Creamy Courgette Lasagne

Recently I have been really enjoying vegetarian options, not because i want to give up meat anytime soon but mainly just to experiment with different options, I found this recipe on one of my favourite food website  Recently I have been really enjoying vegetarian options, not because i want to give up meat anytime soon but mainly just to experiment with different options, I found this recipe on one of my favourite food website http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4716/creamy-courgette-lasagne

They used ricotta cheese in their recipe, but i couldn’t find it here so used mascarpone instead.  They used ricotta cheese in their recipe, but i couldn’t find it here so used mascarpone instead.

INGREDIENTS

• 9 dried lasagne sheets
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 onion , finely chopped
• 700g courgettes (about 6), coarsely grated
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 250g mascarpone
• 50g cheddar
• 350g jar tomato sauce for pasta

How to

1. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Put a pan of water on to boil, then cook the lasagne sheets for about 5 mins until softened, but not cooked through. Rinse in cold water, then drizzle with a little oil to stop them sticking together.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan, then fry the onion. After 3 mins, add the courgettes and garlic and continue to fry until the courgette has softened and turned bright green. Stir in 2/3 of both the mascarpone and the cheddar, then season to taste. Heat the tomato sauce in the microwave for 2 mins on High until hot.
3. In a large baking dish, layer up the lasagne, starting with half the courgette mix, then pasta, then tomato sauce. Repeat, top with blobs of the remaining ricotta, then scatter with the rest of the cheddar. Bake on the top shelf for about 10 mins until the pasta is tender and the cheese is golden.

Naruto Japanese Restaurant

We have a relatively new shopping plaza near our home and for quite a while now we have been meaning to check out one of the new Japanese restaurants that has opened there. Naruto didn’t disappoint, after being seated we were welcomed with a free appetizer of squid tempura, which was really nice. We ordered some tuna sashimi and sushi, both of which were really fresh and gyoza and miso soup. The food is really reasonably priced and they sell a wide choice of beer, including German beer. We will definitely be eating here again very soon!

Naruto is located on the second floor in Meechok Plaza on the Maejo Road heading out of Chiang Mai.

 

PS if you go on a Thursday night, watch out for this guy!

Spicy Bollywood

Spicy Bollywood serves a great selection of deliciously yummy Indian food. The tandoori chicken was juicy and well spiced, the vindaloo was just the right amount spicy and I particularly like their vegetarian dishes all very tasty, especially the palak paneer. You are welcomed by the friendly owners who are more than helpful with the menu for those of us not clued up on Indian cuisine. All the dishes are reasonably priced for the quality of the food. Spicy Bollywood is located on Chaiyapoom Road, Chiang Mai (behind Italian A Domani)

Chicken, Sausage & Prawn Jambalaya

For Valentine’s Day dinner I decided to cook jambalaya, I have never tasted or cooked it before but after seeing it on “Jamie’s American Road Trip” I decided to give it a go. I wasn’t disappointed, it was easy to make and a real comfort dish. My husband Warrie loved it. So all in all a successful Valentine’s dinner.

You can find Jamie Oliver’s recipe here http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/seafood-recipes/chicken-sausage-prawn-jambalaya

Thai Food

You see chicken being barbecued along the road all over the city, perfect served with sticky rice

I cant get enough of sticky rice ( khao niow) it goes with all Thai food.

Sai Ua or Chiang Mai Sausage is made with minced pork, herbs, spices and Thai Red Chili Paste and is normally sold ready cooked, grilled over a charcoal at most markets around Chiang Mai, great with my sticky rice.

On a visit to to Sukhothai we had these amazing noodles.

Moo ga ta which means pork in a pan is really popular in Thailand, basically you are brought a charcoal stove with a hot plate on top. This has a trough around it full of water. This is for boiling your vegetables and seafood. While this is heating up you can go and choose from a selection of meat and vegetables. It is a buffet so you can keep coming back as many times as you like.

Nua ded diow is deep fried beef served with chilli sauce, we usually eat it as an appetizer.

Tom Kha Gai chicken galangal soup is a spicy soup served (proper Thai style) in a hot pot.

I love this dish and always order it when its on the menu, basically it consists of nam prik ong ( crushed tomatoes, minces pork and red curry paste) sour sausages, deep fried sausages, northern style sausage, steam vegetables, peanuts and pork crackling all of which you dip into the nam prik ong.

Not really Thai I know, but they sell these deliciously fresh rolls at most of the food courts in the shopping malls around Chiang Mai and they are really yummy, they are served with a spicy dips

Rumchok market near our house in Sansai, has a great market that sells all sorts of yummy Thai food, from curry based dishes to spicy salads to bbq fish.

I love rice noodle soup ( goew tiew nam dok nua) I think thats the correct translation to Thai. You can get this dish at many noodle shops around the city I like the little noodle shop just off Ratchadamnoen Road, behind Giresole Italian Restaurant.

Bpor bia gung ( deep fried minced shrimp, with pork and coriander) Its usually sold as an appetizer and tastes great!

Spicy Shrimp Salad with Mango

Spaghetti and Prawns

I love this recipe, it healthy and tasty and very quick and easy to make. I usually make it about once a week, as we usually have all the ingredients in the house.

Spaghetti with Prawns

• 200g spaghetti
• 1 handful of raw prawns
• 2 crushed garlic
• pinch of dried crushed chilli
• 1 handful of cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 a handful of olives
• 1 tsp of capers
• Parmesan to top

Put the spaghetti on to cook. Heat oil in a pan and throw in the garlic, chilli and prawns, when the prawn start to turn pink, add the tomatoes, olives and capers cooks for a couple of minutes, Drain the spaghetti and add to the pan, stir together, taste add salt and pepper and if needed more olive oil. Serve with Parmesan .

Sumo Sushi

Sumo Sushi on Soi 11 just off Nimanhaemin has to be one of the best Japanese restaurants in Chiang Mai. With a variety of exotic sounding rolls.. the Godzilla, Catapillar, Spider, Rock and Raw and the Jade Dragon (as pictured) to name but a few, you dont just get melt in your mouth food, you get a work of art on a plate. Prices are very reasonable and we recommend, well everything! Warrie and I love this place so much, that come Friday when we’re debating over the many places we could have dinner, we always end up here, as it’s just too good!
Sit and feast on the fusion rolls, surrounded by pictures taken by the chef during his travels around the U.S.A and watch the buzzing and trendy Nimman area come alive. This cozy restaurant hits the perfect balance between trendy and homely, chic and chilled. If you think you’ve seen it all, and a roll is but a roll, these days then Sumo will restore your raw-fish faith.

La Villa – pizza the old fashioned way!

La Villa, located at Ratchadamnoen Road, is a great little pizzeria, I heard it’s actually been around for twenty years, so it’s not surprising they know what they are doing. They have a wood fired oven so you can expect a nice crispy pizza base. We ordered a Sicilians (anchovies,capers, olives) and a four cheese pizza and they were both delicious. We will definitely be returning to try out some of the pasta dishes. I think the prices are quite reasonable for the quality of the food and service; which is friendly and welcoming!