Italian Chopped Salad

I found this recipe here

 

Get This -

2 large heads cos lettuce

1/2 medium red onion, peeled and then sliced into very thin rings

1/2 cup sliced baby capsicum rings

1/2 cup sliced black olives

250g provolone (or edam, mozzarella) sliced thinnly and then cut into ribbons

250g Italiam salami, sliced thinly and then cut into ribbons

1 punnet cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced in half

freshly ground black pepper

salt, if needed

Italian Vinaigrette

Do This -

1. Cut lettuce vertically two or three times, from the root end (don't cut all the way through the root, to keep the head intact) to the tips of the leaves. Then I make cuts crosswise, into ribbons. Discard the root end.
2. To assemble in a large bowl gently fold together red onion, capsicum, black olives, cheese, and salami. Drizzle about 1/2 cup of the Italian Vinaigrette over these ingredients, and then gently fold again.
3. Add lettuce and tomatoes, gently folding to incorporate. Taste for seasoning and add salt and/or more of the vinaigrette if desired. Sprinkle freshly ground black pepper over the top and serve immediately.

Italian Vinaigrette

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon red wine-vinegar

2 teaspoons dried oregano, plus extra for sprinkling 

1 garlic clove peeled and finely chopped (about 1 teaspoon)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste 

To make the vinaigrette: Add all ingredients a jar, shake vigorously to combine, add salt and cracked black pepper to taste. 

To prepare in advance:

Up to a day or two ahead of time, prepare Italian Vinaigrette and store in the refrigerator.

Up to a few hours ahead of time, prep all Italian Chopped Salad ingredients. Store lettuce and sliced tomatoes in their own separate covered containers in the refrigerator. Store red onion, pepperoncini, black olives, provolone, and salami together in a covered container in the refrigerator.

When ready to serve, assemble salad as directed in the Instructions above.

Lasange

Lasagne is something I love to eat, but never make because it seems too fussy.

Well, tonight I gave it a go.

I combined three recipes from online searches and came up with this...

I reckon it's pretty good!

Serves 4

Get This -

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 brown onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 500g lean beef mince
• 400g can crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 250g packet dried lasagne pasta sheets
• small carton of cream
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced.
2. Heat oil in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Add mince. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up mince, until browned. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, dried herbs and cinnamon.  Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until sauce has thickened. Remove from heat.
3. Soak the lasagne sheets in a single layer in boiling water for 5 mins. (Although the packet says no pre-cook, soaking improves the texture.) Drain well. 
4. Drizzle a little olive oil over base of a 7cm-deep, 25cm (base) square baking dish. Arrange pieces of lasagne over base of dish. Pour enough cream to just cover lasagne sheets. Spoon one-third of the mince mixture over pasta. Spread with one-quarter of the cheeses. Repeat layers twice. Top with lasagne sheets, cream and cheeses. Cover loosely with foil.
5. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender and cheese golden. Stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Option 1 - Replace cream with cream cheese.
Option 2 - Replace cream with ricotta cheese. 
Option 3 - Use a mix of all three