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Sarah’s Spicy Apple Cake

Every few  months, I attend a business meeting at Sarah’s place and she always has  tea, coffee and yummy food.  Mostly we meet after work so sometimes Sarah has whizzed into the supermarket on the way home.

Last month though we met on a Saturday morning and Sarah had baked this delicious Spicy Apple Cake.  The plate was empty by the end of the meeting. Good thing Sarah’s husband had his piece before he went out with their  son while we held our meeting.

 Ingredients

2 large Apples diced (I use Granny Smith)
1 cup Sugar
½ cup Raisins
Handful of Walnuts chopped
4oz (125g) Butter – melted
1 Egg
1 ½ cups Flour
½ teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoon Nutmeg
½ teaspoon Allspice
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

 Method

1. Heat oven to 180°C
2. Grease a ring tin or a 20cm round cake tin and line the tin with greaseproof or baking paper
3. Dice apple and sprinkle with sugar
4. Stir in raisins, chopped walnuts, egg and melted butter
5. Sift in dry ingredients and mix
6. Put into the prepared tin and bake in a moderate oven for 1 hour
7. Let stand for 10 – 15 mins before turning out
8. Dust with icing sugar and serve warm or cold.

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Vegetarian lasagne

This vegetarian version of lasagne makes a very tasty meal.

Ingredients

400 gms fresh lasagne sheets
500 gms fresh tomatoes (or 2 cans chopped tomatoes)
¼ cup water
1 onion
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons fresh mixed herbs – thyme, rosemary, basil (or 1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs)
500 gms sliced vegetables, such as zucchini, pumpkin, sweet potato, aubergine (egg plant), mushrooms
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon parmesan cheese, grated

Method

1. Peel and chop the onion
2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add the onion, and garlic
3. Cook until the onion is translucent and remove from the pan
4. Add the other vegetables, chopped herbs and water to the pan
5. Mix well, cover the pan and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes
6. Heat the oven to 180º C
7. Prepare the cheese sauce using an extra 1 tablespoon flour to make a thicker than usual sauce
8. In a lightly greased oven proof dish, place one sheet of lasagne
9. Spoon half the vegetable sauce over the lasagne and then half the cheese sauce
10. Repeat these layers
11. Sprinkle 4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
12. Bake for 20 minutes or until the top is golden and heated right through.
13. Allow to cool 10-15 minutes to let the cheese sauce set a little and serve with a crispy green salad

Serves 4

Quick version

Use a commercial can or jar of pasta sauce with the vegetable sauce.

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