Cottage Pie and a Lazy Lady...

I made this yummy Cottage Pie from the Australian Institute of Sport Survival for the Active Family book. It's a quick and easy, cook in one pot, bake in another dish which will fill up any hungry family.
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Firstly, cook 4-6 medium potatoes ready to be mashed. I steam mine in a double boiler saucepan - I think it retains more nutrients than boiling.
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In a large saucepan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and brown off
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1 onion
1 medium carrot, diced
1 stick celery, diced
150gms button mushrooms
1 medium zucchini, grated
(here you could also use sweet corn, peas and green beans)
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Now add in 500gms of lean beef or lamb mince and brown that off too.
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Add 2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons Soy sauce
1.5 cups good beef stock
1 good tablespoon plain flour to thicken the sauces
~Add in 1 can of brown lentils...
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Stir to combine and let simmer for 15-20 minutes until your potatoes are cooked - mash together with 1/4 cup skim milk and 1 tablespoon butter or margarine (I use Flora Pro-active)
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Pour the mince mixture into a large lasagne dish, top with mashed potato and sprinkle with 1/2 cup grated reduced fat cheddar cheese and bake for a further 15-20 minutes.
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I served ours with a puff pastry wedge to give it a pie feel or you could serve more peas and carrots with it. Totally delicious!
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On the weekend, I made this very easy slice (from Fiona at Inner Pickle) for Kirby to take on her first day of work...
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LAZY LADY

125g butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp cocoa
1 cup self-raising flour
½ cup desiccated coconut
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Method
Make this in one saucepan, save the dishes. Melt the butter, stir through the sugar and then then egg. Stir through the cocoa and then the flour and the coconut.
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Spread in a slice tin and cook 15-20 mins at 180°C.
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Ice while still hot.
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Icing:
1 cup icing sugar
2 tbsp cocoa
2 tsp softened butter
1½ tbsp milk
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Mix all together in a bowl and spread on top of warm slice. Sprinkle with coconut.
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Have a super day - I went for a quick walk this morning, a bit later than usual but I still got there!
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Cheers - Joolz