Lasagna

I ran in the London Marathon on the weekend. I had never run a marathon before and I was quite nervous as to whether I could actually make the distance. So it was with a combination of relief and pride that I actually crossed the finish line of the marathon. While there are lots of bad things about running a marathon like all the training that you have to do through winter and the fact that even now two days after the event I still have trouble bending my legs to walk up stairs there are certain advantages as well. For instance, in the week leading up to the marathon you are told, in fact you are recommended, to eat as much pasta as you can to stock up on energy for the marathon. Eating copious amounts of pasta is something I need no encouragement for and so I decided to whip up a big batch of lasagna. I know that everyone has their own lasagna recipe but this is mine and it is a great basic recipe. The best thing about lasagna (and this recipe in particular) is that it is delicious the first night you make it but even better the second and third night and even quite fabulous cold from the fridge.

Ingredients:
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
1 onion diced
500g lean mince meat
1 packet of lasagna sheets
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup red wine
2 cans of tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp oregano
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Splash of olive oil
Salt and pepper to season
White sauce
80g butter
4 tb plain flour
4 cups milk

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

2. To make the bolognese sauce lightly brown the garlic in a frying pan with a splash of olive oil and then add the onion and cook over low heat until softened and brown.

3. Add the mince and cook over low heat until browned.

4. Add the red wine and then mix in the tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, oregano and salt and pepper to season.

5. Cook over a low heat for as long as possible (ideally 2 hours). If you are in a hurry turn the heat up and cook until the bolognese sauce has boiled down.

6. Lightly grease an oven proof dish and then add 1/4 of the bolognese sauce, top with a layer of lasagna sheets and then repeat until all the mixture is used.

7. To make the white sauce place the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until it melts. Then whisk in the flour and then milk stirring until the sauce is thick and smooth.

8. Spread the white sauce over the top layer of lasagna sheets and then top with the grated cheese.

9. Bake for 35 – 40 mins or until golden brown and cooked.

Serves 4. Or one very hungry person training for a marathon over multiple nights.

Posted by: on April 28th, 2009     12 Comments »

Category: Recipe - Dinner Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

12 Comments on “Lasagna”

  1. Lizzie said at 12:38 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    Ooooh – if I were given free reign on pasta… there’d be a shortage in South East London!

  2. Kang said at 3:31 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    Well done on the marathon! It’s a fantastic achievement :) … I wish I could run it off every time I huff down plates of pasta, but sadly all I’m good for after a meal is to sleep :D

  3. An American in London said at 7:36 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    Hi Cara – Congratulations! You’ve definitely earned the right to eat as much as you want now. lol.

  4. Jules said at 8:51 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  5. Jules said at 8:53 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    Congratulations on running the marathon. You can’t beat carb loading on pasta!

  6. Helen said at 9:35 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    Congratulations on finishing the marathon! I can only imagine the heaven that is being able to eat as much pasta as you like. Although, I guess you do have to work for it just a little bit…

  7. Douglas Blyde said at 10:51 pm on April 28th, 2009:

    I admire your motivation!

  8. lesley said at 8:24 am on April 29th, 2009:

    I wish I’d known you were running on Sunday!
    We were at the 8 mile marker in Evelyn Street.
    Tons of photo’s…some on the blog,let me know if you were near any of the fun runners (easier to spot)..Congatulations on finishing! You’re a star in my book!

  9. ginger@dinnerdiary.org said at 11:29 am on April 29th, 2009:

    Well done on finishing the marathon, that’s such an achievement.

    Great looking lasagne too!

  10. Gourmet Chick said at 3:47 pm on April 29th, 2009:

    Thanks everyone for your comments.

    Lizzie – I adopted a similar approach – look out for pasta shortages in West London

    Kang – Usually a nap is my preferred pasta recovery as well

    American in London – I may be taking the eat as much as you want a little too much to heart!

    Jules – Thanks very much and I agree

    Helen – Yes a little work

    Douglas – Thanks but I was mainly inspired by a fear of public humilation once I had signed up

    Lesley – well thanks for cheering anyway the crowd support made all the difference

    Ginger – thanks and it was a great lasagna

  11. A Girl Has To Eat said at 10:15 pm on April 29th, 2009:

    Good going girl! I am not sure I could ever run a marathon.

  12. Jeanne said at 1:44 pm on May 1st, 2009:

    Wow – well done you!! As someone whose longest run ever is 5km, the marathon is a crazy and unattainable achievement :) Thanks for the lasagna recipe, and we won’t ask how you know what it tastes like cold straight from the fridge ;-)

Leave a Reply