Main: Gnocchi-topped Cottage Pie
Faking It by Valli Little
Dessert: Limoncello Soufflé
Faking It by Valli Little
Hi Everyone!
So this week I’m back onto how to look good with not a lot of effort and Valli Little has a few answers there. This Gnocchi-topped Cottage Pie is made with lamb mince but, of course, beef works just as well. The recipe adds carrots in the base of the sauce however, next time, I will be adding a lot more of my favourite veg.
Play around with this and really make this recipe your own creation. The veg is softened in oil first and the meat added and browned, so it takes a little bit longer to get there and then it is just left to simmer away for an hour. Towards the end taste test and check the thickness of the sauce. Adjust accordingly. I always like to add a dash of BBQ sauce and whatever I fancy to juju the flavour up. It is really up to you and your family’s taste. I cooked the mince well ahead and put it in the fridge, so keeping this in mind, when it came to cook the gnocchi top in the oven, I cooked it for a little longer to bring the meat up to piping hot. A note here: when you have cooked the gnocchi, drained it and toss it in a little oil, make sure it is a “little” oil because the one negative we found was that under the gnocchi was a little too oily.
Of course another way around any excess oil from the meat is to brown it separately and then drain it before adding it to the vegetables. Anyway this is just something to keep in mind. I served the little pies with a green salad. This dish scored 7/10.
And now for the gorgeous soufflé. How can anyone go wrong with lemon curd, limoncello and soufflé puffiness. It was easy, and made me look like some sort of master chef so use this one to impress someone special. The thing that I love about this type of dessert is that you feel light after eating it. It’s almost like eating lemon flavoured air.
Even though this one has to be done last minute, I will most certainly be cooking it over and over for the special people at my table. 9/10
Until next time,
From my table to yours with love x
