Lentil Moussaka from Full Steam Ahead Pg 132

4/5

This is much yummier & easier than I thought it would  be.  First time I made it I was feeding teenage boys.  They took one look at it & said "I'm not hungry, I'lll just have a little bit".......3 helpings later they agreed it was pretty good!!!!

Make sure you don't get fooled by the eggplant/aubergine amount.  It says 2 aubergine but only 400g.  The last one I bought was 750g!!!

The main tweak I would make is to increase cooking speed of lentil sauce to speed 1.5 to avoid it drying out & sticking to base.  I also use a 400g can of tomatoes instead of the recommended 300g (we only have 400g cans here).

I've also heard that when cooking sauces with wheaten flour you should always cook it at 100 degrees not 90 even when cooking milky sauces.  The first time I did it the sauce was light & really fluffy - the most recent one I did (tonight) wasn't as fluffy but it stil tasted fab.

Finally, it makes a large amount - a big lasagna dish worth so it's an excellent budget cooking dish.

Is everyone aware that this month there is an incentive for anyone hosting a demo in April that they can buy a Bowl & Blade set fo $100 off - on top of the usual host reward?  If anyone buys as a result of the demo then the B&B is half price at $195.  Great for anyone who wants one but can't come at the full price.................

If ever you needed a reason to move to our beautiful state - here it is!!!!!

Competition in conjunction with Divella pasta to win a TM (& that's second prize - the promoters are clearly confused!!!).  Tenina sent link:


http://www.bonfood.com.au/news.asp

Check it out (if you're eligible) & let your Victorian non-owning, ever wishful, friends know!!!

Just a little prompt for those of you who have friends in the Melbourne area - or those of you here - that Jude Blereau is presenting two classes here in Melbourne. 

Yarraville (west of the city) on Thursday 18th March & Mornington (about 50 mins south of Melbourne) on Friday 19th March.  I am sure they will be fabulous evenings.  See the Thermomix Australia website for more details or PM me & I will get them to you.

Well I finally ran out of washing powder & decided I really ought to make my own if I am going to recommend it to clients.  I re-read this thread & wasn't excited about the ammonia smell even though I had bought all the ingredients because my laundry is enclosed in the centre of the house with no real ventilation.  So I followed Shaylas link & decided to make one of the powdered laundry detergent given I had everything already to make that.  Well, talk about easy.  This is what I did:

2 cups soap (about 2 & 1/2 bars Velvet)
1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax.

I roughly cut up the soap & split it and the soda into 2 lots which I blitzed at speed 7 for 3-5 seconds each.  Then threw everything back in together & blitzed again speed 7 for 8 seconds.  It looks lovely & granulated - just like a store bought one!!! Popped it into an old icecream container for storage. Got a load on now - will report results.

My BF's DH is going on contract to Mexico for a couple of years so we are having a send off this weekend.  She has got mains sussed but we are looking for simple dessert ideas & any nibblies you recommend........anyone got any suggestions??

Thanks.

I am also looking for fancy dress ideas.  I thought of going as a pinata to disguise my xs padding around the midriff & then got a bit worried that people might start hitting me with a stick even if I did hand out the lollies!!!

Been totally inspired tonight.  Had a raw foods cooking class in Melbourne where they also had a new raw foods booklet.
I have never been interested in eating raw foods before as it all sounded too hard & tasteless but I was blown away by what Janine & Rick produced tonight. Recipes produced were:
Creamy Granita
Raw bread with cashew pesto spread
Cauliflower salad
Beetroot salad
A laksa soup done @ 37 degrees
Raw apple crumble served with Cashew cream
Apricots dipped in chocolate

I don't have them yet..........
The raw booklet looked quite good at the glance but we ran out so don't ask for one yet!!

If a raw cooking class comes near you I highly recommend you go & invite anyone you know who would like to add more raw foods to their diet to definitely go along.