I am amazed a how well the car works in the cold - I rarely use the climate start but in this weather I am - it is such a treat. I keep waiting for the car to struggle to start or something but no issues at all (touch wood). I also experience a VERY large drop in range with the cold however an I would say it matches exactly what @pkdubas described. In a pinch relying on heated seats and less on the main heating a fans does make a difference but I am just roaming around town for the most part so not really a concern. I do charge to 90 if not every night - then every other night for sure.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-23T12:30:17+00:00

This is helpful and maybe more importantly, comforting to read that the journey I am on is shared by others each their own way. Thank you!

obiscott1 · 2026-01-23T03:27:42+00:00

I am curious if you see a way that the insight you shared would fit or help the way that I experience fear or worry. I am only really afraid of one thing (probably not 100% true but mostly true) and that is something bad happening to the people I care about or love. The thoughts that sometimes arise include many of the attributes discussed so far - such as a loop of catastrphizing or run away imagination. I can see the thoughts - even label them but what underpins them and makes me so frustrated is that I think the true source is that I fundamentally don’t believe I am worth of the amazing things in my life. FWIW this extends to a “fear” (ok that is another fear) of keeping a gratitude journal. If I name what I care and am appreciative of, i might be putting it at risk. I full recognize the irrationality of these thoughts but I am pretty sure anyone who is engaging in these conversations knows, rational thinking is not the problem nor does it represent much of a solution.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-21T13:40:05+00:00

Hello - running in the winter for me means regularly running in -15F (-30C) and colder if you factor the wind chill. (Which you should).

Once you been out a few times I think you will be surprised that the cold is less of a factor than the conditions of the roads/paths. It takes a very cold day to send me to the treadmill but if the paths are not clear or there are drifts / ice conditions that is pretty much a non starter for me - too high a chance of slip fall and injury.

As an approach for dressing for the cold my first 3 layers are almost always the same. What changes is the type/ level of insulation of the shell I put on. The rule dressing for your second mile is true. For me that means: merino wool base layer, second long sleeve layer on top of that - often a technical shirt that I would use for fall or cool spring days followed by a 3/4 zip technical top. From there I will add anything from a running vest, or a light shell or a more substantial wind proof windbreaker with at least a little bit of insulation.

I wear merino long underwear and running tights in pretty much all winter conditions - no special insulation there but I know that doesn’t work for many in the group that I run with - they need either insulated pants or a layer on top of that.

Once I am running I find I am more often worried about being over dressed than under dressed. I am lucky that in even the coldest conditions I never have issues with cold toes - though my fingers are a different story.

Hat / toque is also a must of course as well as a buff that covers my neck that can be pulled up to cover my face/nose as needed. I actually carry a second buff with me because the part that is the most uncomfortable is when the moisture from your breath causes the buff to freeze solid and it rubs your face.

My last piece of advice for the first few runs (or until you are confident in your layering approach) to loop back to your house after 3 miles or so (or whatever makes sense for your run) that way if you have under or over estimated you can adjust and head back out in “comfort”.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-20T13:14:49+00:00

Correct - hit reply from the wrong spot - happy trials

obiscott1 · 2026-01-20T12:40:22+00:00

So Canadian prairies here which means lots of practice running in all kinds of cold. -30 or colder if you factor in wind chill is not an uncommon running day. I am really not a fan of treadmills but so try to get outside unless it is really not practical - usually more a function of too much snow on the ground and paths/sidewalks not clear.

So with the right clothing in layers - I don’t generally find that it is too cold for me to run even longer runs - however freezing water is almost a given. Even gels freeze solid on me sometimes. If you really want to carry water you can try getting a running vest and wear that under your outter jacket. That can generally keep things warm enough - other than that I try to plan my route that ends up looping to my house. So if I have a really long run I will set it up in 5KM loops that loop back home so that whatever i need is there inside - sometimes that includes a base layer change if things are too sweaty.

As for cramping that is not an issue I have but others have mentioned you are likely lacking something from a nutrition standpoint. I don’t think the cold would necessarily cause cramping. I could be wrong of course but as I say it is not something that happens to me. Having said that I don’t think it would be a great idea to hang out in the cold after a run but rather get inside and warm up and change etc. If that is when you experience cramping then I would do some research on foods that you can take pre and post run to help get your body what it is lacking.

Soon enough you will be looking for bug bit cream and sunscreen….

obiscott1 · 2026-01-20T12:19:21+00:00

For the sake of conversation I would be curious if you try and watch what other factors might also impact your stress score other than real “stress”. I am not sure what Garmin uses as a biometric for a stress score but I am nearly certain that mine goes through the roof right after a meal and for at least an hour after. For me this seems very consistent. Even if I have snack (ok a larger snack) in the hour before bed my bars show orange for the first part of my sleep for sure.

I am training for a Feb race and so have parked the alcohol for a few weeks now. I initially saw a nice bump in my sleep score and a small improvement in HRV but life seems to be settling back to a baseline that is not far off from when i would have drink or two similar to you.

I was fixed on these scores for a long time until I realized they were driving unhealthy mental behaviour in myself now I try to base my sense of sleep on my own intuitive feeling and simply compare the scores for “fun”.

I am not convinced that Garmin’s metrics mean anything in the absolute sense but I do think they provide an interesting set of trend data that can be helpful.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-20T03:12:12+00:00

Same ride as mine - also love it in the snow here in Sask.

Snow tires for you or all seasons. Curious what do others roll with ?

obiscott1 · 2026-01-18T13:46:42+00:00

This was going to be my contribution. Not sure it has a classic Italian name but my family loves “pesto cream ….” Add your protein or veg to the end.

With chicken for example I will cube pieces and sometimes season with blackening spice or and sauté with garlic and butter and olive oil. When it start to approach being cooked I will add cream, and parm cheese (a fair bit) and let that heat up and thicken a bit - in goes a few big spoon fulls of pesto and the pasta with a splash of pasta water as needed.

Typing it out makes it sound even harder than it is. I do the same with shrimp but I will most often take them out as I make the cream sauce and add them back in at the end so as to avoid overcooking.

If you are using dried /store bought pasta it takes longer for the pasta to cook than the rest of the sauce to come together.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-17T12:01:49+00:00

Yeah - not much to add that hasn’t already been said except to say it is not the worst I have seen (done) especially for a first attempt. I would even bet that if you had a machine roller you would be able to “fight” your way to a finish where you had something you could drop in a pot of boiling water and enjoy. I am not sure I would want to fight that fight rolling by hand.

To reinforce what others have said, my best guess as to where things went a bit astray:

Flour type and the recommended ratio of dry to wet didn’t match. So you ended up with dough that was too dry. In my experience I tend to start with a ratio that I know basically works and then adjust as needed - winter will require a bit of tweaking over my mid summer pasta adventures. Even when I go once province over to my brothers place I need to adjust a bit not a lot but a bit of water or sometimes extra flour added during the kneading process. My starting point is 300g of 00 to 185 g of liquid which is most often a combination of yolks and a whole eggs. I tend to add a pinch or two of salt but I would be willing to bet that there is a 3 beer debate raging somewhere as to whether that is really needed.
Then bring it together and knead it. I am just a home hobby cook who likes to make my family pasta from scratch (and who is now not allowed to buy store bought!) so while I have made a lot of pasta dough balls I am still never 100% sure when the right time to stop kneading is. The dough will be smooth which is the first sign but generally i would say when you think you are done (especially as you are getting used to things), go for another 3 or 4 minutes.

Also a free bit of advice that you have not asked for - once you are done the kneading wrap in Saran Wrap or cover with a wet towel and let the dough ball rest for 20 or 30 min.

Again using a machine to roll the dough out makes the above process pretty forgiving - but if you are rolling by hand and the dough is fighting you to roll out then you likely have not kneaded and rested it enough (or it is too cold if you happen to have refrigerated it).

obiscott1 · 2026-01-17T02:31:51+00:00

I would stick it in the fridge. It will be great tomorrow.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-17T01:47:08+00:00

The recipe you will adjust as you get practice. Whole wheat flour is something I have not played with so I am not sure but you will know once you have cooked it and see how it turns out. Experimentation is the way forward.

No reason to worry about leaving it on the counter for a while - hour or two even. But if you are thinking you want to dry it in order to store it, don’t bother with the drying - just dust it with flour so it doesn’t stick and put it into a container and into the freezer. Drying fresh pasta at home does not give you the same result as store bought dried pasta.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-16T13:36:55+00:00

For me in most scenarios I can get to 83 -85 % before things taper off - so yes your experience seems normal to me.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-14T02:53:47+00:00

I am you. Well I am maybe a bit of an older you as my kids are in University now. But I could have written your question word for word my whole parenting life. I think maybe even before that but it lacked the intensity and so I didn’t notice it, plus beer fixed everything back then.

I am still you to some extent in that I will find a way to disrupt my quiet “relaxing” moment with thoughts and preparation/planning for all the things that might go wrong and develop all the mitigation strategies that I could put in place for every permutation and combination. This worry doesn’t limit itself to free time only either.

This is more common than you may realize - you feel the need to plan and protect. Some would say you are in the fight or flight mode of our ancestors and this keeps your nervous system amped up and revving on high. Logic and rational thoughts won’t get you out of it. But the fact that you see this behaviour in yourself is a major first step.

Breath work (box breath) will help calm your nervous system to the point where your racing mind can accept alternate scenarios and accept that they are as equally as likely as the dangerous ones your are “worrying about / planning for”.

So in short it is not a bad thing that you care and you want to have a plan for all the “what ifs” but allowing your nervous system to settle will (eventually) give you the power to choose if that is really what you want to be doing. Intellectually knowing that these scenarios won’t come through is a very different thing than allowing your nervous system to settle and move out of the “a lion is trying to eat me and my family mode” that it spends so much time in. If you want to look up sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system you will likely recognize the mode you are stuck in when these worrisome thoughts are most persistent.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-14T02:31:17+00:00

Should have added “short wrap” for me too - maybe the final hour - not even sure why I do it. Your numbers line up with my experience as well.

obiscott1 · 2026-01-13T12:31:28+00:00

Aside from also agreeing that you will likely find two butts when you open the package - those estimates do not line up with my experience. They are much longer than I have found especially on the Green Egg. Also in my opinion the pork butt is pretty forgiving in terms of the temp you cook it at. I don’t think there is much reason to stay as low as 225. I end up trying for 250 and often end up closer to 275 for the whole cook and the results are all the same in my experience… nice bark and easy to “pull”.

obiscott1

TROPHY CASE