Basic Tomato Sauce 

This simple tomato sauce is quick and easy to assemble. Use whole tomatoes, and puree them yourself. 

Makes 4L  

Preparation time: 10 minutes 

Execution time: 1 hour  

INGREDIENTS 

• 4.8 kg (12 cans) whole canned tomatoes, pureed 

• 500ml olive oil 

• 12 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 bunch of basil leaves 

• 2 tsp sugar 

• 1 tsp salt 

METHOD 

1. Place the garlic, olive oil and basil leaves in a small saucepan and heat gently over low heat for 20-30 minutes or until the garlic flavour has been infused into the oil. Be careful not to let the oil smoke or the garlic burn. 

2. Place the tomatoes, sugar, and salt into a sauce pot and reduce the sauce by a little bit less than a quarter. Strain the infused oil through a strainer, into the tomato sauce. 

🌿 Ricotta and Spinach Lasagne 

This easy to prepare recipe is interactive and fun to assemble. 

Serves: 4 

Preparation time: 30 minutes 

Execution time: 1 hour  

INGREDIENTS 

• 250g lasagne sheets 

• 200g ricotta cheese, drained 

• 200g spinach leaves 

• 50g butter 

• ½ brown onion, minced 

• 1 egg 

• 75g grated parmigiano cheese 

• ½ tsp salt 

• ¼ tsp black pepper 

• ¼ tsp nutmeg 

• 200ml thickened cream 

• 200ml basic tomato sauce

METHOD 

1. Heat a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Place the butter in the pan. When it’s melted add in the brown onion. Cook the onion for 3-4 minutes or until it begins to soften. 

2. Place the spinach in the pan and toss in the butter until it’s wilted. Place the butter , onions, spinach, ricotta cheese, egg, grated parmigiano, salt, black pepper, and nutmeg into a mixing bowl. 

3. Preheat the oven to 150C. Prepare a large sheet tray. Place a little bit of the tomato sauce into the base of a baking tray. Add a few of the lasagne sheets to line the bottom of the dish. Then place some of the ricotta mixture. Then noodles, then tomato sauce, and repeat until the baking dish has been filled. Top the baking dish with grated parmigiano. Cover the baking dish with aluminium foil. Bake for 30 minutes covered, then uncover the dish and bake for another 10 minutes. 

🍅🥩 Lasagne Bolognese 

This easy to prepare recipe is interactive and fun to assemble. 

Serves: 4 

Preparation time: 30 minutes 

Execution time: 1 hour  

INGREDIENTS 

• 300g lasagne sheets 

• 200ml thickened cream 

• 75g grated parmigiano cheese

For the bolognese sauce: 

• 250ml basic tomato sauce

• 100g minced beef 

• 80ml red wine

• 30g diced pancetta 

• 1 brown onion, minced 

• 1 carrot, minced finely 

• 50g butter 

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 bay leaf

• ½ tsp salt 

• ¼ tsp black pepper 

• 1 pinch nutmeg 

METHOD 

1. Heat a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Place the butter and olive oil r in the pan. When it’s melted add minced beef, and pancetta and cook for 5-7 minutes until it has browned. Remove the minced beef from the pan. Add in the brown onion, carrot, and cook the onion for 3-4 minutes or until it begins to soften. 

2. Add the minced beef and pancetta back to the pan, along with the red wine, tomato sauce, bay leaf, salt, black pepper and nutmeg. Turn the heat down low and simmer for 1-2 hours or until the beef is tender, and the sauce has reduced. 

3. Preheat the oven to 150C. Prepare a large sheet tray. Place a little bit of the bolognese sauce into the base of a baking tray. Add a few of the lasagne sheets to line the bottom of the dish. Then drizzle some of the thickened cream on top. Then place the noodles, then more bolognese sauce,  thickened cream, and repeat until the baking dish has been filled. Top the baking dish with grated parmigiano. Cover the baking dish with aluminium foil. Bake for 30 minutes covered, then uncover the dish and bake for another 10 minutes. 

🍰 Tiramisu

This easy dessert is a harmonious blend of coffee, mascarpone cheese and whipped cream. 

Serves: 4 

Preparation time: 30 minutes 

Execution time: 1 hour  

INGREDIENTS 

• 300g (1 package) Lady Fingers 

• 100ml coffee 

• 15ml amaretto 

For the mascarpone cream: 

• 2 tbsp sugar 

• ¼ tsp vanilla extract 

• 80g whipped cream 

• 80ml Mascarpone 

• 1 tbsp (15g) cocoa powder 

METHOD 

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the cream, sugar, and vanilla extract together until soft peaks are formed. Add in the mascarpone cheese and continue whisking. Until soft peaks are formed again. 

2. Mix the coffee and amaretto together. Dip the ladyfingers into the coffee and amaretto mixture, then place them into a wide vessel. Layer some of the cream mixture on top. 

3. Using a sieve, sprinkle a little bit of the cocoa powder on top. Continue by adding another layer of the dipped lady fingers, then the cream, then cocoa powder, and continue until the dish has been filled.