Tomato and Aubergine Lasagne

Serves: 4
Preparation time: 45 mins + 40 mins cooking
Calories per serving: 430
Total points per recipe: 20
Freezing: Recommended
Points per serving: 5

2 aubergines, sliced into 0.5 cm slices
1 tablespoon olive oil
360g (12oz) closed-cup or chestnut mushrooms, sliced
salt and freshly ground pepper
120g (4oz) pre-cooked wholewheat lasagne sheets
90g (3oz) vegetarian mozzarella cheese, sliced
For the tomato sauce:
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2x420g (14oz) canned plum tomatoes
3 tablespoons tomato puree
For the cheese sauce:
4 tablespoons cornflour
600ml (1 pint) skimmed milk
60g (2oz) low-fat mature vegetarian Cheddar cheese, grated
1 teaspoon English mustard


1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 6/200C/400F.
2. Place the aubergine slices on two greased baking sheets. Bake in the oven for 15-20 mins or until golden.
3. Heat half a tablespoon of the oil in a non-stick frying pan. Add the mushrooms and seasoning and fry for 5-8 mins until golden and tender. Remove from the heat and set aside.
4. For the tomato sauce: heat the remaining half tablespoon of oil in a saucepan and fry the onion for 10 minutes.
5. For the cheese sauce: mix the cornflour with a little of the milk in a saucepan and then beat in the remaining milk. Cook over a moderate heat, stirring frequently until thickened. Stir in the cheese and mustard, season to taste and remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
6. To assemble the dish, put half of the mushrooms in the base of a large shallow oven-proof baking dish. Cover with one third of the tomato sauce, half the lasagne sheets, half the cheese sauce and half the aubergine slices. Repeat the layers and finish with the remaining tomato sauce. Arrange the mozzarella cheese on top.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 mins until golden and bubbling.
8. Serve with broccoli, carrots / other 0 point veg.
9. If you're having a "sod-it" day and can't be bothered with the whole points thing, add a shit-load more cheese and a side of chips.

Stonehenge

Taken last year some time. Or maybe the year before. See a theme developing?

When You've Got Absolutely Nothing To Say...

...post a picture instead.

I took this the other evening at Sandbanks, Poole.

Word Of The Day

Tmesis, noun



In grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word, generally done for humorous effect.

Example:

"Are you looking forward to the Tool gig next week, Karen?" asked a half-asleep Sigmund.

"Abso-bloody-lutely!"

Been Picking My Own Today...

That's my tea sorted, then.

Word Of The Day

Dacrygelosis, noun

1) a mental state characterized by extreme mood swings
2) a condition of alternating laughing and crying


OK, Sigmund, it's about time we got you actively involved in this blog, instead of just standing there twitching nervously one day and clapping your hands excitedly the next. And they say that I suffer from dacrygelosis...

Glowworm

I've had a glowworm-shaped area of negative scotoma hanging in front of my eyes, obscuring my vision, for most of the day.

My neurologist said that these things are nothing to worry about. While he didn't really explain why I get this from time to time, he pretty much brushed it off as 'nothing'.

No. Well. You're not the one with the annoying area of blindness in front of your eyes all day, are you?

Still. It seems to have faded now. So I'll stop moaning.

There's a first, eh?