Cooking: lasagna soup and frittata

My new go-to cure for insomnia: cooking! 

When I'm faced with a white night, instead of tossing and turning or watching TV, I've made a point to at least profit from the extra hours I'm awake - I will either knit/crochet/cross-stitch, or, as in this case cook.  At least this way, I will not have been up for nothing...

Pinterest came to my rescue, again:  I had already noted these two recipes and they were easy to make.  No noisy equipment to use (that would wake me up completely), or demanding work (which would not be ideal at my condition...):

Lasagna soup

(adapted from Afarmgirlsdabbles, to accomodate what was available in my fridge and pantry...)

2 tsp vegetable oil

1 Italian sausage, chopped

50g salami, finely chopped

1 cup onions, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 tbsp tomato paste

350ml diced tomatoes (passata)

1 bay leaf

750ml vegetable stock

100g short square pasta (Quadrettini )

1 tbsp dried basil

salt / pepper to taste

  

Start with a big casserole: over medium heat, fry the sausage and salami in oil until almost through.  Add onions and mined cloves and continue. Once all have a nice brown/caramel colour, add  tomatoes/paste and the condiments.  Add then the stock and bring to boil.  Only then add the pasta, together with the basil and any salt/pepper.  Leave to carelessly simmer, about 20 minutes.  A truly comforting soup, ready to be enjoyed...

Frittata

(adapted from Donna Hay)

100g chorizo, finely chopped

50g feta

1 medium tomato, chopped

1 cup spinach (I had mini-portions, frozen)      

4 eggs

125ml single cream       

40gr grated cheese (I had mozzarella at hand)

salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven at 200C (air). I don't have oven-proof skillets, and that's why I fried the chorizo separately.  And I don't use any oil, because the minute it hits the skillet, the chorizo starts oozing this beautiful piment oil, which is sufficient and nothing gets burned.  But always check - other types may necessitate oil to start cooking...

Beat eggs with cream and salt/pepper.

Everything else is stacked in a dish:  at the bottom I place the chorizo, which I then top with spinach and crumbled feta. Top these with chopped tomato and pour egg mixture over everything.  Finish with grated cheese.  I left everything to cook for about 15 minutes, at which point the smell coming out of the oven was the most welcoming indication that I had overcome my insomnia and that I could now go back to bed...