Julie on Clare's fab veggie lasagne

From: Julie Off!cer
Date: 04-Feb-2007 21:29
Subject: Clare's fab veggie lasagne.

To: taniawillis, ridlydidly, dave_powell_hk, kradam, ianlantauhk, jas.bushell, landlordincomeservices, katherineshutt, joaniemagill, kitblack, taffinda, tania_scott, catherine, jacqueline, maggiwig, kittykt88, jumpingjackflash65, zulugirl29 chrisfahy2000, punyaardvark, chris.heath, Ericl81372, me_chelletaylor, traylingcarol, leearma, wickrob, stu_and_anne BRADFORDEM, kslantau, padam, gill, joanwillox, Jackie.Christie, mihacienda, owen.connolly, dave, afuguet, miller.jenni, Nick.Needham,peteoak

Clare has been such a huge influence in my life for so many different reasons, one of which being that she basically taught me how to cook when we were at college. After a few weeks I was confident enough to come up with my own little touches, most of which involved blue food colouring but Clare tucked in despite the presentation and complimented it. She loved my blue rice and tofu.

Her lessons apply to just about everything I cook now, Anyone who was ever lucky enough to sample her cuisine will know that she could rustle something up that was a gastronomic treat. She loved my cannelloni and I marvelled at her lasagne (which I know someone has already mentioned in one of the group emails). While she was in Hong Kong I asked for her the recipe and she wrote it out and sent it to me. I told her last year that I couldn't find it since I'd moved flat and she said she'd like a copy of it too because not only was it fabulous but it was also very funny in a Clare way. I laughed my head off when I got it and told her she should do some more and make a book. I'd have bought it for sure!

Anyway, I found it on Fri in a very unobvious spot, and my two dear friends from college Chris and Sam, who have been staying with me and acting as my crutches since the funeral, agreed it was a fitting tribute to follow her fab recipe and then watch The Piano, one of our all time favourite films that we'd seen together at college. We tried to follow the recipe as closely as possible, listening to Fleetwood Mac (to stimulate) but didn't always manage to sync the wine parts. It was a bit runny too as we used 3/4 of a bottle of red wine. We all agreed it was a great effort though not a patch on hers of course, she'd have been proud I'm sure.

SO… because I want as many people to as possible to share and enjoy some of the wonders of Clare, here is the recipe in true Clare fashion. Quirky, fun, informative and fabulous. Read, enjoy and cook, eat and weep in pleasure and in her memory. As we did. (i heartily recommend as much red wine as possible (though white is OK also) followed by lots and lots and lots of gin. (repeat as necessary)

Julie.