This week's cheap eats

Cauliflower Cheese Soup

Ok stay with me on this one, admittedly it doesn't sound the best, but I had a cauliflower languishing in the fridge and decided to give it a go. Much to my surprise it was lovely, really creamy with a nice salty bite from the cheese. Using a Good Food recipe with some modifications it was made and ready to eat within an hour. If you fancy giving it a go then here's the recipe I used:

Ingredients:

• olive oil
• onion, chopped
• 1 cauliflower, cut into florets
• 400ml chicken or veg stock (from a cube is fine)
• 400ml milk 
• Bay leaves
• Parmesan Cheese, grated
• Parmesan Cheese rind

 Method:

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Tip in the onion and cook until softened, about 5 mins, stirring often. Add the cauliflower, stock, milk, bay leaves, Parmesan rind and seasoning. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and leave to simmer for about 30 mins until the cauliflower.
2. Allow to cool sightly, remove the rind and bay leaves then liquidize until you get a creamy, thick soup (add more milk if it's too thick).
3. Ladle into mugs or bowls, top with the grated cheese and drizzle with a good olive oil, 
4. Eat!

My Moussaka

Not the most authentic recipe admittedly, but still a tasty one, and more importantly easy! Serve it with a salad that has lots of mint leaves in it. This receipe it enough for 2 hungry people with a few left overs:

Ingredients

• olive oil
• onion, finely chopped
• 300g lamb mince
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• ¼tsp cinnamon
• ¼tsp allspice
• tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 1 bay leaves
• 1 medium aubergine, cut into thin slices
• Plain flour, butter and milk for Delia's All-In-One White Sauce.
  
  

 Method:

1. Heat oil and brown off the mince, then add in the onion and garlic and leave to soften
2. Add in herbs and spices, mix throughly then add in tomatoes
3. Leave to simmer for 20 mins mimun.
4. Whilst that's simmering get a griddle pan (or frying pan) really hot and cook your aubergine, making sure you get some good colour on each piece.
5. Then make the white sauce, I use Delia's all-in-one method.
6. Once everything is ready, build your Moussaka, layer the mince micture and aubergines and then top with the white sauce.
7. Bake in a preheated oven (at 180) for 25 minutes, in order to get a good colour on top place it uner the grill for a couple of mintues.
8. Eat!