Frosty the snowman.. was a happy jolly EGG.

YOU LIKE?

Impress your guests with these festive snowmen on your dinner table this holiday season, OR give some creative work for the kids! All you really need is something to connect the eggs with and peppercorns.


YOU BUY:

6 eggs

 

YOU HAVE:

0,1 carrot
Some peppercorrns
Toothpicks or something to connect the eggs with


YOU MAKE:

1) Boil the eggs for 10+ minutes (you may have to chop a tiny bit off them so they could be stood on a plate);
2) Cut the end of a carrot into two large and two small circles to form a 'bucket', then join with the top of the top eggs;
3) Decorate the eggs with peppercorns however you like and connect them.


YOU EAT:

1) With picks/peppercorns removed;
2) With mayo.

"Hassleback" potatoes, a.k.a. 'pimp your plate'

  

YOU LIKE?

This is the soul of the table: whatever you are making for dinner, this stylish 'tater' (in a very American accent) can either be a fancy starter or a gorgeous side to complement a main dish. Potatoes are well known for their versatility and this recipe resembles what you can achieve both aesthetically and taste-wise with very few ingredients.


YOU BUY:

5 medium size potatoes

YOU HAVE:

3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 tbsp oil
30 g butter
Salt and pepper


YOU MAKE:

1) Cut the horizontal side of the potato into 2 mm intervals almost all the way through;

2) Arrange the potatoes on a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits;

3) Put some butter on top of each potato, drizzle the oil and sprinkle some salt and pepper;

4) Bake the potatoes in a preheated oven (220˚C) for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.


YOU EAT:

1) With smelly-mouldy-blue cheese and a glass of red wine.

Pizza Margherita

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YOU LIKE?

Many will agree that this is the cheapest and most social dinner you can get. When I went to a shop I couldn't believe I could get all the ingredients for four (!) pizzas for just over £1. So you can now invite all your mates for dinner: Joey, Chandler, Phoebe, Rachel...

YOU BUY:

1 can of chopped tomatoes

500g plain flour

dried yeast

Mozzarella

 

 

YOU HAVE:

1 onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

A pinch of oregano

Salt

YOU MAKE (4 pizzas):

1) Mix half the 7g dried yeast packet with 300 ml tepid water;

2) Add the yeasty water to 500g flour and a pinch of salt, mix it for 10 mins;

3) Take out the dough and knead for 5-10 mins until less sticky, put it in an oiled bowl, cover and leave in warm place for 1 h to rise.

***Make the sauce while the dough is rising: Fry the onion with garlic for 5 minutes, then add oregano and chopped tomatoes, simmer until sauce thickens (30+ mins)***

4) Once the dough has risen, punch it to let the gas out and roll it under itself with your hands (like folding its sides into the middle - into kind of a mushroom cap shape), slice into 4 pieces and roll them out;

5) Put pizzas onto oiled dishes/baking paper and bake for 5 mins in a pre-heated oven (190 C);

6) Take them out to add sauce and mozzarella (and any other ingredients!) and bake for further 10 mins at 190c. Job done.

YOU EAT:

1) With a nice cold beer. 

Big fat 'Reeses' peanut butter cups [Mugs]

So you want to build some muscle?? Can't think of any 'healthy' desserts?? This may be of interest for you then! I fell in love with peanut butter once I tried reeses peanut butter cups and duuuude... they're the best thing since sliced bread (with a few other things in between).

One 'cup' carries around 300 calories, which consist of simple sugars, unsaturated fats and protein. You can have it post-workout or as a moreish evening snack without feeling like a fatty.

I made 6 large cups and had half a jar of peanut butter still left. Score.



YOU BUY:

1x340g jar of peanut butter;
2x100g blocks of favourite cholocate.

YOU HAVE:

20 minutes of prep-time and some common sense.


YOU MAKE:

1) Melt chocolate and fill 1/3 of a muffin case with some of the mass (I made cases from baking paper);
2) Put in freezer for 5-10 mins; remove and fill the other 1/3 of the case with peanut butter, freeze again;
3) Add chocolate as the final layer of the muffin case and freeze again.


YOU EAT:

1) Ice-cold from freezer;
2) In room temperature with a glass of protein.


TIPS:

For extra-extra protein, add a scoop of chocolate protein powder - it will be a pain to mix it though!

Roast garlic aubergine 'steaks' with sweet potato chips

YOU LIKE?

This recipe could easily serve two as a starter or make a big fat lunch for one. Very little preparation needed, tastes brilliant and costs just over £1.


YOU BUY:

300g sweet potatoes, cut into long strips.
1 aubergine, cut into 'steaks'.

 

YOU HAVE:

3 garlic cloves, chop them.
Salt, pepper, chilli (optional).
Oil.


YOU MAKE:

1) Make diamond shape cuts into aubergine steaks and fill gaps with salt, pepper, chilli and garlic. Rub with a bit of oil and leave 30 mins (or not - still tastes good).
2) Mix potatoes with oil, chilli and salt & pepper in a baking dish.
3) Place all items in a hot oven (200 C) for 30 mins.


YOU EAT:

1) With salad.
2) Without salad.


TIPS:

To save counting calories, bake aubergines in foil, with no oil. Rhymes with soil or to boil. 

Toasted pitta bread with garlic chickpeas

YOU LIKE?

The above words should be read in a 'Borat' type of accent, otherwise it doesn't make sense. Speaking of middle east, a nice hot pitta bread can love you looong time! This recipe can provide six small starters for working class or feed two hungry students.


YOU BUY:

Pitta bread.
Canned chickpeas, drain them.
A carrot, grate it.
A tomato, slice it.

YOU HAVE:


2 garlic cloves, chopped
Some flour
Salt and pepper
Oil.


YOU MAKE:

1) Coat chickpeas in salted/peppered flour.

2) Fry chickpeas, carrot and garlic in hot oil, until crunchy and brown.

3) Toast pitta bread and fill it with fried chickpeas and tomato.


YOU EAT:

1) With yoghurt.

2) With hummus.

3) With salad.

3-minute guacamole

 YOU LIKE?

Did you know that guacamole in some south American sexy language means 'mashed avocado'?
I wonder where the name comes from.. Oh, perhaps because it is just mashed avocado. So try my sexy fruit!

This simple yet mouthwatering guacamole will get your guests asking for the recipe and your phone number.


YOU BUY:

2 ripe avocados. Ripe just means they're soft, either green or brown.

1 lemon, a squeeze

1 bread roll.

YOU HAVE:

1 clove of garlic, chopped

Salt & Pepper


YOU MAKE:

1) Mash avocados with fork or other sophisticated tool.

2) Squeeze lemon, add chopped garlic, tiny pinch of salt and pepper.


YOU EAT:

1) With bread.

2) With friends.


Ay carrammba amigos!

Plantain chips with chilli mayo

Perfect starter for 1-2 people which tastes good and looks nice.  AND you have A GALLON of mayo left for other use...

 YOU BUY:

1 plantain, slice in 'coins'.
1 lemon, a squeeze.
2 tbsp mayonnaise.

YOU HAVE:

2 cloves of garlic, chopped
Some chilli
Salt & Pepper
Oil for frying


YOU MAKE:

1) Fry coins until lightly brown.

2) Mix mayo with garlic, chilli, lemon juice, some salt and pepper.


YOU EAT:

1) With beer.

2) With salad.

Celery peanut butter boats

YOU DON'T LIKE?

Odd combination, however it got me started to actually like celery! All you can taste is peanut butter...mmm. And this investment costing just £1,51 could serve over 10 people as a starter!


YOU BUY:

Peanut butter.
Celery.

YOU MAKE::

1) Cut celery sticks in chunks or boat shapes.
2) Add  peanut butter.


TIP: Add a raisin or a cranberry for a chewier taste.


YOU EAT.

Carrot and coriander falafel

YOU LIKE?

This mountain of falafel can feed two students or a small bear.


YOU BUY:

1 can chickpeas (400 gram), drain them.
1 red onion, chop it.
1 carrot, grate it.
Handful of fresh parsley, chop it.

It's eighty-something pence per portion... you do the math, I'll do the cooking!

YOU HAVE:

2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons flour
Salt & Pepper
Oil for frying


YOU MAKE:

1) Fry carrot and onion in oil to soften.

2) Mash together the fried mix with chickpeas, garlic, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper.

3) Dust hands with flour, form SMALL BALLS and fry until golden. (or bake at 180 C for 5 mins to save oil!)


TIP: 

If the mix does not stick, use an egg and some flour.


YOU EAT:

1) With cous cous.

2) With vegetable stock.

3) With cucumber.


Bon apetit!