cake but not cake

The budget reins are getting tighter as pay day looms closer, always the way.

So, try this one taken from 101 cheap eats if you fancy a veggie tasty treat. It seems so simple but is really delish and costs about £3.50 to serve 4 people. Not bad at all mr bank manager.

Pesto rice cake with tomato sauce

For the rice cake...

350g arborrio rice
half a jar of green pesto
1 big leek
blob of butter
2 eggs
ball of mozarella
1 litre veg stock

1. Soften the leeks in the butter, add the rice and then keep adding stock in short amounts and stir until evaporated and keep adding till all stock used (takes around 20 mins) and then stir through the pesto and eggs.
2. Add half the mix to a frying pan, slice the mozarella and lay over the top then add the rest of the mix and cook for about 5 mins.
3. Then turn it out onto a baking sheet and return flip side down to the pan and cook for another 5 mins. It's then ready to serve.

For the sauce...

1 can chopped toms
3 shallots chopped
1 chilli finely sliced
few basil leaves
1 clove garlic crushed
splash olive oil

Soften the shallots and chilli for a few mins, add the garlic and then the toms and the basil. Just let it all bubble away for about 20 mins and serve with rice cake. Yum!