Lasagna

This is my mom's recipe but for some reason even though we both use the same recipe it seems to turn out differently than when my mom makes it. So maybe it will come out differently when you make it. This recipe is really easy and is a bit healthier than the more traditional recipe.

Ingredients

1/2lb/500g ground beef/mince

2-3 cans tomato puree/sauce

1 tbls Basil

1 tbls Oregano

Garlic

1 packet of Lasagna sheets

1kg of cottage cheese (I like cheese)

Directions

1) Brown meat and drain fat

2) Add tomato puree, basil, oregano and garlic

3) Simmer for approx 15 minutes, the sauce will thicken up a bit and that is good.

4) For the US cook the pasta according to the directions, in NZ use the instant sheets or you can also use fresh sheets.

5) In a baking dish place everything in layers

Tomato

Pasta

Cheese

Tomato

Pasta

Cheese and so on...

6) End with the cheese then cover with Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan.

7) Bake in over at 180C/350F for 30-35 minutes till nice and bubbly.

8) When ready let stand for about 5 minutes to let set, this is the hardest part of the whole process.

Oh and sorry for the sad picture but I only had one piece left to take a picture of.

Bacon & Egg Pie

Well here is my version of a Kiwi Favorite.

Ingredients

Puff Pastry

Approx a dozen eggs

Bacon

Cheese

Tomatos & Onion Optional

1) Roll out puff pastry to cover bottom and side of pan, here I used a 13 x 9 pan but you can use a smaller one or even make individual ones as well.

2) Cut up bacon and fry. You don't have to fry the bacon but I like the extra flavor it gives.

3) Add cut up tomato and onion if you like, Matt likes it so I do it for his half, mine is nice and plain.

4) Break eggs over bacon and run a knife through it to break up eggs a bit.

5) Cover with cheese and another layer of puff pastry

6) Seal sides and brush with milk or egg to make it nice and golden.

Here are some photos of the final product.

Kiwi Pigs in a Blanket

Well since we don't have packaged dough like there is in America or little cocktail sausages I have found a way to make a version of pigs in a blanket.

Ingredients
Sizzlers
Puff pastry
cheese

Place sizzler and a bit of grated cheese on puff pastry and roll dough around sizzler. Bake at 180F/350C or whatever the package for the pastry says. Once pastry is cooked it is done.

Pizza

I have found a pizza dough recipe I like, it is really easy and one batch can be stretched out to make a few different pizzas.

Ingredients
1 package yeast
pinch of sugar
1 cup warm water

3 cups Flour
1 tsp salt
1tbls oil

Combine the first three ingredients until the yeast gets nice and frothy. Add to the flour, salt and oil. Combine to make a dough and knead until it is not sticky. Let rise for at least 30 minutes or until doubled in size. I usually make it ahead of time and it rises alot but that is fine as well. Beat down and kneed a bit.

Now you can divide dough into however much you like. I made 3 pizzas and a few pizza rolls with one batch, but they weren't huge pizzas or too thick, you can always make it thicker if you like, just make sure the counter is nice and floured. Bake at 420F/220C for about 10-15 minutes until nice and melted and golden.

Here are some pictures of our latest creations.



Pepperoni Rolls, roll out place pepperoni, and mozzerella and roll up. I like to put olive oil and garlic salt on the outside.


My 'white' pizza, alfredo or carbanara sauce, mozz, garlic, parm and a bit of basil.

'Our' pizza, bbq sause base, bacon, ham, chicken, mozz

Matt's pizza, fried onion, mushroom, bacon, ham, tomato and mozz

Chili Macaroni Casserole

So I found this recipe while searching through the internet, tried it and Matt and I loved it, a bit like Hambrger Helper but homemade and since there is no HH here, it makes me happy.

Ingredients
1lb ground beef/500g mince
2 tbls garlic
1 onion chopped
1-2 teaspoons chilli powder, or anything spicy like cayane, up to you
2 packs/1 ounce taco seasoning,
1/3 c grated parmesan
8 slices bacon, cooked till crisp (optional)
1 can tomato sauce or puree for the NZers
2 cans tomato soup
1-2 tbls brown sugar
salt/pepper
3 cups cooked macaroni, but I think I used more, like 500g or so.
4 cups tex mex cheese but for the NZers, colby works well but I am sure any cheese will do, you could probably cut back on it too if you like.


1. Brown beef, onion, and garlic and drain.
2. Mix in chili, taco seasoning and parm, cook for about a minute.
3. Add in bacon, tomato soup and sauce and brown sugar. Simmer for 30-40 mintues stirring occasionaly.
4. Season with salt and peper and mix in 2 cups of the cheese.
5. Add in cooked macaroni and mix to combine.
6. Place in greased casserole dish, at least 13x9.
7. Sprinkle rest of cheese on top
8. Bake at 180C or 350F for about 20 minutes until all the cheese is nice and melted.