Lazy Moussaka

Moussaka is one of those things I've never bothered to make before because it seems too complicated and time consuming, like lasagne. But, also like lasagne, I really enjoy eating it, so after having some delicious moussaka on holiday with friends recently, I asked for the recipe. It's easy, said the friend who'd made it, it's a Delia recipe....

Which she duly sent over to me. Alas, Delia,  the first part of the recipe involved an inordinate amount of faffing about with aubergines and salt, so at that point I lost interest and decided to find an easier recipe to follow. And here's what you do:

Get your aubergine and prick with a fork. Which always reminds me of this ;-)

But anyway, once you've had a little chuckle, stick the aubergine in the microwave for 2 or 3 minutes til it goes soft. Meanwhile, fry off some mince, lamb is nice but beef will do) bit of tomato purée (or ketchup works just as well) and a tin of chopped tomatoes (you can get them with herbs and garlic already added for extra laziness) and season (adding cinnamon is traditional). Slosh in some red wine (no idea if that's traditional but it's required in this house)...... then shove that into your ovenproof dish, slice the soggy aubergine up (use a serrated knife!) and layer on top and finally top with a mix of yoghurt or crème fraiche, an egg and some grated cheese (strong Cheddar or Parmesan), I added a pinch of nutmeg just to be exotic. And some Tabasco to the mince......

Cook in oven til brownish on top. Eat with garlic bread (Lidl do a nice pack of sliced garlic toast) and Greek salad so you can watch one of your kids refuse to touch it and the other one pick out all the olives and tomatoes.

Apologies to anyone of Greek extraction who knows how to make a proper Moussaka. This one tastes just fine to us :-)

Kiki's Quickie Quiche

This is a brilliantly simple recipe from my mate Sheila. Well, originally from her French neighbour I believe (hence the name). I once made a "proper" quiche years ago with all that blind baking malarkey and it was way too much faff, so this is the first time I have been inspired to make one since!

You need a ready-made round supermarket pastry: pate feuilleté pur beurre (puff pastry); put in 30 cm tin with the paper still on; prick the base with a fork.

Mix 6 eggs with enough creme fraiche to come to about 500 ml on measuring jug; add a packet of grated Comté or Gruyere (or cheese of your choice, I use old Gouda usually, would also be good with a mature cheddar) saving some for on top; spread a packet of lardons fumés (chopped up smoked bacon for mu UK readers) on the base and pour over the egg mix; add pepper but the bacon usually is salty enough; bake in oven at about 200°C for about 40 mins until puffy and golden.

Easy, eh? Being me I chucked in some chopped chilies to the mix :-)

I have since made it with tuna instead of lardons ( when a fluffy bunny vegetarian came to lunch) which is possibly even nicer.....

Easy fajitas

This is something I make all the time. Just made it this evening as I found out the French student staying with us loves them. It's really easy.......

Get some chicken breasts, cut them into strips. Also cut a couple of onions and peppers into strips, (even better, get someone who really likes fajitas to do all the chopping for you) chuck them into a wok or frying pan with some olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano and chilli flakes or some of that very lazy chilli stuff they sell in jars for people like me.

Mix together. Fry. Stir occasionally.

Serve with tortillas, grated cheese, creme fraiche or sour cream and salsa (from a jar, obviously)

Job done!