"I woke up this morning to a perfectly grey day"

Cold grey Sunday. Which means, delicious baked things! These are two classic recipes which you can find everywhere. Can't remember where I got these from, though I'm sure the pudding recipe is out of my Mum's own handwritten book of recipes she's been collecting and concocting since she left home. It's currently written in my own version of such a book, but the number of times I've wished I had it online totally justifies me posting it here.

Spinach Tofu Canneloni
(also works as a lasagne filling, of course)

Tomato Sauce

If lazy you can use two things of prepared tomato pasta sauce, otherwise make your own with 2 tins of crushed tomatoes. 

Tofu Filling

Blend:

500g tofu
60mL soy milk
2 garlic cloves
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp fresh basil (or dried oregano/other Italian herbs)
1/4 cup nutritional yeast (optional)

Add 50g frozen spinach, thawed and drained
Season with salt, nutmeg, black pepper and a small amount of chilli flakes.
Blend till smoothish.

White sauce

Melt 2 Tbsp margarine on medium low heat. Add 2 Tbsp flour, and stir till lumpy.
Warm till toasty, then stir in about 2 cups of soy milk, slowly, stirring all the while. Bring to boil, season with salt and a pinch nutmeg. 

ASSEMBLY

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celcius

2. Pour tomato sauce in bottom of a dish with enough space for 20 canneloni tubes.
3. Stuff tubes with tofu and spinach filling. Arrange in dish.
4. Top with white sauce so that the tubes are entirely covered.
5. Bake for 40 mins till browned.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basic Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding

This is a tried and true recipe that always satisfies, with minimal effort or ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup self-raising flour
3 Tbsp cocoa
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup plant milk (I like almond)
1 tsp vanilla
30 mL oil

3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1.75 cups hot water

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
2. Mix flour, salt, cocoa and sugar.
3. Stir in milk, vanilla and oil and mix till smooth.
4. Pour into a lightly greased casserole dish. Smooth top of pudding.
5. Sprinkle over brown sugar and cocoa and carefully pour hot water over pudding.
6. Bake for 40-50 mins.