Parmigiana alla melanzane

Serves 4 hungry small people with big appetities but on a diet. Normal then.

4 garlic cloves sliced wafer thin (within reason, do your best but don’t  beat your self up if you dont live up to your own exacting standards passed down from a demanding parent)

4 small onions diced

3 Aubergines sliced lengthways (half thumb width)

150g grated mozarella

800g chopped tomatoes

Oregano (thumb of)

1 tsp sugar

salt pepper olive oil

Fry onions in olive oil for a few mins then add garlic salt pepper oregano and sugar. After a few mins add tomatoes and simmer for 15 mins.

Whilst simmering tomatoes. Fry aubergines (in a separate pan) lightly in olive oil both sides for total of 6 mins

Place 1 layer of aubergines in oven dish, add one layer of tomatoes, then 1 layer of mozarella, repeat all three layers.

Bake for 40 mins to 1 hour

Whilst baking – search for hilarious aubergine photo for the kids / or take a walk, especially if its raining, though not cats and dogs)

Top Tip (at the bottom to keep the interest)

If you are planning for 6 hungry but small people with big appetites but on a diet, in stead of 4, prepare a dessert using ingredients above to make up fot the small portions. Suggested desserts below:

– Aubergine jus with wafer thin chopped tomatoes

– garlic surprise (surprise being the lack of other ingredients

– whole onion coated in dieced aubergine (add salt to taste)

– Mozarella dissappointment (the dissappointment is that there is only enough for one portion)

Simple… Fish Pie

Serves: 2

Time: 1 hour (20 mins prep, 40 mins cook)

Ingredients:

Fish (250g in small chunks)

Onion (1 medium sliced)

Garlic (1 clove sliced)

Lemon (1 whole – juice and 1/2 zest)

Olive Oil (4 tbsp)

Veg (150g small pieces) (Any of Carrots, Leeks, Celery, Spinach, Tomatoes)

Potatoes (500g, peeled and chopped into small chunks)

Butter (50g)

Seasoning to taste

 

Preparation:

Boil potatoes until soft, then mash with butter and seasoning

Add everything in to an oven dish and top carefully with mash.

Bake for 40 mins.

 

Simple… Aubergine dish

Serves: 2

Olive Oil (3 tablespoons)

Onion (1 medium, sliced thinly)

Tomatoes (4, sliced thinly)

Garlic (2, sliced)

Sugar (1 tablespoon)

Oregano (1 tablespoons, dried)

Water (50ml)

Aubergines (2 medium, 1cm thick slices lengthways)

Seasoning to taste

In a saucepan, heat onions in oil for a few minutes

Add garlic, oregano, tomatoes, sugar, seasoning and cook for another 5 minutes then stir in water

Place aubergine slices in the sauce (leaving the skin sides at the top) cover and cook for 40 minutes on medium heat.

The most simple… Chicken Soup (Broth)

Water (to cover, roughly 500ml)
Garlic (2 cloves sliced)
Onion (1 medium, quartered)
Chicken thighs or legs (2 large)
Seasoning to taste

Simmer all ingredients in a soucepan for 35 mins.