When I had an email arrive in my inbox asking if i would like to participate in the #Dolmio #Thankgoodness challenge I automatically thought sure, why not!
The biggest reason I really wanted to give it a go was because we don't actually tend to use many ready made sauces for our cooking, we tend to go cook from scratch. As in using chopped tomatoes, herbs, onions, carrots etc for our bolognaise rather than reaching for a jar of sauce. I think it is down to us enjoying to cook more than ingredient snobbery or anything daft. So I was intrigued!
When ever we cook we try to jam as much goodness into our foods as possible and more often than not chuck any kind of vegetable in to our chilli, stews etc as we can. Anything we have hiding in the fridge and freezer. Frozen spinach is a favourite of ours. I have always been slightly anaemic and when pregnant I really struggled as it got much worse and for the most of it I have been able to manage it with my diet. I also think it so improvement to get as much of this goodness into the children as possible.
After a few days a lovely delivery landed on my doorstep, with enough food to last us a good few days! We like to batch cook so we automatically though we can make meals that will last a few days and still be full of delicious ingredients. Anything to make our busy weeks a little easier.
Our biggest winner of the weak was the pesto lasagne. A recipe pretty much made up by my husband.
First he fried off the mince alongside the onions, carrots and celery.
Before adding in the peppers and courgettes too. All cut nice and finely in the food processor to ensure there wasn't too may large bits, especially for Alex who is currently weaning.
Once it was all cooked and smelling delicious he added in the Dolmio sauce and left it simmer nicely and thicken up a little. There is nothing worse than a sloppy lasagne if you ask me!
While that was bubbling away merrily he started the cheese sauce. He makes it like a usual bechamel sauce but added in some cream cheese, smooth cheddar and then at the very end some frozen spinach to add in even more goodness into it. That also gave it the look of pesto. He also popped in some basil and a grating of nutmeg too.
Next up was to "build" it...
Then to cook in the oven for around 30 minutes before it was ready! Before he put it in the oven he placed some extra cherry tomato segments on the top, to look pretty!
And that is it, nice and simple and lasted the family for 2 nights.
This post is an entry for the #Dolmio #ThankGoodness Challenge, sponsored by Dolmio.
Dolmio Bolognese sauce is 100% natural and contains one of your five a day. I was sent the food for free, in order to complete the #ThankGoodness challenge all opinions are my own.
That looks so colourful and comforting. Commenting for myself and on behalf of BritMums and thanking you for taking part.
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