Chunky Vegetable Bake

V  Ok, I admit that from the photo this dish could be pretty much anything topped with a cheese sauce ... but what it actually was, was a "chunky vegetable bake" from a recipe on the back of a packet of Morrison's Pasta & Vegetable Mix. This is a combination of dried split peas, beans, lentils, pasta and (from the look of it) various floor sweepings! It's incredibly easy to cook; just put it in a large saucepan of water, boil for ten minutes, simmer for about forty minutes (until tender), then drain. (You may want to rinse it, too ... I did!)

Make your favourite cheese sauce (or any other flavour you fancy, I suppose) and set aside. Lightly fry some chunky chopped veg (I used onion, courgette, broccoli, red pepper and mushrooms) in a little oil, then add the cooked pasta mix, plenty of chopped fresh parsley and basil, then put it all in an ovenproof dish. Top with the sauce and a little grated Parmesan, if you like, and grill until it looks like this!

I used half a pack of dried mix and half of the end product was enough for two of us, so it's a cheap meal as well as being wholesome, easy, tasty and filling. I can't think of any negatives!