More tasty meals...

Here are two recipes that both my OH and I enjoy, have a go at them yourselves and let me know how you enjoyed them, don't forget you can add things that you like, everyone's taste buds are different so you can add things or take things away from the recipes below ..

So go on experiment .............

Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne

Serves 6  (I halve the recipe for the two of us)

450g (1lb) thawed frozen leaf spinach

1tbsp vegetable oil

1 onion,  thinly sliced

50g (2oz) pine nuts

salt and pepper

250g (9oz) ricotta cheese

1 egg

175g (6oz) lasagne sheets

for the sauce

25g (1oz) butter or margarine

25g (1oz) plain flour

300ml ( 1/2 pint) milk

100g (4oz) medium cheddar cheese grated 

Preheat oven to 180oC (350o F) Gas Mark 4

Rinse the spinach and drain well, Cook over a high heat with no extra water for a few minutes, shaking the pan occasionally until the leaves are tender. Drain well.

Heat the oil in the pan.  Add the onion and saute until soft and just starting to brown.  Add the pine nuts and heat through.  Mix in the spinach mixture .

Beat the Ricotta cheese and egg together and stir into the spinach mixture

Spoon half the spinach mixture over the base of the oven proof dish and cover with sheets of lasagne. Repeat these two layers one more so that all of the ingredients are used up

Heat the butter or margarine in a small pan.  Stir in the flour then, off the heat, blend in the milk.  Return the pan to the heat and stirring all the time, bring the sauce to the boil.. Cook for a few minutes to thicken, then stir in three-quarters of the cheese and check that sauce for seasoning.

Spoon the sauce over the pasta so the sheets are completely coated.  Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the surface then bake for 45 minutes until golden brown.

Fish Pie

Serves 4-6

 (as before I halve the ingredients for the two of us)

450g (1lb) white fish

80g (three and half ounces) of butter

50g (2oz) frozen peas

600ml (1pt) milk

110g (4oz) grated cheese

50g (2oz) plain flour

3 large potatoes

salt and pepper 

Preheat oven to190o C /375o F/ Gas Mark 5

Place fish into an ovenproof dish, pour in 300ml (half a pint) of milk and add salt and pepper.

Place dish into the oven and cook for 25mins

Meanwhile boil the potatoes for about 15 - 20mins drain and mash and add (50g) 2oz of the butter and a little milk

Remove the fish from the oven and drain liquid into a saucepan or jug and add the remainder of the milk.

Cheese sauce

Melt the rest of the butter in a saucepan over a low heat, stir in the flour and cook on a low heat for  2-3mins remove from heat and gradually add milk, stir constantly and simmer for about 4 - 5 mins, when sauce is smooth and creamy  (I use a balloon whisk for making all my sauces) gradually add the cheese.

Add the peas and pour the sauce over the fish mix, spoon the mashed potatoes over the top adding a little extra cheese on top and bake for 20-25 mins....