Student Cookery

Calzone

2013-06-19T02:21:00.000-07:00

Calzone

Calzone is an italian dish similar to a folded pizza but has some traditional ingredients that make it very different to your average pizza.

For my calzone I went with ham, pepperoni, chorizo and cheese filling but you can really put just about anything, just experiment!

You will need:

Pizza dough: (It's not cheating buying a sachet of pizza dough mix with the yeast already in!)

Ham 1 pack
Pepperoni 100g
Chorizo 100g
Passata 200g
Fresh tomato sauce 800g (Or 2 tins of chopped tomatoes, basil, tomato puree, onion, garlic and seasoning)
Half an onion
4 Cloves of garlic
Fresh basil
Seasoning

Start by frying off the garlic and onion, then add the meat and seal if you are using chicken or similar. Now add the sauce, passata, basil, salt, pepper and some sugar and bring to the boil. Now simmer for at least 10 minutes.

While it is simmering roll out the pizza dough and make big oval shapes about half a centimetre thick. Place 2 on some baking paper and in a baking tray, each with one half hanging out of the tray ready to fold over.

Once the sauce is ready spoon a enough into each calzone to almost fill it then add a load of cheese, mozzarella or simple cheddar is good.

Now fold over the dough and press around the edge with a fork. Roll the edge up slightly and use water or egg wash to get a good seal. Remember to pierce a few holes in the top to allow air to escape.

Bake until they are golden brown and enjoy!

Butterscotch Sauce

2013-06-14T03:52:00.001-07:00

Butterscotch sauce is great with apple pie. Just saying.

Want to give it a go? Here's what you need:

4 heaped tablespoons of butter
100g of brown sugar (light is best)
120ml of double cream
2 pinches of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

And here's how you make it:

First melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the rest of the ingredients and give it a whisk. Now cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then finally remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Banoffee Cake

2013-06-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

Banoffee Cake

If you have ever had a banoffee pie and thought there needs to be a bit more substance then this recipe could be for you!

First take a can of condensed milk, place in a pan and cover with water. Now bring to boil and simmer for around and hour.

Then blend 5 bananas with a few tablespoons of sugar (brown is best).

Now add an egg and the condensed milk (careful when opening!) to the blended banana and use an electric whisk for around 5 minutes.

Pour onto a biscuit base made from digestive or bourbon (or both) biscuits (1 pack) and a knob of butter.

Bake in a medium heat oven for about 15 minutes or until it browns on top.

Finally top with banana and whipped cream!

Aubergine Crisps

2013-06-02T05:05:00.000-07:00

Aubergine crisps. Slice an aubergine, rub some oil on each side, sprinkle salt and then bake for 15 minutes!

Land Lover's Fish Pie

2013-05-30T02:16:00.000-07:00

A Fish Pie

A fairly simple recipe to make but really is fantastic.

Ingredients

Half of 1 Onion

3 Cloves of Garlic

2 Potatoes (1 per pie)

3 Rashers of bacon

2 Frozen white fish pieces

2 Frozen Salmon pieces

300ml of Milk

3 tbsp of Flour

200g Shortcrust Pastry

Method

Place the fish in a large pan and cover with the milk. Bring it to the boil and simmer for 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile fry the onion, garlic and bacon and put the potatoes on to boil.

Once the fish is cooked smush it with the back of a spoon into flakes. Now pour this into the pan with the bacon and onion.

Add the flour to thicken if it needs it then leave to keep warm. Now mash the potato and add some butter and/or milk.

Grease and flour 2 ramekins and then push pastry to half a centimeter thickness around the inside surface.

Now fill the ramekins with the fish bacon sauce and top with mash potato swirls. (Use a piping bag to do this properly)

Then bake in the oven until the potato is golden brown.

Chilli Oil

2013-05-24T15:48:00.001-07:00

Chilli oil can add that something special to anything you make. Why not try it drizzled over pizza or jazz up a simple salad with a splash.

Ingredients

500ml of Oil (Olive is best but sunflower works, also this makes about the same amount of chilli oil so just change this quantity for how much you need)

10-15g of chilli flakes (Or blend some dried chillis)

3-4 Whole dried chillis

Method

If you are planning on keeping your oil for some time (And remember it gets hotter with time so you should keep it for a few weeks before use) then you should sterilise the bottle first by washing in warm water, rinsing and then placing in an oven for 10-15 minutes at 160C.

Now heat the oil for a few minutes and then add the chilli. Cook for around 4 minutes and then transfer into the warm bottles. This prevents any germs being in the bottle. Be careful when putting the oil in the bottles as it can splash around!

Grove Tuesday!

2013-02-12T15:26:00.002-08:00

Pancake day! (Incase you didn't get the "Grove" reference Student Cookery lives on a street called The Grove so I changed shrove to grove! Clever ay?)

Any way a big disaster in that Tesco ran out of Nutella!!!! No!!!

So I had to whip up my own chocolate sauce for the pancakes and I must say it was a success!

100g dark chocolate, 1 and a half tablespoons of butter, 1 tablespoon heaped of icing sugar, in a pan (sugar last after its melted), making sure to not burn the chocolate. Whack it in on or around your pancake and enjoy! (It's fairly rich so be sparing!)

Chocolate Pot

2013-02-10T09:38:00.003-08:00

So I've just tried out this chocolate pot a very kind person got for me for christmas! (They know me well) and it is fantastic!

If you fancy grabbing one for yourself head on over to this website!

Great for butter or heating milk and can hold a 100g bar of chocolate!

Plymouth Pad Thai

2013-02-10T06:02:00.002-08:00

Traditional Pad Thai made from scratch in Plymouth!

To have a go yourself you'll need the following:

Rice Noodles - 150g per person (all other quantities are per person also) you can get this from any Asian shop or tesco do a fresh rice noodle too.

Beansprouts - One handful. These are so cheap and good for you too! Get from any supermarket (ASDA 50p)

Spring Onion - Chopped into 1 inch long, thin pieces.

Garlic - 2 cloves, crush and chop.

Fish Sauce - Veggies use dark soy sauce, about 3-4 tablespoons.

Sugar - White or brown I use brown about 1 heaped teaspoon.

Lime juice - 1 teaspoon

Egg - 1

Tofu - A handful of 1cm cubes.

Oil - 1 splash.

Optional - Crushed peanut, chilli powder, extra lime juice to serve.

Here we go!

In a small bowl combine the fish sauce, sugar, lime juice and chilli powder if desired. Heat the oil in pan, add the garlic, fry until fragrant. Add the tofu and stir for about a minute. Now add the egg and scramble.

Add the fish sauce mixture and stir then add the noodles. Now add the spring onion, stir, finally add the beansprout, stir-fry for about 30 seconds and serve with crushed peanut and lime juice!

If you are vegan leave out the egg and use soy sauce instead of fish sauce. Vegetarians, just use soy sauce!

It's Not The Size...

2013-02-09T17:40:00.000-08:00

It's How You Use It!

Chef's Garlic, always worth the money!

Quick Chicken Curry

2013-02-08T14:04:00.000-08:00

If you are a demon on the chopping board and don't mind a little splash of boiling water up your arm then I'm sure you could get this on the plate in 20 minutes flat. Now I can't stand the "Jamie's 15 Minute Meals" where he has everything chopped and ready or an expensive food processor to do it (or a few decades of experience chopping all day), so I'm not lying when I say 20 minutes is doable!

Ingredients

1 onion, 4 cloves of garlic, 1 tbspn grated ginger, 3 chicken breasts, 400ml coconut milk, about 100g of ground almond as well as half a teaspoon of the following spices in a bowl.

Cumin, ground cinnamon, coriander, 1 teaspoon of turmeric, garam masala, hot chilli powder, cayenne pepper, curry powder (optional) and some fresh chopped coriander.

Method

Cut the chicken into pieces. Chop the onion and garlic and fry until soft.

Now add a few tablespoons of water to the bowl of spices and make a thin paste. Put it in with the onion and garlic and stir until fragrant. Then add the chicken pieces.

Now seal the chicken on all sides stirring it all the time. Once sealed put the rice on the boil (1/3rd of a mug rice per person 2/3rd of a mug water) and add the coconut milk. Bring it to the boil, add the almond and simmer until the rice is done. If the curry looks too thick add some more almond or leave for longer to reduce, if it looks too thick add coconut milk or water.

Enjoy!

Timings:

5 minutes chopping (Thats quick!)
5 minutes frying (Pay attention!)
8 minutes rice and simmering (Get the rice ready while the chicken is sealing)
2 minutes getting it on a plate (Yum!)

(MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE CHICKEN IS THOROUGHLY COOKED!)

Superbowl Soirée

2013-02-07T13:40:00.002-08:00

So it was that time of the year again last sunday and it was yet another opportunity to gorge ourselves on home made food!

Just a few of the items included were:

16 Hot dogs
13 Home made burgers
10 BBQ/Peri-Peri Chicken Thighs
2 Garlic Baguettes
Two bags of Nachos
Half a kilo of Cheese
A mixing bowl of home-made wedges
A mixing bowl of oven chips
Home-made Salsa Dip
4 Pizzas
And much much more...

Here's how to treat yourself to some simple salsa:

1 can of chopped tomatoes, half a handful of coriander, virgin olive oil, pepper, salt, garlic, onion, tomato puree, splash of balsamic vinegar.

Whack it all in a bowl give it good mix and then season to taste. We doubled everything just to make sure.

Seb's Salmon Pasta

2013-02-05T13:53:00.000-08:00

This simple fish pasta is a great way to get that one dose of fish into your week and it takes no time at all!

Ingredients:

2 Salmon Steaks - I used from frozen to keep the cost down!

100g of Spaghetti (per portion)

Chicken Stock about 400ml

Garlic

Onion

Cream

Chive

Method:

Cook the salmon in water if it's from frozen or leave for now if its fresh. Chop the onion and garlic and fry until the onion softens. Now add the chicken stock, some cream and the chive. Bring it to the boil and add the salmon, stirring it to break it up.

Simmer for about 10 minutes until it is slightly thicker then add more cream if necessary and serve on fresh spaghetti.

What Is The World Coming To?

2013-02-02T03:48:00.000-08:00

A delicious salad, so simple and tasty!

Student Salad

Just throw half and half rocket and fresh lettuce, mix in some grilled chicken pieces, and finally drizzle some ceaser salad dressing over the top, I'll be showing you how to make your own in the near future!

Garlic Butter

2013-01-22T13:16:00.002-08:00

This might seem like an overly simple recipe but it really can be used in any dish to liven it up and make it a bit richer.

Ingredients

Garlic - 2 bulbs per 75g or butter

Butter - 75g

Oil - Enough to have 1cm depth

Salt - Pinch

Pepper - Pinch

Sugar - Pinch

Italian herbs - Pinch, alternatively use dried basil, oregano and possibly thyme.

Method

Pour the oil into the baking dish or oven proof bowl, then after slicing the pointed end of the clove to reveal the pale yellow garlic of each clove (just!), place them sliced end down in the oil, like so.

Next pop them in the oven at about 120C for roughly half an hour or until light brown and soft.

Now mash them until the cloves fall out and you are left with the dry skin like so.

Throw the rest of the ingredients in the bowl with the mashed garlic, be gentle on the salt and sugar, and then use to make garlic bread, fry onions for bolognese, use in curries, paste on chicken and grill, the possibilities are endless!

Massaman Curry

2013-01-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

Massaman Curry

Thats right! Student Cookery has at last appeared for the long awaited come back! A big apology to the loyal fans and thanks for sticking by! (All new comers welcome however!)

This dish was one that I was fairly wary of on my first visit to Thailand, however the second time I visited I told myself I would try everything I had the opportunity to and I am so glad I did because it is probably in my top 5 dishes of all time now!

It's fairly simple and as with many curries, it can be adapted in lots of ways to add texture, extra flavours, heat and consistency.

The traditional Thai curries are fairly soupy so I tried to replicate that to some extent, don't be shy to cut the coconut milk in half and have a bit thicker curry!

Ingredients

Chicken - I used about 800g on the bone which would be about 300-400g breast so have either.

6 medium potatoes.

Massaman curry paste - 90g-100g (3 tbspns) Yes I know, I have used a paste, but this is just so perfect you can't match it for price, taste or authenticity. (Find in your local asian food shop)

Onion - 1 chopped finely

Garlic - 3 cloves crushed and chopped

Chilli - 1 half seeds scraped out and chopped finely (optional if you don't want too much spice, then again you could leave the seeds in or even use two or three chillis!)

Coconut milk - 2 400g cans (As i said, use just one for a thicker curry)

Peanut butter - 2 tbspn (you can use chopped or crushed peanut for texture too)

Rice - 1/3 - 1/2 mug per person

Method

Fry the onion in coconut oil or any vegetable oil.

Now add the chopped garlic and massaman paste and stir until fragrant (around 30 seconds).

Add the meat and coat in the paste. Seal on all sides and then add the coconut milk and peanut butter.

Now peel and chop the potatoes into bite size chunks.

Add to the coconut milk after bringing it to the boil and cook until the potatoes are soft. It is a good point to make here you can add any vegetable you fancy along with the potatoes, why not try some thai style vegetables like pea aubergine.

Make sure you check before serving the chicken is cooked through, especially if you are using chicken on the bone.

Enjoy! (Sorry I couldn't find a matching plate and bowl...)

Devon Pasties

2012-12-17T10:55:00.003-08:00

Devon Pasties

Technically we can't call them Cornish pasties because they aren't in Cornwall, so Devon pasties it is!

The pasty tax as been thrown out and thank god! But if you want to save a little bit more money why not have a go at making your own pasties?

Ingredients(4 pasties)

Shortcrust pastry - 500g

Pack of Beef Mince - 400-500g (You could use steak strips or any kind really, just make sure you cook it thoroughly before adding it)

Potato - 3 large ones should do

Swede - half

Carrot - 4

Onion - 2

Rosemary, Salt, Pepper

Oil for cooking

Method

Peel and chop the potatoes into small chunks, do the same with the swede and carrot. Now place in a large pan and boil for 10 minutes in salted water.

Fry the onions in the oil and add the meat once the onion starts to soften. Now brown the beef mince. If you are using any other kind of beef cook the meat through before moving on. (Casserole beef will take considerably longer and it is recomennded to use left over casserole beef from a casserole rather than starting with it fresh).

Now toss the potatoes and veg in butter and rosemary, add the two mixes together and stir it all up.

Roll your pastry to a thickness of a pound coin and then cut the dough into ovals as shown below.

Spoon a handful of mixture into the centre of the pastry and fold over, pressing in the edges. Now use a fork to mush the edges together, then roll them up and finally use either water or a beaten egg to rub on the join and seal properly.

Bake in the oven for about 10-14 minutes or until the pastry is starting to go golden.

Serve with plenty of ketchup!

SANTA IS IN TOWN!

2012-12-09T03:19:00.000-08:00

Today we are having our flat meal and it promises to be a feast for all!

I'll try and post a picture and a short how to on each bit so look out for the update tonight or tomorrow!

Easy-Peasy Pesto Bean Pie

2012-12-05T04:03:00.003-08:00

Easy Peasy Pesto Bean Pie

Hey guys and girls, this is such a simple recipe, cheap and tasty! Great as a side dish if you are stuck for ideas!

Ingredients:

Beans - Butter, or plain old baked beans

Table spoon of pesto

Garlic butter - Follow a recipe soon to come! (or use a packet)
Some cheese (if you wish)

Puff or Shortcrust Pastry (Use a packet, or follow a recipe soon to come!)

Method

Line a small pie dish or oven proof bowl with the pastry and paste a small amount of pesto around the bottom. Now melt the garlic butter in a pan and throw in the beans, add some cheese. If you are using butter beans then add some tomatoe puree and cream. You could also use chopped tomatoes or passata. Now put in the rest of the pesto with the beans, give it a stir and pour into the pastry lined bowl.

Cover the pie with pastry and then bake until the pastry goes golden brown.

You could adapt this recipe to make lots of little individual bean pies, why not give it a go?

Christmas Shortbread Tree

2012-12-04T11:15:00.001-08:00

Christmas Shortbread Tree

Do you like shortbread, christmas and trees? Well then you'll love this recipe!

You'll need:

Flour: 260g

Butter: 225g

Sugar: 60g Caster or Icing sugar is better

Vanilla Extract: 1 sploosh

Chocolate for covering!: 50-70g

First beat the sugar and butter together until creamy.

Now stir in the flour rather vigourously.

Chill for 1 hour!

Roll flat and press out shapes using a biscuit cutter or using your hands make a big tree and about 10 small baubles.

Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges start to go golden brown.

Remove from the oven and melt your chocolate.

Drizzle the chocolate over your tree and cover a few baubles too.

Carefully and tasefully decorate your tree!

Admire, then devour!

Chicken in a Bag

2012-12-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

Chicken in a Bag...

Made from foil.

So today I made a lovely, succulent and easy meal! Like the sound of that? Follow the recipe below!

For the chicken you will need:

Chicken - On the bone is nice but you could use breast pieces too.
Spices - What ever you fancy with the chicken, I used cumin, chilli powder, garam masala, splash of turmeric and some garlic.
Foil.
Baking Tray
Oven. - 170-180C

Chuck it all in a bowl with a bit of oil and make sure all the chicken is covered.

Now put it all in the foil and fold it over like so:

Make sure you seal the edges nice and tight.

Now just throw it in the oven for about half an hour to 40 minutes.

For the potatoes

Meanwhile peel, half and slice your potatoes fairly thin. Boil for around 30 minutes. Drain, toss in butter and then fry with onion, garlic herbs and sugar for about a minutes. Now open up your chicken foil parcel, tip the potatoes over the top and put it all in the oven for about 5-10 minutes or until nice and crispy.

Enjoy!

Chicken Tonight!

2012-12-02T02:47:00.001-08:00

Chicken Tonight!

What more could a man want other than coming home from a long, hard and wet day playing football and sweating in the library and be greeted with a lovely pile of chicken??

If you feel like chicken tonight, watch out for tonight's update!

Erm...Cookies?

2012-12-01T10:16:00.004-08:00

Cookies!

Oh...wait...no.

BISH

BASH

BOSH

...whoops...

Moral of the story is, don't forget about things in the oven!

But they actually taste ok, and are quite cakey which is odd because they are meant to be cookies...maybe I shouldn't have bought a packet of cookie mix... first and last time.

1st Of December!

2012-12-01T04:45:00.002-08:00

Who's Feeling Christmassy?

It's that time of year, and it always means lots of special dishes, home cooking, extra treats and lots and lots of CHOCOLATE!

What's your favourite christmas meat? Who cooks? What time do you eat? I want to know EVERYTHING! We will be having a baking bonanza in my house very soon so keep your eye out for the post!

Merry Christmas!

G-dad Curry

2012-11-29T12:49:00.000-08:00

G-Dad Curry

This is a nice creamy curry, adapted from a recipe given to me by my girlfriend, who in turn got it from her grandad, hence the "G-Dad Curry". Technically it's a passanda so if you like a creamy, almondy curry like korma then you'll love this!

What you'll need:

500g of chicken, cut into small pieces or if you're using on the bone then leave as is.
1 tin evaporated milk
100g of ground almond
2 table spoons of flaked almond
half a large pot of thick greek yoghurt
250ml of double cream
2 table spoons of tomatoe puree
3 tablespoons of mango chutney
an onion
2 teaspoons of curry powder
half a teaspoon of chilli powder
3 finely chopped red chillis
4 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped
about two tablespoons of root ginger, grated or finely chopped
vegetable oil
1 teaspoon of turmeric
1 teaspoon of garam massalla
handful of fresh coriander

Method

Start by frying the onion in oil until it starts to go soft and see through. Now add the chopped chilli, ginger and garlic. Fry this for 5 minutes.

Now put the turmeric, curry powder and chilli powder in a small bowl and add a tablespoon of water to form a thick paste. Don't worry if you put too much water in, it will evaporate off anyway.

Once you've given it a good stir add the chicken and seal it on all sides. Now add the greek yoghurt, cream and evaporated milk. Bring to the boil and let it simmer. While it simmers add the ground almond, tomatoe puree and mango chutney and after about 5 minutes add the flaked almonds too.

Chop half the coriander finely and add with the garam massalla. Serve with whole leaves of coriander and boiled basmati rice. Why not have a naan too?!

Student Cookery

Calzone

Butterscotch Sauce

Banoffee Cake

Aubergine Crisps

Land Lover's Fish Pie

A Fish Pie

Chilli Oil

Grove Tuesday!

Chocolate Pot

Plymouth Pad Thai

It's Not The Size...

Quick Chicken Curry

Superbowl Soirée

Seb's Salmon Pasta

What Is The World Coming To?

Garlic Butter

Massaman Curry

Devon Pasties

SANTA IS IN TOWN!

Easy-Peasy Pesto Bean Pie

Easy Peasy Pesto Bean Pie

Hey guys and girls, this is such a simple recipe, cheap and tasty! Great as a side dish if you are stuck for ideas!

Ingredients:

Beans - Butter, or plain old baked beans

Puff or Shortcrust Pastry (Use a packet, or follow a recipe soon to come!)

Method

Cover the pie with pastry and then bake until the pastry goes golden brown.

You could adapt this recipe to make lots of little individual bean pies, why not give it a go?

Christmas Shortbread Tree

Christmas Shortbread Tree

Chicken in a Bag

Chicken in a Bag...

Made from foil.

Chicken Tonight!

Chicken Tonight!

Erm...Cookies?

1st Of December!

Who's Feeling Christmassy?

G-dad Curry