Paella

serves 4

200g long grain rice
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
1 clove garlic crushed
1 tsp paprika
1/2 red pepper diced
400g tin chopped tomatoes
500ml chicken stock
1tbsp tomato puree
170g cooked prawns
170g cooked chicken
60g frozen peas

1) Rinse the rice in a colander and leave to one side to drain
2) Heat the oil in a frying pan and saute the onion until soft (about 5 mins)
3) Add the crushed garlic, paprika pepper and rice. Stir continually for 3 mins
4) Add the tin tomatoes and stock. Simmer for about 15 mins until the rice is tender.
5) Add the prawns, peas and chicken and mix well. Cook for another 2 mins before serving.

Chicken and sweetcorn chowder

serves 4

1 tbs butter
5 spring onions finely chopped
1 medium potato, peeled and diced into small chunks
400g sweetcorn (tin or frozen)
650ml chicken stock
6 tbsp double cream
50g shredded cooked chicken
1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)

1) Melt the butter and saute the onion for a minute or two.
2) Add the potato, sweetcorn and stock, bring to a simmer and cook until potato is soft
3) Blend half this mixture until smooth
4) Return it to the pan and add the double cream.
5) Season to taste and add in the chicken.
6) serve with a little parsley garnish.

Mapel & Oatmeal Loaf

makes 1 large loaf

1 and 3/4 cups water
3 tbsp maple syrup
4 and 1/2 cups strong white bread flour
1 cup wholemeal bread flour
2/3 cup rolled oats
3 tbsp oat bran
1 and 1/2 tsp salt
1 and 1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 and 1/2 tsp easy-blend dried yeast

1. Place all ingredients into bread maker in the order listed and select basic/normal setting.

Pizza Dough

Makes 2 x 12" bases

1 and a 1/4 cups of water
4 cups strong white bread flour
2 tbs olive oil
1 and a 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp easy-blend dried yeast

1. Place all ingredients in the same order into bread maker and start on dough setting (aprox 1 and a half hours.
2. Once the cycle as complete, Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knock back gently.
3. Set oven to 220 degrees. Prepare 2 trays
4. Divide the mixture into 2, and with each piece roll it out to aprox 12" circle.
5. Pizza is ready for toppings.
6. Bake in the oven for 15-20 mins...serve immediately.

Suggested toppings

• blitz a jar of sun dried tomatoes in olive oil and herbs with a tin of chopped tomatoes for a base sauce
• tandoori chicken, sweetcorn, pineapple, cheese
• chili beef, onions, peppers, cheese

Banana chip cookies

makes aprox 24 cookies

2 and a 1/4 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla essence
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
2/3 cup banana chips roughly chopped

1. line 2 baking trays, preheat oven to 180 degrees.
2. Sift all the dry ingredients together.
3. Beat the butter and sugar until lights and fluffy.
4. Beat in eggs one at a time with a tablespoon of the flour mixture.
5. Stir in Vanilla, walnuts, chocolate chips & banana chips.
6. Fold in the rest of the flour mixture.
7. Drop tablespoons of the mixture onto the baking trays about 2" apart to allow for spreading.
8. Cook for 8-12 mins until golden brown.

tip:You can freeze batches of uncooked cookie dough to use another day. Freeze tablespoons of the mixture on greaseproof paper for 30 mins, then transfer the cookie dough into freezer bags until ready to cook.

Oreo Truffles

3 cups Oreo cookie crumbs
2 tubs cream cheese
2 and a half cups milk chocolate chips
sprinkles

1. Melt the chocolate and take off the heat
2. Add the cream cheese and mix thoroughly
3. Add the Oreo crumbs and mix until fairly smooth. the mixture should be stiff. If not add more Oreo crumbs.
4. Form the mixture into balls and roll in the sprinkles
5. Place the truffles into paper cases
6. Store in the fridge and serve slightly chilled