Thursday, 12 March 2026

Fried rice

 1 tsp light soy

1/2 tsp rice wine vinegar
1/2 tsp sugar / maple syrup
1/2 tsp fish sauce

1 tsp sesame oil (add at the end)



1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp msg
1/8 tsp white pepper
1/8 tsp garlic

Use butter instead of oil

Pizza dough (2026)

 ngredients


(Makes 2)

2 teaspoons active dry yeast or instant yeast
7/8 to 1 1/8 cups (198g to 255g) lukewarm water*
2 tablespoons (25g) olive oil
3 cups (360g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 1/4 teaspoons (8g) table salt


(Makes 1)

160g bread flour + more for kneading (all-purpose is fine instead)
1/2 teaspoon (3g) salt
1/2 teaspoon (2-3g) sugar
1/2 teaspoon (3.2g) dried yeast
1/4 teaspoon (1g) garlic powder (very optional)
2 teaspoons (10mL) olive oil
80ml water

206 flour
133 water
5 oil
2.3 yeast
2.6 salt
2 sugar

200g flour
120ml water
1/2 tsp yeast
1/4 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp oil

Soy noodle

 1 tbs soy

1 tbs water
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp rice wine vinegar

1 tsp fish sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp msg
1/8 tsp garlic
1/2 tsp oniin


Few drops lemon juice

Lentil Soup

 200g Smoked bacon lardons (or 8 rashers chopped up)

2 Medium onions 
Half a swede 
2 Medium carrots 
200g Split red lentils 
1.5 Litres of chicken stock
Salt & Pepper to taste

cook off bacon first
cook veg - 5-10 mins
add stock
bring to boil
add lentils
simmer 30mins ro 1 hour

blend to make smooth

Macaroni cheese (2026)

 Macaroni cheese


Ingedients
for 2
100g macaroni
100g cheese
200ml milk
15g butter
15g flour

For 1
65g macaroni 
60g cheese 
100ml milk
8g butter
8g flour

for 3
140g macaroni
140g cheese
300ml milk
20g butter
20g flour

prepare all ingredients first
put macaroni on to boil
add butter to the pan, wait until it has melted
add flour a little at a time, and stir into the butter
when all flour has been added, keep stirring for 2-3 minutes
start adding the milk a little at a time
swap the wooden spoon for a whisk
once all the milk has been added, keep whisking until the sauce gets about as thick as cream (5-10 minutes)
add the cheese and stir until it is melted into the sauce
once the sauce is ready, and the macaroni is cooked and drained, add the macaroni to the sauce and stir together
turn down/off the heat and let the macaroni cheese sti for 3-5 minutes

Small rolls

 

Makes 4 rolls

250g Strong white bread flour

155mls Lukewarm water

1tsp Instant or active dried yeast, if us

1/2 tbls Vegetable oil

1/2 tsp Salt


Cook 16 minutes at 180c 

Hot dog rolls

 Method


560g Strong white bread flour

200g milk (Lukewarm 40°C 
120g Water (Lukewarm 40°C
1 Large egg
20g/1½tbls Vegetable or olive oil
20g Sugar
8g / 1tsp Salt
7g / 2tsp Instant or active dried yeast

Start by adding the milk,water,sugar,and yeast to a jug and allow the warm liquid to proof for 5 to 10 minutes.
In a warm bowl add the flour and mix in the salt using a whisk.
Beat the egg and add it to the flour.
Add the warm proven yeast mixture to the flour followed by the oil.
Mix the ingredients until you have everything combined into a sticky dough.
Cover the bowl and set your timer for 1 hour, (proofing times may vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen).
Grease a baking tray, see video for dimensions.
After the 1 hour the dough should have at least doubled in size, turn it out onto a floured surface, flour the dough and knead for 1 minute.
Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, and form them first into a ball, then a short sausage shape.
Let them relax for 1 minute, then form them into a medium sausage shape, and let those relax for one minutes.
For final shaping, form them into the finished shape and place them onto the greased baking tray, dust with a little flour, cover them with a dry lightweight cloth and allow them to rise for 45 minutes, (proofing times may vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen).
When there’s only 10 minutes left on the final rise, preheat your oven to 180°C 

When the buns have sufficiently risen, place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 16 minutes, the tray can be turned halfway through for even cooking.
Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for 30 minutes and they are ready to use.

Sunday, 3 March 2019

Babish Pizza

Pizza Dough Ingredients (makes 4 pizzas):

500g Bread flour
16g kosher salt
2.5g active dry yeast
350 ml water

Dough

In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend the flour, yeast, and salt. Add the water and, with a wooden spoon or your hands, mix thoroughly.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and allow it to rise at room temperature for 18 hours or until it has more than doubled. It will take longer in a chilly room and less time in a very warm one.

Flour a work surface and scrape out the dough. Divide it into 4 equal parts and shape them. For each portion, start with the right side of the dough and pull it towards the center; then do the same with the left, then the top, then the bottom (the order doesn’t actually matter; what you want is four folds). Shape each portion into a round and turn seam side down. Mold the dough into a neat circular mound. The mounds should not be sticky; if they are, dust with more flour.

If you don’t intend to use the dough right away, wrap the balls individually in plastic and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Return to room temperature by leaving them out on the counter, covered in a damp cloth, for 2 to 3 hours before needed.

Pizza Assembly

Slowly start to pat the dough down into the general shape of a pizza. Don’t roll it out with a rolling pin. Once the dough had grown in size, pass over your knuckles and slowly start to spread it out until a pizza pie shape is formed.

Add your sauce and low moisture mozzarella along with whatever toppings you’d like and place on your pizza stone in your preheated 500°F oven (pre-heat for 1 hour). Bake for 7-9 minutes.

Let cool for a few minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Wednesday, 15 March 2017

Chicken cordon bleu





Ingredients


Monday, 28 November 2016

Cheese and Potato Pie






700g  potatoes sliced
100ml crème fraîche
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
375g ready rolled all-butter puff pastry
250g round Camembert 
1 egg

Halve potatoes, put in cold water and bring to boil - reduce temp and simmer for 10 minutes.

Let potatoes cool before slicing.  mix with the crème fraîche. Season, sprinkle over the nutmeg and set aside.

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.

 Arrange a third of the potatoes in the middle of the pastry, then sit the cheese on top. Pile the rest of the potato around the cheese, leaving a 1cm border at the edge of the pastry.

 Brush the edges of the pastry on the tray with egg, then drape over the larger circle and seal the sides well, crimping as you go round.
 A tight seal is important to stop the cheese escaping.

Brush all over with egg and lightly score a spiral into the pastry with the back of a knife.

Bake the pie for 30 mins until golden brown and puffed up.

As soon as the pie comes out of the oven, glaze with a little more egg and leave to cool for 5 mins.

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Sour Cream Banana Bread




Prep time 10-15 minutes. Cook time 1 hour.
Ingredients:
85g butter, softened Some more softened butter for greasing the pan
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
3 mashed bananas (about a cup). Really brown, overripe ones work best.
1 ½ teaspoon of baking powder
½ teaspoon of baking soda
½ teaspoon of salt
2 ¼ cups flour
4 tablespoons of brown sugar
½ teaspoon of cinnamon

1) Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2) In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the ¼ cup of butter and the sugar together until well blended.
3) Add the eggs and sour cream, and mix well
4) Add the bananas, baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour, and mix well.
5)The batter is done. Set it aside for a minute.
6) In a small bowl, stir the brown sugar with the cinnamon so you have a nicely blended mix.
7) Grease a 9x5 loaf pan with butter.
8) Liberally dust the entire inside greased surface of the loaf pan with the brown sugar mix. Really coat it so you don’t see the bottom or sides of the pan, if you can. Pour any excess back into the small bowl with your remaining brown sugar mixture and save for later.
9) Pour the batter into the loaf pan.
10) Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar mix on top of the batter. It should cover it completely.
11) Bake for an hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. It should be very moist, so wait until it mostly cools to cut it or you’ll get some crumbling.

Monday, 25 July 2016

Malay Fried Rice



Malay Fried Rice


Ingredients

250g cooked rice
2 chicken breast cut into strips
1 TBS oil
1 TBS Honey
2 Onions
1 Red Pepper
2 Cloves of Garlic
½ tsp chili powder
1 TBS Curry Powder
4 TBS Soy Sauce
150g Frozen peas
1 egg (per person)




Cook chicken on a high heat for a few minutes
Add honey and cook for another 5-10 minutes
Remove chicken from pan and set aside
Add onion and garlic and cook for five minutes
Add pepper and cook for 2 minutes
Add chili and curry powder – cook for a couple of minutes
Add rice and peas
Add soy sauce
Stir
Add the chicken
Fry an egg per person and serve on top of the rice



Monday, 18 July 2016

Prawn and Pea Curry




Ingredients
300-400g of peeled king prawns
2 tins chopped peeled tomato
1 small jar Colmans English Mustard paste (use 2 tsp)
2 green finger chilies
2 tsp nigella seeds
1 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt
1-2 tsp brown sugar
1 cup petit pois-frozen or fresh
Vegetable oil
1 bunch fresh coriander for the garnish
1 sliced red chili for garnish
For the rice
2 cups Basmati white rice
4 cups water
4 black cardamom pods
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 bunch fresh dill
Vegetable oil
Pinch salt
Method for the rice
1. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a deep saucepan - add cumin seeds and cardamom and wait for them to fizz- now add the rice and toss into the oil.
2. Add in the water and simmer until almost dry.
3. Toss in the chopped dill and a pinch of salt and stir through.
4. Tight lid on and heat off-Wait for 10 minutes while you cook the prawn curry
For the rawn curry
1. In a large wok style nonstick pan, add two tbsp oil and heat. Add nigella seed and green chili pierced.
2. Add tomato, sugar, turmeric, chili and simmer, use water to loosen if need be but allow to caramelise and become rich.
3. Add the mustard paste and seasoning along with the peas mix well and then add prawns and simmer for minutes until just cooked.
4. Add a squeeze of lemon. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add a little chopped fresh coriander.
5. Garnish with fresh coriander and red chili.

Friday, 17 June 2016

Meatball Casserole



3/4 pounds Italian Sausage
3/4 pounds Ground Beef
1/2 cup Regular Oats
1 cup Grated Parmesan
1 whole Egg, Beaten
1/4 cup Minced Fresh Parsley
Salt And Pepper, to taste
1 whole Medium Onion, Diced
3 cloves Garlic, Minced
1 can (28 Ounce) Diced Tomatoes
1 can (8 Ounces) Tomato Paste
1 Tablespoon Sugar
2 cups Hot Water
12 leaves Basil
12 ounces, weight Ziti Pasta, Cooked To Al Dente
16 ounces, weight Fresh Mozzarella, Cut Into Large Cubes



INSTRUCTIONS
In a bowl, mix together the sausage, beef, oats, 1/2 of the Parmesan, egg, half the parsley, and salt and pepper until well combined. Form into small meatballs (about 1/2 inch) and brown in batches in a skillet over medium heat. Remove the meatballs from the pan and drain.

Add the onions and garlic to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, salt and pepper, sugar, and water. Stir and bring to a simmer, then add in the meatballs and continue simmering for 20 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and allow it to cool. Stir in the basil once cool.


In a casserole dish, add half the pasta, half the mozzarella cubes, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and half the meatball sauce. Repeat with another layer, ending with the meatball sauce. Cover with foil and either refrigerate for up to 2 days, or bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Serve piping hot!

Friday, 27 May 2016

Baked Asparagus and Eggs




INGREDIENTS

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, more for drizzling
  • 200 g asparagus, trimmed and cut into small pieces
  • 2 spring onions, white and light green parts, thinly sliced
  • 5 large eggs
    •  roughly chopped soft herbs like basil, cilantro, chives or parsley use at least 2
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • tablespoons grated Parmesan
  •  Salt
  •  black pepper, to taste
  •  Lemon wedges, for serving
  •  Flaky sea salt for sprinkling

PREPARATION

  1. Heat the oven to 150C.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the asparagus and the scallions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is browned and tender.
  3. Whisk together the eggs, most of the herbs, and cream. 
  4. Whisk in Parmesan, salt and pepper. 
  5. Pour the egg mixture over asparagus and place the skillet in the oven.
  6. Bake for about 20 minutes, until set, but still slightly jiggly in the center. 
  7. Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before serving. It is best warm, not hot.
  8. Squeeze one or two lemon wedges over it, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and remaining herbs. Cut into wedges.

Wednesday, 10 February 2016

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding



INGREDIENTS
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • ¼ cup plus ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon plus ½ cup dark rum
  • 1 teaspoon plus ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 cups cubed brioche, approximately ½ loaf
  • 5 ripe bananas, peeled and cut into coins
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
 Nutritional InformationPREPARATION
FOR THE BREAD PUDDING

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, 

whisk together the eggs, milk, ¼ cup of brown sugar, vanilla, 1 tablespoon rum and 1 teaspoon salt. 

Add the bread, and stir so that it absorbs the liquid. Set aside to soak.

  1. Butter a 2-quart baking dish, and place it on a baking sheet. 
  2. Line the bottom of the dish with banana coins, then spoon about ½ of the soaked bread over them. Top with banana coins, and spoon the remaining soaked bread over the top. 
  3. Bake for 40 minutes, then sprinkle with the tablespoon of white sugar. Continue baking until the pudding is puffed and golden on top, approximately 50 to 60 minutes total.
  1. Meanwhile, make the sauce. Melt the butter in a small sauce set over medium heat. 
  2. Add the remaining brown sugar, cream, remaining rum and salt, and whisk until combined. 
  3. Simmer, whisking, until the sauce has thickened, approximately 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm.
  1. Serve the pudding warm, with some of the sauce drizzled over the top, alongside vanilla ice cream.


Tuesday, 12 January 2016

Baked Potato Casserole



Ingredients
6 Medium sized potatoes (cooked and peeled)
1 C chopped broccoli
1/4 C chopped and saute onion
2 to 3 cloves of garlic
8 Pieces of Crispy Bacon or Turkey Bacon
1/2 Tbsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp milk
284ml Sour Cream
1/2 C shredded Cheddar Cheese
Chives for garnish


Instructions
Bake 6 potatoes until soft
Peel skins off and place potatoes in large bowl and mash with fork
Cook 8 pieces of bacon until crisp and then crumble into pieces
Saute 1/4 C of onions with chopped garlic until onions are translucent
Chop broccoli into small pieces
Set aside a little bacon and cheese to garnish casserole once finished
To large bowl with potatoes add, milk, butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, onions and garlic, salt, pepper, and broccoli and mix
Place mixture into casserole dish and bake covered at 375° for 45 to 1 hour

Garnish with crumbled bacon, cheese, chives, and sour cream