Norpro 3129 Stainless Steel Spaetzle Maker - Durable German Noodle Press for Homemade Dumplings & Pasta - Perfect for Kitchen, Restaurant & Food Preparation

What a great addition to my kitchen! I had been longing for spaetzle but had never made it before. The recipes I found online kept referring to a "spaetzle maker" so I headed to Amazon to find one. After reading many reviews, I decided to purchase the Norpro 3129 Stainless Steel one.I am delighted! Both the holed board and the sliding hopper are sturdy stainless steel. The hopper has a thick plastic edging that enables it to slide smoothly within the board's rolled edges. The handle has a rubberized grip so it is very easy to hold. There is a little lip on the far edge of the board that keeps it in place on top the pan of boiling liquid, and I was pleased to see that it is not bolted on but is an integral part of the board itself. This looks and feels like a tool that will last for decades.On the cardboard packaging sleeve that encloses the board is a recipe for spaetzle. This is the first recipe that I tried and it worked out perfect! Spaetzle batter/dough should be thicker than pancake batter, but thinner than brownie batter, so if yours is too thick or thin, add a bit of water or flour to adjust its consistency.My background is Hungarian, so I grew up with chewy spaetzle (which are called nokedli in Hungarian.) Along with your flour, add a couple tablespoons of farina (uncooked Cream of Wheat cereal) to create the chewier Hungarian "little dumplings." We like ours with chicken paprikash, goulash, beef stroganoff, or added to soups or stews.Because spaetzle is made with egg, the batter has a tendency to stick to the metal. REMEMBER THIS TRICK: whenever you are dealing with protein compounds (eggs, cheese, meats, etc.) always soak the utensils in COLD WATER before washing. The cold water helps break the protein bonds, so you will be able to wash the item much more easily.I have read at least one review that said the spaetzle batter "cooked" onto the board after they placed it on the pan. You should not be cooking the entire batch of spaetzle at a time. Push just enough dough through the board until the surface of your water is almost covered. Then remove the spaetzle maker from the pan and place it above your dough bowl while you remove the cooked spaetzle from the water and drain it. Then do another batch of spaetzle. Because the spaetzle dumplings cook in about two minutes, it's easy to do the entire batch in less than ten minutes (same time it would take to cook a pot of egg noodles!) By the way - here is a wonderful mesh strainer that will quickly gather up and drain your spaetzle in seconds: OXO Good Grips 6-Inch Double Rod Strainer. These make a great team!For variety, you may want to add a dash of herbs or spices to your batter. I added 1/4 tsp nutmeg to one batch, and the same amount of poultry seasoning to another batch. Both were very good!The one CON I have found: MADE IN CHINA. If this matters to you, do not purchase the Norpro brand spaetzle maker.