The last week :-(

Hello everyone.  You did a cracking job on the doughnuts today.  I hope you enjoy eating them.  I think Councillor O'Brien enjoyed them didn't he?

Here's the recipe and photos as usual.  Also, the link to Delia's hot cross buns just in case you feel like you want to put your dough skills to the test.
Julie
http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/hot-cross-buns.html

Baked mini Jam Doughnuts
Makes 12

200g strong white bread flour

4 heaped tbsps caster sugar

pinch of salt

24g butter

1 tsp fast action yeast

1 egg

80ml milk - approx

4 tbsp jam

for the coating

6 tbsp icing sugar

4 tbsp cold water

160g caster sugar

1) In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar and salt then rub in the butter.

2) Heat the milk for 20 seconds in the microwave so it is hand hot. Add the yeast, beaten egg and heated milk to the flour (gradually as you may not need all of it) and mix until you have a soft dough (not sticky).

3) Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 5 mins, or until you have a soft dough. Place back in bowl, cover bowl with clingfilm and allow to rise for 1 hour in a warm place.

4) Turn on oven to 180°c /Gas mark 4.  Knock the dough back (re-knead it) then split into 12 equal sized balls.

5)   Poke a finger into the dough to make hole to the centre (or make a bowl shape).  Put in a tsp of jam.   Close up the hole.  If need be use a small amount of water to help seal the dough. Place well spaced on a lined baking tray.

6) Cover and allow to rise again for 30 min.

7) Bake for 10 minutes or until the doughnuts are risen and golden. Allow to cool for 10 minutes while you sort out the topping.

8 ) In a bowl mix together the icing sugar and water. Dip the doughnuts in this sugary mix first then coat in the caster sugar by sprinkling it over with a spoon. Allow to dry and cool before trying to eat them without licking your lips.

Pizzas on the third week!

Well done everyone.  You did really well today and those pizzas looked and smelt really good.  I could quite easily have eaten them.  Hope you enjoyed making them and eating them too. 

Kitchens were a lot cleaner this week so again, well done and thank you.

The recipe is below as are the photos (some are on their side for some reason even though I've saved them the correct way up so sorry about that). 

You don't need to bring anything next week for the baked doughnuts.

See you Saturday

Julie

Pizza recipe – makes 4 individual pizzas or 2 large

Ingredients

240 ml of warm water (approximately).  Not too hot.

1 tbsp olive oil

1-2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

400g plain or strong bread flour

1 tsp fast action dried yeast

Mix the dried ingredients together, add the oil and then using a wooden spoon, gradually add the water until the dough comes together (you may not need all of it or you may need more).

Once it is together and the bowl is becoming clean, take it out of the bowl and knead it for at least 5 minutes.  To do this squash it down and pull the dough away from you then fold it towards you and push down.  Repeat.  When you have finished it should look lovely and smooth and a bit like elastic.

If you have time, put it back into the bowl to let it ‘prove’ (rise) for an hour (cover it with cling film).  If not just go to the next step:  shape it into a pizza shape by making it into a ball and then roll it out into your pizza shape.

Allow it to prove/rise for 30 minutes on a greased/lined baking sheet in a warm place.

Toppings:

400g mozzarella cheese (100g per pizza)
2-4 tablespoons puree
1 teaspoon olive oil

herbs(optional)

Mix together tomato puree and a teaspoon of olive oil.  You can add some dried or fresh chopped herbs if you wish too.  Add a pinch of salt and mix well.  When your base is ready, spread this over the base(s).  Top with whatever you fancy on top and then sprinkle over cheese.

Bake at 200°C/Gas mark 6 for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Burger and Chips week - A visit from The Chair of Governors!

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed making your burger and chips this week.  Sorry it was so rushed in the end.

You all did really well and you will get quicker at chopping potatoes if you do it more often.  Don't forget to bridge your hand over what you're cutting to stop you cutting yourself.  Also don't forget to keep an eye on your burgers when you're grilling them.  Really important!

The only thing I would say is that some of you didn't clean up properly.  I had to clean sinks and wipe worktops.  If you want to cook at home you must ensure that clean up after yourselves or your parents/carers won't let you do it again!

The recipes for what we did today are below.  There's also a comment from the Chair of Governors - she was the lady who visited today whilst you were all crying over your onions!!

Homemade beef burgers and wedges – makes 4 x ¼ pounders or 8 small burgers

Ingredients

Burger:

500g minced beef (or turkey)

1 medium onion finely chopped/grated

4 tbsp breadcrumbs
¼ tsp salt and some pepper (up to you if you want more or less)

Optional: chilli powder; mustard powder or other herbs/spices

Wedges:

1 baking potato per person

1 – 2 tablespoons oil per person

salt

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas mark 6 or 7

Wash the potato(es).  Chop in half length ways (ensure you bridge your hand over .  Place cut side down onto a board and cut in half again.  Cut those in half again.  This will give you 8 large wedges per person.  Place into a bowl.  Drizzle over the oil and mix well with a spoon to coat the wedges in oil.  Place onto a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until cooked (small will be quick).

Using your (clean) hands, mix together the beef, onion (herbs) and salt thoroughly.  Split into 4 evenly shaped balls (or 8 small burgers) and flatten into burger shapes.  Don't mix it for too long as this can make the burgers a bit tough.

Place onto grill rack ready to grill.  Wash your hands thoroughly.  Grill burgers for around 15 minutes until there is no blood showing.

Serve burgers with chips.  You could also add a healthy wholemeal bun with some lettuce and tomato.  Perhaps some ketchup/mayonnaise – or your homemade sauce.

I have visited your course today (10th March), and it was lovely to see the interest and enthusiasm of all the students.  I'm sure the burgers will be very tasty!  Sheila Mann, Chair of Governors (RSG)

Yummy Chicken Nuggets

Well, it's the first week of RYA.  I hope you've enjoyed it.  Here's the recipes you created today.

Ingredients
Serves: 1
• 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast fillets
• 20g dried breadcrumbs
• 1/4 teaspoon dried herbs
• 10g grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/8th teaspoon salt
• 16g butter, melted
Cook: 20 mins

1. Preheat oven to 200 C / Gas mark 6.

2. Cut chicken breasts into 3 to 4cm size pieces. In a small bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, dried herbs, cheese and salt. Mix well with your (clean) hands. Put melted butter in a bowl or dish for dipping.

3. Put chicken pieces into the melted butter first and mix with a spoon, then coat with the breadcrumb mixture. Place well-coated chicken pieces on a lightly greased baking tray in a single layer, and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

I know we didn't get time to do this but have a go at home:
Homemade Tomato Sauce
Put ½ can tomatoes, a pinch of salt, half a teaspoon of sugar and some tomato puree into a pan. Cook for 5 minutes until it reduces then cool. Mash or blend. Adjust seasoning. You can add a little more salt or some herbs or garlic if you wish.

If you have any questions please post them here or ask me next week.  Hope you enjoy your week - see you Saturday (don't forget your roll if you want your burger in a roll).

Here's the photos we took today.  Well done everyone.