Old Ma Shelleys' Lasagna

Old Ma Shelley's Lasagna

What ya want!

2 onions, chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 celery stick, chopped

200g sliced mushrooms

500g Mince Beef

1tbsp dried Mixed Herbs

1tbsp dried Oregano

1 tbsp died Basil

200g grated cheese

50g butter, unsalted

2 tbsp plain flour

500 ml milk

170g tomato paste

400g tin diced tomatoes

1 tbsp oil

6 large dried lasagna sheets

12 cheese slices

What ya do!

• Chuck ya onions, garlic, celery, mushrooms and dried herbs in a frying pan.

• Add mince beef and de-clump.

• Simmer on low heat on stove top for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally ensuring mince does not clump together.

• Add tomato paste and tinned tomatoes to the mince mixture.

• Stir occasionally on the stove top simmering for 30 minutes on low heat.

• Chuck ya smelly cheese, butter, flour and milk in a pan and cook on stove on low heat whisking till forms a thick custard like consistency.

• In a baking dish brush oil at the base and place 2 lasagna sheets on top.

• Add half of the mince mixture on top of the lasagna sheets and spread evenly.

• Place 6 slices of cheese slices over the mince mixture, adding a few tablespoons of cheese sauce over the cheese slices so that the lasagna sheet sticks.

• Place lasagna sheets on top of the cheese slices.

• Add the other half of the mince mixture on top of the lasagna sheets.

• Add another 6 cheese slices equally on top of the mince mixture.

• Put a tablespoon of the cheese sauce over the top of the cheese slices and place the lasagna sheets on top.

• Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the top.

• Place in the oven on 200 degrees fan forced for 30 minutes.

• Serve.

  
  

Mrs Shelley's Useless Information!

Hhhiiiyyyaaa

Ooooh Old Ma Shelleys' lasagna holds a dear place in my heart. This is what my mum used to cook us when we were younger on a Saturday night alternating with a Chinese Takeaway. This meal was eaten at our dining table just before Beverley Hills 90210 or Baywatch was on. This is my most cherished childhood memory.

You can slice/chop your vegetables, but I put them all in my vegetable chopper because if my boys saw mushrooms and celery, they wouldn't eat it. I had to disguise the veg.

I let my mince, veg and herbs brown for 30 minutes on a low/simmer, de-clumping my mince every so often with my Kmart mince masher tool as it really enhances the flavour. I do exactly the same with the tomato paste and tomatoes. My mum always said leave it 30 minutes for each and it tastes so much better and she was right, it really does.

I never buy a jar of cheese sauce because this is my mum's recipe and I just can't do it. I know it's easier and I'm all for easier but I can't tarnish this memory. Yes I hand grate my cheese. I don't like powdery grated cheese in packets. I of course get to cut myself a slice of every now and then and eat it. I was full before I even ate my lasagna.

You do not have to build your lasagna up twice like me, you can go three times, four times or whatever you like but I only do two layers. Why? Yep you've got it. Just like my mum did.

I absolutely love this dish and it would be my death row meal. I don't cook it often but when I do, the whole family loves it. I wish old Ma Shelley was still here with us so she could continue to enjoy this dish, but she is not.

I hope you enjoy this and the video that matches this recipe is on my social media channels posted on the same day I posted this blog.

I hope you enjoy this very beautiful meal and think of old Ma Shelley when you are eating it.

Love from me, Simply Mrs Shelley