Mini pizzas

For the dough: 200 gr plain flour

little bit of salt

dried yeast ( i used 8g sachet)

120 ml lukewarm water

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

For the topping: tomato sauce

grated cheese

sliced tomato

chopped tomato

dried basil

sausages or ham

Method: Make a mound of flour and salt, with a well in the centre. Mix the yeast into the water and pour into the well. Add the oil and knead until dough is elastic ( might take about 10 minutes). Leave the dough rise for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 200 C. Roll out the dough to 8 round shapes about 5 mm thick( it depends how do you like your pizza base). Spread some tomato sauce to each pizza base . Slice the sausages or ham. Arrange them on the pizza, use some diced tomatoes, sprinkle some cheese over and then some basil as well. Bake in the oven bout 15 minutes. I used some sliced tomatoes also.

I got 6 pizza bases from this quantity.

Enjoy :)

Calzone

For the dough: 200 gr plain flour

little bit of salt

1 sachet of yeast( i used 8g packet)

120 ml lukewarm water

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

For the filling: sausages

grated cheese

little bit of sundriend tomato pestolittle bit of onion

tomato sauce or ketchup

Method: make a mound of flour and salt, with a well in the centre. Mix the yeast into the water and pour into the well. Add the oil and knead the dough until it is elastic. It might

take about 10 minutes. Leave the dough rise for 2 hours. Cover the bowl with cling film or a tea towel.

Preheat the oven to 200 C. Roll out the dough to create an oblong shape. about 3 mm thick and cut into 8 big squares or 4 small. Slice the sausages and mix with pesto and tomato sauce.Dice the onions and add to the mix. Put the mix on the side of the square and sprinkle with grated cheese. Fold the dough over and press the edges together and bake at the oven for about 12-15 minutes.

For vegetarian option : filling: grated cheese, roasted aubergine and courgette(finely sliced) , rocket and vegetarian sausages,and some pesto+ tomato sauce.

Enjoy :)

fresh fruit tart

You'll need: 4 egg yolks

50 gr caster sugar

2 tbsp cornflour

2 tbsp plain flour

1 tsp vanilla essence

100 ml cream300 ml milk

800 gr fruits/berries( i used kiwi,strawberry,raspberry and blackberry)

For the pastry: 185 gr plain flour

pinch of salt

115 gr butter, diced

1 egg yolk

2 tbsp chilled water

Method: To make the pastry ,sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl and rub in the butter.Keep rubbing til mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Mix in the egg

yolk and chilled water and mix to a firm dough.

Put the dough on to a lightly floured surface and knead for a few seconds. Wrap in a cling film and put in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes roll out the pastry and line a 25cm/9in round pan/quiche pan. wrap in a cling film and put back in the fridge for 20 minutes.

Pre-heat the oven to 200 ⁰C or Gas 6. Prick the base of the pastry ,line with foil and baking beans and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and bake further 10 minutes. Leave to cool.

Take a bowl and in there beat the egg yolks,sugar,cornflour,flour and vanilla together. Bring the milk to the boil in a pan and slowly pour on to the egg mixture,whisking all the time.

Pour the custard into the cleaned pan and cook over a low heat til it has thickened. return to the clean mixing bowl,cover the bowl with cling film and put in the fridge to set. (I left it in the fridge for an hour).

Whip the cream til thick ,then fold it in the custard. Spoon the custard into the pastry case and spread it out evenly. .

Slice the fruits and arrange them however you like .

Enjoy :)

Prawn and broccoli noodles

This recipe is from Easy Food magazine (nov 2011).

You'll need: 200 gr noodles

200 gr broccoli,cut into small florets

6 tbsp soy sauce

1 garlic glove, finely chopped

1 tbsp ginger, finely chopped

juice of 2 limes

1 tsp olive oil

100 gr prawns, if frozen then thawed

1 red bell pepper

1 yellow bell pepper

2 spring onions,chopped

some seasoning

Method: Boil the noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse well in a cold water. drain again and keep in a bowl.

Blanch the broccoli and cool down in a cold water.

In a bowl mix soy sauce, garlic,ginger, lime juice well.

Heat up the wok and add oil to the pan and sliced peppers and cook for a few minutes . Add the spring onions and prawns and cook for a further few minutes. Add the sauce,broccoli and noodles and toss everything together. Cook for a few minutes and serve.

Enjoy :)

beef stir-fry with broccoli

You'll need: 750 gr sirloin /rump steak, thinly sliced

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp cornflour mixed with salt and black pepper

150 gr broccoli, chopped

150 gr mushrooms,sliced

150 gr mangetout ,sliced

1/2 red or green bell pepper

2 garlic cloves,peeled and chopped

little bit fresh ginger or powder ginger

Dressing: juice 2 limes

2 tsp sugar

1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

method: Heat a wok til very hot. Add a tablespoon of oil. Coat the beef in the seasoned cornflour and stir-fry in patches, til bit crispy. remove to dish and keep warm while cooking the vegetables.

Add a little more oil to the wok. Add in the broccoli,mushrooms,mangetout. pepper and garlic and ginger and stir-fry for few minutes.

Return the meat to the wok and add in the dressing ingredients. Stir to combine and continue to cook for another minute.

Enjoy :)

Potato salad a la my style

I always make that salad by the eye so i really dont know the quantities. :( sorry bout that.

You 'll need: Boiled potatoes

Boiled carrots or canned carrots

canned peas

pickled gherkins

few boiled eggs

few hot dog sausages

mayo + sour cream or salad cream

salt + pepper

Method: Dice carrots and potatoes ,slice gherkins and hot dog sausages. Break the eggs using fork or crater. Put all the ingredients in a bowl except for mayo and sour cream. Mix sour cream and mayo together with salt and pepper and mix together with potatoes and everything else.

Enjoy :)

Chocolate mousse tartlets

For the pastry: 115 gr plain flour

25 gr icing sugar

25 gr cocoa powder

75 gr butter

2 eggs

2,5 ml vanilla essence

For the mousse: 200 gr milk chocolate (broken up into pieces)

120 ml milk

10 ml powdered gelatine

30 ml caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

2 eggs( separated)

250 g cream cheese

melted dark chocolate to decorate

Method: For the pastry sift the flour,sugar and cocoa powder into a mixing bowl. Rub in the butter 'til mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.

Mix eggs and vanilla essence in a small bowl,then add to the dry ingredients and mix to a soft dough. Tip out on to a lightly floured surface and knead 'til smooth. Wrap in a cling film and place in a fridge for about 30 minutes.

Roll out pastry and use to line 6 tartlet tins.( i used 10 cm size). Cover tartlets with cling film and put in a fridge for another 20 minutes. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 190⁰C ( 375⁰F; gas mark 5).

Prick the base of each pastry case with a fork, then line with baking paper and fill with bakinf beans( u can use uncooked rice aswell) and bake for 10 minutes.

Remove the paper and beans (rice), and put the pastry cases back in the oven and cook another 15 minutes. or 'til pastry is firm. Let the pastry cases cool in the tin.

For the filling,melt the chocolate . Milk pour into a pan and add gelatine and heat gently til gelatine is dissolved. remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate.

Whisk sugar,vanilla essence and egg yolks together, and then add in the chocolate mixture. Beat in the cream cheese 'til mixture is evenly mixed. Chill the mixture til it starts to set ( might take several hours).

Whisk the egg whites in a grease-free bowl 'til stiff, then gently fold into the mixture. Divide the mixture between the pastry cases and leave in the fridge to set.

Decorate with dark melted chocolate .

Enjoy :)