Waste Not Want Not

 Cooking for one person has it s challenges but I am a Leftover Queen and I hate waste

Here's a little delight That was simple and delicious 

I had 250 gms mince in the fridge and turned that into a bolognaise sauce

Very simple 

Olive oil

1/2 red onion chopped 

1 stick celery finely chopped

1/2 carrot finely hopped 

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Beef stock

In a frying pan heat to medium heat

Add 1 tbs olive oil

Add mince and fry till brown

Remove and set aside

In the same pan 

Add a little more oil

Add onions sauce till soft

Add other vege

Season with S&P

When soft

Add mince back to the pan and add 

Enough beef stock just to cover and simmer for about 15 -20 mis

Meanwhile in a large pot of boiling salted water

Add a cup of pasta (I used Conchiglee, which look like little ears )

Cook for about 8-10 mins till al dente

Drain, toss in a little oil 

I like to add the sauce to the pasta before serving so that every little ear

Is covered in sauce

Serve covered with some grated Parmesan 

Sometimes a little chopped parsley for colour 

Of course there was quite a lot left over so I stored that in the freezer 

Last night I had lamb chops with mashed potatoes and peas

Of course again leftovers

Now time to be a little creative 

Cottage Pie me thinks

I removed the left over bolognaise from the freezer

I wanted to make it a bit more exciting

So I made a small bechamel sauce 

2 tbs butter

1/2 red onion finely chopped

2 tbs flour

Sea salt and white pepper 

Milk 

Melt the butter in a pot and add the onion 

Sauté till soft 

Season with Sea Salt & ground white pepper 

Add flour put back on the heat and gently heat till it forms a roux

Start adding enough milk a bit at the time till you get the consistency you want

Add to the mashed vege

Put aside

To assemble

Grease  some ramekins, this amount made 3 dinners

Add the mince mixture to the ramekin

Cover with the potato mixture and 

Voila, ready to go into the oven or freezer 

When ready to cook

Thaw and heat oven to 180C

Grate some cheese on top

And cook for about 20-30 mins till bubbling 

Delicious

😋 

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