But we have to have lasagne for Christmas?
And so goes the story. Each year we try to vary, even if a little, our Christmas menu. And each year my sons protest loudly if I dare remove a family favourite from the menu.
So my lasagnes are assembled and frozen. This is the beauty about this meal and then into the fridge for defrosting on Christmas eve and into the oven for 45 minutes on Christmas day.
And what of our other menu? There will be a nut encrusted baked ham and a marinated rib fillet plus the salads and sweets.
It is ‘beginning to feel a lot like Christmas’.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion diced finely
3 rashers bacon diced
1 celery stick diced finely
2 cloves garlic diced finely
1 carrot grated
500 g mince
2 tins 470 g diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Method
Heat oil in large frying pan and add onion. Cook until soft.
Add bacon and cook until brown. Add celery and garlic.
Add mince a little at a time and cook until brown.
Add remaining ingredients, bring to boil and then simmer for 45 minutes or until liquid has reduced and all but evaporated.
Cheese Sauce
60 g butter
4 tablespoons gluten free plain flour
2 cups milk
Salt and pepper to taste
200 g grated cheese
Method
Melt butter in saucepan, stir in flour and cook for 1 minute gently while stirring.
Gradually add in milk, stir until sauce boils and thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
Add cheese and stir until cheese is melted.
Assembling lasagne
Using gluten free lasagne sheets, line the bottom of a rectangular oven proof dish (30 x 20 cm) with lasagne sheets. ( I use disposable aluminum foil trays lined with baking paper)
Spread half the meat sauce over the sheets and then cover with 1/3 cheese sauce.
Repeat the layers of meat sauce and cheese sauce.
Top with another layer of lasagne sheets and remaining cheese sauce. Sprinkle a further 50 g grated cheese on top. Bake in moderate oven for 45 minutes.