My Perfect Lasagne!

OK I know this isn’t my area really but I have been perfecting my low fat lasagne and I think I have it just right now and ready to share. This lasagne is perfect for kids because you can hide loads of vegies in there and it has a mild flavour. Plus it’s really healthy! The only thing I think you need to adjust is the amount of water you add. Depending on how you like it, you might want to add a bit more or less….. I make a big one then cut it into slices and freeze it. It is great for meals where you are short of time and just want to microwave something healthy! I can get about 8 meals out of this recipe so it's really cost effective too (eg cheap!)

Susie’s Lean Lasagne

Ingredients
500g Turkey Mince (very low fat, high protein)
6 mushrooms – chopped (they disappear into the meat mix!)
1 onion – chopped
1 red capscium – chopped (I like LOTS of red capsicum – mild sweet flavour with heaps of Vit C)
1 carrot – grated
1 zucchini – grated
1 tin crushed tomatoes (the no sugar kind)
1 tub tomato paste
½ teaspoon mixed herbs
1 eggplant sliced finely
1 tub low fat ricotta cheese
1 packet oven ready lasagne
1 packet light cheese slices (I used Bega Extra Vintage Tasty)
½ cup water

Method:

Saute chopped onion. Add turkey mince. Brown the mince then add capsicum, carrot, mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes, tomato paste, herbs. Cook for about 30 mins.

In a lasagne pan layer other ingredients in this order.
Water
Small amount of the turkey mix
Lasagne sheets
Eggplant slices
Ricotta
Lasagne (press down firmly at this point)
Turkey mix
Top with cheese slices – slices work well because you get exact coverage and not too much cheese
Cover with foil and bake for 30mins in moderate to slow oven
Take the foil off and cook for a further 30 mins or so to brown the top
Cool. Slice into portion sizes and freeze.

Important Community Service Announcement

Introducing new Cherry Ripe Dark Cherry

A delicious new chocolate bar with Dark Cherries and Coconut all dipped in Old Gold Rich Dark Chocolate.

Click here for an awesome Cherry Ripe Mudcake recipe. 

Click here for Chocoholics Anonymous.

Gary only eats Kit Kats - oh and did I mention he is a fish?

Gary the Kit Kat Lovin' Gourami


From the New York Post:

Staff at a London aquarium have managed to wean a chocoholic fish raised on Kit Kats onto a healthier diet, Sky News reported Monday.
Staff members at the Sea Life London Aquarium initially could not understand why Gary, an inherited 9 lb, 15 inch-long gourami, refused to eat.
They later discovered he had been fed nothing but chocolate by his previous owners.
To gradually wean Gary off his unhealthy diet, the team began feeding Gary Kit Kat pieces inside grapes.
"Gouramis usually eat a diet of fruit but Gary doesn't appear to have suffered any ill effects from his chocolate addiction," said aquarium staff member Rebecca Carter.

"I have never heard of a fish being fed chocolate, let alone being brought up entirely on the stuff," she added.

"However, we would not recommend feeding fish confectionery of any kind."

Couple of things.  I have been unable to confirm if it is the regular fingers or the chunky ones.  Either way, KitKats? Really? Lame. 

Secondly, I have never heard of a fish eating fruit.  I mean, where do they find fruit in their natural habitat?

Finally, apparently Gary is now eating grapes instead. How disappointing.  I mean the poor bloke. He doesn't have much to start with and now you are taking away his one pleasure, his only chance to take a break (geddit?) and replacing it with grapes?  Seems a bit cruel to me.....  You know, if it was mango I might feel differently.

Big Night

“Big Night” is a great movie if you haven't seen it. This is the final scene in the film and isn’t a spoiler as such.

I can’t make an omelette without thinking about this scene; beautiful and quietly powerful.

The guy who is asleep on the bench at the beginning of the scene is Mark Anthony, J-Lo’s now ex husband. And you all know who is scrambling the eggs. Just as a side note, he can scramble my eggs anytime....

Truly, Madly, Deeply

Chocolate.  I love it.  I am devoted to dark chocolate.  

Truly, Madly, Deeply.

There are few things that bring me as much joy as good chocolate.  Last weekend I made a pilgrimage into the city to Haigh’s Chocolates in the Strand Arcade.  I couldn’t believe how busy this store was! Seriously! The line was out the door and it wasn’t like it was a special time of year, just a regular Saturday afternoon.

I purchased a packet of 10 Dark Chocolate Frogs and bought my daughter and her little friend a chocolate heart each.  $15 thank you very much.  It was worth it though!

I have compiled a list of my favourite chocolates in no particular order. 

1. Darrell Lea Dark Chocolate Ginger

I could easily consume an entire box in one sitting.  Hence I rarely buy them.

2. Dark Chocolate Marzipan

I know this is a controversial choice.  Many say marzipan tastes like medicine but I love it.

3. Dark Chocolate Raisinettes

I became addicted to Raisinettes when I visited the US a few years ago.  These are best enjoyed with a packet of Goobers (chocolate coated peanuts ).  Sadly* you can only get them at import shops like Sweet Surprises.

4. Fry’s Turkish Delight

Despite the fact it is coated in Milk Chocolate, this is a perennial favourite for me.  When they brought out the twin pack I gained 2kgs in about a month.

5. Haigh’s Dark Chocolate Frogs

Simple perfection in chocolate. What more can I say?

OK people, your turn.  Your top 5?  No judgment here.

(well maybe a little if you mention white chocolate)

Best Dessert Ever?

Well, it's certainly time consuming to make at home and expensive if you want to try Peter Gilmore's version but the Snow Egg seems to be all the rage in the dessert world right now. Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind living in Dessert World....mmmm.

My dinner party dessert of choice for many years was Toblerone Two Tone Mousse but these days I have really lost my dessert making mojo. It's hard to get motivated when it's just the two of us and one of us would just be happy with a Mint Slice every night. Even if I wanted to make a delicious dessert I wouldn't know where to start these days.

So, your favourite dessert? You know, think "firing squad at dawn dessert".