Hello there on this Saturday morning!

As I was rushing about yesterday!and expecting both my sons to have friends staying over for the weekend I wanted to make something in advance that I could pop in the oven when I got in,it had to be filling as these young boys have hollow legs!This is what I made and it went down really well...........

Tuna and Rigatoni Bake
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8oz rigatoni

Tuna sauce
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2 Tbls olive oil
1 onion,finely diced
2 cloves garlic crushed with a litle salt
1/4 tsp ground tumeric
1 bay leaf
14 oz tin chopped Tomatoes with herbs
1 Tbls Tomato Puree
14oz tin Tuna Chunks in brine or spring water,drained

Cheese sauce
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2oz butter
2oz flour
1 Pt milk
3oz Parmesan cheese,grated
fresh thyme to garnish.

Cook Pasta in lightly salted boiling water for 15 mins until"al dente".Drain and keep warm.

Heat oil in a large pan,add onion and garlic and saute for about 5 mins til soft.Stir in remaining tuna sauce ingredients,and simmer for 15 minutes until thickened stirring occasionly.

For the cheese sauce melt butter ina pan,add flour and cook for 1 minute,stirring all the time.Gradually stir in the milk,bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer for a minute stirring all the time.Stir in 2 ozs of parmesan.and remove from heat.

Layer 1/3 of the pasta in a 3 pt ovenproof dish(lightly sprayed with non-stick spray.)spoon a 1/3 of the tuna sauce over and then a layer of the cheese sauce.Continue layering sauces andpasta,finishing with cheese sauce.Sprinkle with the remaiing Parmesan and bake for 35 minutes in a pre-heated oven for 30 minutes until golden.Sprinkle with a little frsh thyme and serve hot.

I served this with some grilled tomatoes drizzled with a little balsmaic vinegar.and lots of crusty Italian bread.

For dessert we had........(fortunately I,de made this the day before!).

Applesauce Gingerbread
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1 cup Butter, melted
1 cup Brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup Molasses
2 Large eggs
1 cup Applesauce
2 cups All-purpose flour
2 tsp Baking soda
2 tsp Ground ginger
1 tsp Ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Combine melted butter, brown sugar and molasses in bowl. Add eggs, one at a time. Stir in applesauce and beat well.

Sift the flour, baking soda, ginger and cinnamon into the batter. Mix thoroughly.

Pour into the prepared baking dish, and bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or Brandy Sauce.

Wishing you all a lovely Saturday
Love
Julie