Showing posts from February, 2010

Cheese, Bacon and Onion Lasagne

Now I'm on Maternity Leave, we are making a concerted effort to cut our weekly food bill - it was topping £100, which is far too much (I think nappies play a big part in that though!). This lasagne is just the ticket for helping to cut costs. A simple tomato, basil and bacon sauce takes the place of the traditional ragu with no compromise on flavour. This could easily be adapted for vegetarians too, just omit the bacon and instead use some sliced mushrooms and chopped fresh spinach. RELATED RECIPE - PORK , SPINACH AND MUSHROOM LASAGNE CHEESE, BACON AND ONION LASAGNE Pasta, Lasagne Yield: 6 Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image Cheese, Bacon and Onion Lasagne A frugal and filling cheese, bacon and onion lasagne prep time: 20 mins cook time: 40 mins total time: 60 mins ingredients: 2 Onions, thinly sliced Olive Oil Dried Oregano 250g Smoked Back Bacon, chopped 2x400g tins of chopped tomatoes in juice Handful of basil l


Spicy Sausage and Bean Casserole

It tastes like you've spent hours cooking, but in reality it takes about 40 minutes - my kind of nosh then! I've used pork and chorizo sausages in this but something like a Toulouse sausage would also work. SPICY SAUSAGE AND BEAN CASSEROLE Yield: 4 Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image Spicy Sausage and Bean Casserole A spicy sausage and bean casserole recipe prep time: 10 mins cook time: 20 mins total time: 30 mins ingredients: 2 TBSP Olive Oil 6 spicy sausages 6 slices streaky bacon, chopped 2 leeks, trimmed and sliced thinly 1 garlic clove, sliced 1 x 400g tin Haricot Beans, drained and rinsed Glass of white wine 200ml stock - I used chicken Handful of chopped parsley instructions Step 1: Brown the sausages in the oil and once browned remove from the pan, slice and set aside. Add the bacon and fry for 5 minutes then add in the leeks and garlic and cook until soft. Step 2: Add the sausages back i


Lemon and Bergamot Scented Yogurt Cake

I'd never used Bergamots before (they look like a cross between an orange and a lemon and have a slightly bitter taste), so when Natoora sent me some in my recent box, I was intrigued. After a bit of research (I found out the distinctive aroma of the bergamot is most commonly known for its use in Earl Grey Tea) I came up with this recipe. The ground almonds and greek yogurt helped keep the cake lovely and moist. It turned out to be a beautifully delicate cake, with a subtle citrus scent - perfectdusted with icing and sprinkled with poppy seeds.                                       LEMON AND BERGAMOT SCENTED YOGURT CAKE Baking, Cake Yield: 10 slices Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image LEMON AND BERGAMOT SCENTED YOGURT CAKE A citrus lemon and bergamot scented yogurt cake prep time: 10 mins cook time: 40 mins total time: 50 mins ingredients: 200g Self Raising Flour 100g Ground Almonds 1 tsp Baking Powder 150g Cast


First Stage Weaning

Rory will soon be ready for weaning onto solid food (time has really flown!) so I thought I'd let you all follow me in the trials and tribulations of weaning a baby in a series of baby related posts. Before I start I must make it clear that I'm not a healthcare professional so a lot of what I will be writing will be based on my personal experience of weaning my daughter (who is almost 3). However, I do think that by charting my progress with Rory, and throwing in a few recipes along the way, it might help people who feel a bit daunted by the whole thing, or for those who don't really know where to start. I will of course refer to current government guidance on weaning but for anyone who isn't 100% sure if their baby is ready for weaning, and especially if the baby is still under 6 months of age, I urge you to seek advice from your Health Visitor or GP before you start introducing food to your little one. The latest Department of Health guidelines were publishe


Oven Baked Mushroom and Taleggio Risotto

A seriously good mushroom risotto for the cold winter nights we are experiencing at the moment.  This risotto is oven baked (meaning a lot less arm ache) and I also decided to finish it off under the grill with some Taleggio - which worked really well. Taleggio, if you aren't too familiar is a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese from the Valtaleggio region in northern Italy, near Lombardy. It's fairly mild in flavor (many call it the Italian version of Brie) and it has a moist to oozy texture. Basically it's yummy!! OVEN BAKED MUSHROOM AND TALEGGIO RISOTTO Risotto Yield: 4 Author: Beth Sachs Print Recipe Pin it With Image Without Image Oven Baked Mushroom Risotto An oven baked mushroom risotto with grilled taleggio cheese prep time: 10 mins cook time: 20 mins total time: 30 mins ingredients: Knob of Butter 20g Dried Porcini Mushrooms 1 Onion, chopped 250g Chestnut Mushrooms, sliced 100g Closed Cup Mushrooms, sliced 2 TBSP Fresh Thyme Leaves


Sicilian Orange Cake

An easy and light Sicilian Orange Cake recipe.