Cheese-topped Vegetables.

As promised, I surprisingly found the time to make a non-dessert recipe to share this week. After a few days on the beach freezing my buttocks off (more on that in a post I'll do at some point during the week) and eating far too much cake, brownies and chips (crisps), I was really craving vegetables by the time we arrived home.

So, last night I threw together some vegetables and made what turned out to be a cross between a vegetable casserole and vegetable bake. Anyhow, the recipe is to follow. Enjoy.

Ingredients:
1/2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
2 cups small cauliflower florets
2 cups small broccoli florets
1 cup thinly sliced carrot
1/2 cup frozen peas, defrosted

Sauce:
4 tspns butter
6 tspns plain flour
1 + 1/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1 + 1/2 cups grated vegetarian cheddar/tasty/edam/colby cheese (whichever you prefer)
1/8 tspn freshly ground black pepper

In a medium saucepan, melt butter on medium heat and add flour, stirring constantly. Then add milk and vegetable stock and bring to boil. Then reduce to simmer for 1 minute. Stir in 1 cup of grated cheese and pepper.

Steam vegetables until they are 3/4 cooked. Place in oven-proof dish and pour sauce over vegetables. Sprinkle remaining grated cheese on top, and place in oven at 180*C and let cook until cheese golden brown.

Makes a great side-dish.
Serves 4.

Chocolate Pudding Cake + the Last Dessert

Next week I promise to make a concerted effort to post a recipe that isnt a dessert! I've been making a lot of favourite recipes lately, most of which I have already shared here, and I do tend to make and consume a lot of dessert during the winter months!

We are also going away later this week for a few days, so I spent a lot of the weekend doing laundry, packing, and preparing the garden for our absence, so there wasnt a lot of time for cooking.

However, I did make Chocolate Cake Pudding at the request of SJ and the in-laws. In fact, it was the third time I'd made it in just over a week, so I think they might like it! This is a recipe that I got from my mum, and remains one of my personal favourites. It is also incredibly easy to make.

For the batter you will need the following:
1 Cup SR Flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Dessertspoon Cocoa powder
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter (melted)
1/2 Cup milk

In an oven-proof dish, mix the flour, sugar and cocoa. Add melted butter, milk and beaten egg and mix until you have an even batter.

To make the sauce you will need:
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 dessertspoon Cocoa powder
1 + 2/4 Cup hot water

In a separate bowl, mix the sugar and cocoa together, then sprinkle evenly over the top of your batter. Then gently pour on the hot water (dont do this too quickly or you will break up the batter and the sauce wont work).

Place in an oven and bake at 180*C for 30 - 40 minutes.

Serve with fresh cream and/or a scoop of icecream.

Banana Cake.

Ingredients

4oz (1/2 Cup) Butter

1/2 Cup Sugar

2 eggs

3 mashed medium bananas

1 1/2 Cups Self-Raising Flour

1 tspn bi-carb soda mixed in 2 tblspn water

Walnuts (optional)

1. Cream butter and sugar well.

2. Add beaten eggs and bananas and mix through.

4. Stir in flour, before adding bi-carb soda & water. Mix well.

5. Add walnuts (optional) and fold through.

6. Place batter in 8" square or round tin and bake for 1/2 hour at 180 - 190*C.

7. When ready, allow to cool before topping with chocolate icing (sprinkle with coconut if desired).

Enjoy!

Note: Next weekend I may have to make something to share that isnt a dessert, otherwise some people might think that it is all I eat (which is probably semi-true since it's Winter, but ssh! No one else needs to know!).