Ratatouille Casserole

Well I decided to try to make ratatouille as a casserole so I could cook it whilst the oven was on cooking another casserole. I do not like to only have one dish in the oven, it seems a waste of power. The photos show how I put it together.

Go to the movie site RATATOUILLE

This is my casserole version of ratatouille.

Ingredients

1 aubergine/egg plant sliced

2 courgettes/zuchini sliced

4 tomatoes sliced

2 onions sliced

4 garlic cloves sliced fine

salt and pepper

fresh herbs or dry such as oregano or basil

olive oil to lightly grease the casserole dish with.a large rectangular dish

2 tablespoons of tomato puree mixed with the salt and pepper and 1/2 pint of water

Method

Grease the dish

Start with the aubergine /egg plant and place a layer in the dish follow with a tomato layer, then a courgette/zucchini layer, then an onion, garlic and herb layer.

Repeat the layers

Cook with your main casserole for about 1 1/2 hours at gas 5

Variations

Add a layer of tinned ready cooked beans such as haricot, borloti or red kidney.

Add a layer of pre- soaked soya mince

Top off at the end with grated cheese and brown under the grill.

It is good a a vegetarian or vegan dish in its own right . You can get the protein content by adding beans, a soya product or cheese topping. Or use it as a starter dish or as an accompaniment to a roast lamb dish.

This link goes into details of the origins of the dish RATATOUILLE

Casseroles

To make all my casseroles I have a selection of cooking pots to suit different casseroles. For long slow cooking which I want to prepare on the hob and then put into the oven I always use a Le Creuset cast iron and a life time investment.
I really like the one above LE CREUSET CASSEROLE is just like the one in my kitchen.
Can anyone recommend a casserole?
Thanks for reading
Crazycupcakes


To see this casserole click here LE CREUSET CASSEROLE

Roast apples

When I am cooking a casserole in the oven I use up the shelf space with other dishes for the meal. This is the recipe for Roast apple casserole
This is so easy and good when baking apples are in season to have as a dessert.
I line a dish with foil. It just makes washing up easier. I place into it pieces of apple . I use Bramley apples , peeled and sliced. I sprinkle over some white or brown sugar , not too much. I also sprinkle over them some ground cinnamon and some ground cloves. I add a small amount of water. When doing a casserole I put these apples in for the last hour of cooking.
I serve as a pudding with vanilla ice cream or custard, dusted over with extra ground cinnamon.
Go to this link for cloves CLOVES
Go to this link for information on BRAMLEY APPLE
Go to this link for information on CINNAMON

For variations

Add sultanas,almonds, raisins, zest of orange

If you do not add any sugar they are tart and go well wth a roast dinner or nut loaf.

Thanks for reading

Crazycupcakes

Chickpea and Sweet Potato Casserole

These are the ingredients for the vegetarian Chickpea and Sweet Potato Casserole, which is a really healthy option for a casserole and good for all seasons but good when cauliflowers are at their best.
Go to this link for information on SWEET POTATO
Go to this link for information onCHICKPEAS

This is the casserole on the gas hob cooking. I cook this casserole or stew on the hob but you can cook it in the oven as well.

This is the completed Chickpea and Sweet Potato Casserole garnished with chives.

Ingredients

olive oil to fry

salt and pepper

1/4 pint of stock homemade , cube, Swiss bouillon

2 onions chopped and diced

4 garlic cloves diced and chopped

1/2 red chili chopped more if you like it hot, use dried chili if you have not got fresh

3 inch piece of root ginger peeled and chopped fine

1 cauliflower washed and cut into small florets

4 carrots peeled and diced

4 parsnips peeled and diced

6 sweet potatoes peeled and diced

2 tins of chopped tomatoes

2 tins of chickpeas or use the equivalent in frozen ready cooked

Fresh washed and chopped coriander for the garnish

Method

In a large pan which has a lid heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

Add the onion and garlic and fry on a medium heat, too hot and the garlic will burn, for about 4 minutes.

Add the fresh chili and fresh ginger and cook for about 2 minutes.

Add the carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips,stock, tomatoes and some salt and pepper.

bring to the boil.

Turn down the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes on top of the stove.

Add the cauliflower and chickpeas and simmer for about 10 minutes .

I like this on its own just garnished with coriander, chives or a fresh herb that is available.

To make it a richer color add turmeric.

See about this spice at this link TURMERIC

This casserole is good for vegans and vegetarians and it will freeze well and rehaet well in the microwave. It has plenty of fibre, vitamins and protein for a healthy diet.

Thanks for reading

Crazycupcakes

Roast Plum Casserole

Whilst you are cooking a casserole in the oven why not cook a sweet at the same time on a different shelf. It makes economic sense to fill the oven when you are cooking to use all the power efficiently.
These are plums washed, sliced ,stones removed placed in the dish which I line with foil. I then sprinkle some brown sugar on and just cover the base of the dish with some water. I also added a few whole cloves to give the plums a spicy flavour. They take about 40 minutes to cook with the casserole and I call them Roast Plum Casserole.
This link gives you information on plums WHAT ARE PLUMS

Plums are a good source of potassium, fibre and vitamins A and C for a healthy diet. They are rich in antioxidants and also contain the amino acid tryptophan which is used by the body to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin. They are good and provide one of those essential fruit and vegs per day. So enjoy.

Thanks for reading
Crazycupcakes