Pages

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Vegetarian Lasagne

Ingredients:
Dried lasagne sheets
1 Tbl oil
Slices of sweet potato and pumpkin
Tomato passata
2 tins brown lentils
1 cup water
Onion, chopped
Red capsicum, chopped
Spinach leaves
Stock cube
2Tbl butter
2Tbl plain flour
1.5 cups milk
1/2 cup grated cheese

Method:
Set oven to 180 degrees Celsius, fan-forced
Place slices of pumpkin and sweet potato on a tray and bake ~ 15 min. Remove when cooked.
Place oil in saucepan, heat, add chopped onion and after a few minutes add chopped capsicum. Add lentils, 1 cup of tomato passata, stock cube and water. Bring to a simmer and add spinach leaves. Stir occasionally.
In another saucepan, melt butter and add flour. Stir and add milk. Continue stirring until thickened.

Grease a lasagne dish. Pour a little of the white sauce and lentil mixture in the base.
Layer of lasagne sheets followed by pumpkin and lentil mixture and a drizzle of white sauce.
Repeat (with sweet potato).
Layer of pasta, add remaining lentil mixture, remaining passata and finally white sauce and cheese.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Chocolate Raspberry Pudding Cake


INGREDIENTS

  • 5 eggs, separated
  • 3/4 cup caster sugar
  • 250g dark chocolate, melted
  • 1 1/4 cups hazelnut meal (ground hazelnuts)
  • 1 - 2 cups frozen raspberries
  • Double cream, to serve

GANACHE

  • 150g dark chocolate, chopped
  • 1/3 cup thickened cream



METHOD

  • Step 1
    Preheat oven to 170°C/150°C fan-forced. Grease a 6cm-deep, 20cm (base) round springform cake pan. Line base and side with baking paper.
  • Step 2
    Using an electric mixer, beat egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar together until thick and creamy. Stir in melted chocolate and hazelnut meal.
  • Step 3
    Using an electric mixer, beat eggwhites until soft peaks form. Add remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until firm peaks form. Fold half the eggwhite mixture into chocolate mixture. Gently fold in remaining eggwhite mixture. Fold in raspberries. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre has moist crumbs clinging. Cool completely in pan.
  • Step 4
    Make ganache: Place chopped chocolate and cream in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes or until smooth. Place cake on plate. Top with ganache. Serve with cream.

Hunza Pie

INGREDIENTS

  • Melted butter, to grease
  • 320g (2 cups) wholemeal plain flour or half wholemeal and half white flour
  • 140g butter, chilled, chopped
  • 60ml (1/4 cup) iced water
  • 50g (1/4 cup) brown rice
  • 1 bunch English spinach, trimmed, coarsely chopped
  • 125g (1/2 cup) sour cream
  • 65g (3/4 cup) coarsely grated cheddar
  • 6 eggs

METHOD
  • Grease a 5cm-deep, 20cm (base measurement) pie dish with melted butter.
  • Step 2
    Process the flour and butter in a food processor until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add water. Process until mixture comes together. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and roll to a 5mm-thick disc. Line the base and side of the dish with pastry. Trim any excess. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.
  • Step 3
    Meanwhile, preheat oven to 180°C. Cook rice following packet directions. Drain. Cool. Cook the spinach in a large saucepan of salted boiling water for 1 minute or until just wilted. Drain and squeeze out any excess liquid. Pat dry with paper towel.
  • Step 4
    Line the pastry case with non-stick baking paper and fill with pastry weights. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the paper and pastry weights and bake for a further 10 minutes.
  • Step 5
    Combine rice, spinach, sour cream and 40g (1/2 cup) of cheddar in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon spinach mixture into the pastry case. Whisk the eggs in a bowl. Pour over the spinach mixture and sprinkle with the remaining cheddar. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until set and light golden.

Nutella Twists

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 sheets ready-rolled puff pastry, thawed
  • 1/3 cup (110g) Nutella
  • 1/4 cup (20g) desiccated coconut
  • 1 Coles Australian Free Range Egg, lightly whisked
  • 2 teaspoons hazelnut meal

METHOD

  • Step 1
    Preheat oven to 200C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
  • Step 2
    Place a pastry sheet on a clean work surface. Spread with half the Nutella. Sprinkle with half the coconut. Top with another pastry sheet. Cut the stack crossways into 10 even-sized strips. Twist each strip to expose the filling and place on one of the prepared trays. Repeat with the remaining pastry sheets, Nutella and coconut.
  • Step 3
    Brush the Nutella twists with the egg. Sprinkle with hazelnut meal. Bake for 15 mins or until puffed and golden.