hey guys,

felt i must post here, coming from a large family with older generation parents, cooking was an important part of our childhood so thought i'd share some recipes.

Quick Easy Italian Style Pizza.

Italians use very thin pizza bases, and very large pizzas, thus the dough doesnt need to proof, its easier to get the thin base this way

Makes 2 pizza's
Total Time: 15-20 minutes preparation - 12 minutes cooking

Ingredients
Base:
300g White bread flour
1tsp Salt
1tsp Quick action yeast
1tbsp Olive oil
200ml warm water.

Tomato base:
200ml Organic Passata
handful fresh basil, finely chopped
clove (or 2) of garlic, finely chopped

Topping:
60g grated parmesan cheese (30g for each pizza)
125g ball mozzaralla
basil (optional)

(you can add any other toppings often i add sliced onion..yummy)

1. preheat oven to 220 degrees
2. place flour, salt yeast into a bowl and mix well together, make a well in the middle and add the water and oil.
3. mix with a wooden spoon until you get a slightly wet ball of dough. turn out onto a well floured surface and kneed for 5 minutes.
4. put the dough back into the bowl and place to one side. measure out the passata, chop the basil and garlic, add to the passata and mix well.
5. flour the work surface well, take the dough and cut in half. roll each part into a thin 25cm circle and place on the pizza tray. (if you have issues making it the right size, roll out to the best you can, then place on the tray and use a round glass to reach the sides)
6. here you can place the base into the over for 5 minutes, but it doesnt matter if you dont. spread the tomato base over the dough.
7. sprinkle over the cheese. drain and slice the mozzarella in place half randomly on each pizza add any other toppings you want here too.
8. cook for 10-12 minutes.
9. enjoy!

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Tomato Soup

great with fresh, crusty bread and damn easy to make!

cooking time 40 minutes

Ingredients
1 large onion roughly chopped
400g tin of chopped tomatoes
1pint vegetable stock (oxo gravy cubes make a nice one)
1tbsp tomato puree
few basil leaves
salt and pepper

1. heat 1tbsp olive oil on medium heat, add the onions and cook for 10 minutes, or, until soft
2. add the Tomatoes, Stock, Puree, Basil, and seasoning to the onions
3. simmer for 30 minutes.
4. leave to cool for 5 minutes, put through a blender and whizz until smooth (less time to make it more "rustic")
5. bring back to the boil and enjoy!

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Oaty Parkins

childhood favourite
Maks approx 24 biscuits
Preparation Time: 15 mins - Cooking Time: 10-15 mins

Ingredients (sorry about the cup measurements, never taught to make it with grams/ounces!)

1 cup flour
2 cups Oats
1 Cup Sugar
4oz Butter
1tsp bicarbinate of soda
1tsp ginger
1tbls Golden Syrup

1. preheate oven to 180 degrees
2. melt the butter and syrup in large pan, then stir in the bicarbinate of soda
3. take off the heat and add the dry ingredients, mix into a dough
4. break of mixture and roll into balls, place on a greased baking tray and flatten slightly
5. place in the oven for 10-15 minutes
6. leave on trays to cool for a little while, then turn onto cooling rack

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ok this is all for now, i'll pick up some more later on for you guys, i have some vegetarian recipes if anyone would like them, like shephards pie, spaghetti bolognese etc.

Ooo sounds yummy thanks