Kitchen utensils, cookware, moulds, aprons, and mugs are just some of the possible gifts for her. She could be Mum, Girlfriend, Aunty, Sister, co-worker or friend. But before all male chefs get offended we want to leave record that the gifts could be for anyone who finds pleasure in cooking.
Now let’s talk about the two specific items we choose as great options for the kitchen user, whoever that might be. To make it a bit more interesting we choose something for dinner and a practical dessert. Below find a brief description of the product and a delicious recipe.
Ezy Bake Cripsy Edge Lasagna Pan – Makes mouth watering lasagna in three different flavours in one sitting!
Ezy Bake Cripsy Edge Lasagna Pan
With this three deep pan you can prepare three batches at once. They can be the same or you can try different toppings and your Italian delight dinner will always be a success. The great thing is that standard lasagna noodles work perfectly all you need to do is vary the ingredients time and time again.
Details about the Ezy Bake Lasgna Pan: Non-stick coated steel, it comes with a custom-fit spatula and it is dishwasher safe. Now let’s get to the highly anticipated recipe.
Taste.com.au has 169 recipes for lasagna so we had to try a few to really decide which one to share with you on our blog. We found a great and easy to make recipe.
Lasagne
Featured in Australian Good Taste – August 2011, Page 68 – Recipe by Kerrie Ray
Ingredients
- Olive oil spray
- 1 finely chopped brown onion,
- 2 trimmed & finely chopped celery sticks,
- 1 peeled & finely chopped carrot,
- 2 crushed garlic cloves,
- 500g of pork & veal mince
- 400g can of diced tomatoes
- 4 fresh lasagne sheets
- 25g finely grated parmesan béchamel (1/3 cup)
- 40g of butter
- 40g of plain flour (1/4 cup)
- 410ml of milk (12/3 cup)
- 25g (1/3 cup) of parmesan finely grated
1 – Preheat oven to 190ºC. Prepare four 500ml (2-cup) capacity baking dishes by spraying them with oil. Cook the onion, celery and carrot, in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat with a touch of oil, for about 5 minutes or until the onion softens. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
2 – Add the mince to the mixture and cook, best results if you stir with a wooden spoon to break up any lumps, approximately 5 minutes or until browned.
3 – Next step is to stir in the tomato. Once all is mixed reduce the heat to the lowest. Simmer and don’t forget to stir often. Leave on low heat for 10 minutes or until the mixture reduces a bit (do not let it get too dry).
4 – Meanwhile, prepare the béchamel sauce by melting the butter in a saucepan above medium heat until foaming. Now add the flour and continue cooking, stirring, for 1 minute or until the mixture bubbles. Remove from heat. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly, until smooth. Return to heat and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Continue cooking the sauce, whisking, for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Remember to stir in the parmesan and season with pepper.
5. Time to prepare in the pan. Make sure the lasagne sheet is cut into three pieces crossways. Spoon a little mince mixture among the dishes so it won’t stick to the pan. Add a lasagne sheet. Top with mince then continue layering, finishing with a lasagne sheet. After the last layer top the dish with the béchamel sauce. With the back of a spoon smooth the surfaces. Sprinkle with the parmesan.
6 – Place the dishes on the Ezy bake pan. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until golden.
It’s time for the second gift for her and its corresponding recipe, time to make dessert or a snack. We found great mini round pop moulds. They don’t need water to be released in case you are making fruit ice pops but you can also use it with melted chocolate or candy to eat delicious lollipops after the tasty lasagna.
Zoku Mini Pop Moulds – Now here is a perfect homemade treat for your kids and their friends!
Zoku Mini Pop Moulds
More about the Zoku mould: it can make 9 mini pops and is BPA and phthalate free. It can invert easily to release the pops. Just follow the instructions and you’ll always have ready to eat healthy treats available.
Now for our recipe, we have a great and healthy ice pop also from Taste.com.au. Perfect choice to make in your Zoku mini moulds. Keep in mind the smaller size of the mould when preparing.
Fruity yoghurt pops
Fresh Living – January 2005, Page 56
Recipe by Gemma Purcell
- 200g hulled, chopped strawberries
- (200g) 3/4 cup Greek-style yoghurt
- (60ml) 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- 320g deseeded, peeled and chopped rockmelon
1 – Put the chopped strawberries in a blender and puree until smooth. Divide between the mini moulds. Freeze for 40 minutes.
2 – Combine the yoghurt and pineapple juice in a jug. Combine it well by whisking with a fork. Pour evenly over the strawberry layers. Freeze for another 40 minutes.
3 – For the last step place the rockmelon in a clean blender and puree until smooth. Pour over the yoghurt layers. Reposition the Popsicle sticks if necessary. Freeze for 4 hours or overnight. Follow the Zoku mini mould instructions to remove the yoghurt pops.
