Spaghetti Bolognese!

I was tidying the library shelves the other week and came across this cookbook which is tailored towards students. It has so many really simple, easy to follow recipes and I am loving getting to do a lot more cooking and learning to cook loads of different things.

Spaghetti bolognese is something that I normally do if I want a really easy tea that doesn't take a lot of effort to make. Also it is a good one to have in the freezer so you defrost and reheat it later when you want something really quick to produce.

There were a few ingredients that I left out or changed just due to personal preference. So I have included both what I used and what the recipe included. You can use either.

Ingredients I used (serves 3)

Olive Oil
4 Garlic Cloves (crushed)
1 Onion (chopped)
250g Mushrooms (sliced)
500g Lean Beef Mince
1 tbsp Tomato Puree
800g Canned Tomatoes
Mixed Herbs

Ingredients listed in recipe (serves 6)

Olive Oil
4 Garlic Cloves (crushed)
1 Onion (chopped)
250g Mushrooms (sliced)
1kg Lean Beef Mince
2 Glasses of Red Wine
900g Canned Tomatoes
2 tbsp Dried Oregano (optional)
500g Dried Spaghetti

Steps

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the garlic and onion. Cook for 5 minutes until soft.

Step 2

Add the mushrooms and mince. Season with salt and pepper. Fry for 3-4 minutes until the meat is brown.

Step 3

Add the tomato puree and stir well. Then add the canned tomatoes and mixed herbs.

Step 4

Let the sauce bubble on a low heat for around 40 minutes. check every 5-10 minutes to make sure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.

Step 5

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the pasta and stir. Simmer for 10 minutes. Drain the pasta then serve.

Thanks For Stopping By! :)

Disclaimer - this is not my recipe it is from 'From Pasta to Pancakes The Ultimate Student Cookbook' by Tiffany Goodall. Available here.

Going to University!

University is a very huge experience to go through and involves many ups and down. Next month I will begin second year and to be honest I'm still scared about what uni has in store. However I thought it would be good to share some advice to any people who are going to uni this year.

1. Don't worry. you will make friends!

As simple as this sounds, a lot of people worry about not having any friends when they go to uni, but honestly it's not that hard! I am the most antisocial person you will probably ever meet and even I managed it. So there's hope for anyone! I managed to meet all of my closest friends at uni within the first week. I have to say that Facebook is something that really helped as I was able to connect with people on my course before I even got to university. This was great so I could meet up with people before my first lectures and seminars, which really helped. Also it is the way that I was able to meet some amazing friends and I am so glad for that.

2. You will adjust academically

Talking from a personal point of view, I didn't really find the transition from A-levels to university that hard academically speaking. If anything I found it considerably easier than the transition from GCSE to A-level. However, I understand that not everybody finds it easy. If you have people around you who are supporting you through it then it will become more familiar. Don't worry if it doesn't feel right straight away.

3. The place that you now find yourself won't always seem so scary

I know that the city you will live in and the campus you will find yourself in will, at first, appear like a huge maze. However, trust me you will get used to it and eventually it will become second nature. My best piece of advice for you would be to leave plenty of time to get to where it is you have to you, especially in week 1. Also, don't be afraid to ask someone for help, as scary as that may seem.

4. You will definitely appreciate your parents more

From washing up to emptying the bins you will definitely appreciate how much your parents do for you. Also you will be so relieved when you go home.

5. Don't worry if it doesn't feel right at first

You won't feel at home from the word go and you need to give yourself time to adjust. However,  if after sometime you still don't feel quite right then don't be afraid to ask help or to tell somebody how you are feeling. If after a considerable amount of time you still feel similar then try to make steps in order reduce any issues you are having. For example, during first semester I hated living in student accommodation as I found it extremely isolating. Towards the end of semester one I was seriously considering dropping out of university. However, I chose to give commuting a try and I have to say I really enjoy it a lot more.

Thanks For Stopping By! :)

Scones!

This is the main scone recipe I use. It is from the Mary Berry Baking Bible.

Ingredients

450g Self-Raising Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
75g Softened Butter
50g Caster Sugar
2 Large Eggs
About 225ml Milk

Steps

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 220 degrees celsius/ 200 fan/Gas Mark 7 and lightly grease 2 baking trays.

Step 2

Put the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Then rub in the butter until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. After that stir in the sugar.

Step 3

Beat the eggs and then slowly add the milk until it makes 300ml in total, then put 2 tablespoons of this to the side for later. Gradually add the mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring it in until it forms a soft dough. It should be on the wet side.

Step 4

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and use a rolling pin to get it to a thickness of 1-2cm. Use a fluted cutter to stamp out the scones. Repeat until all the dough is used up. Place the scones onto the baking trays and glaze the tops of them with the egg mixture.

Step 5

Bake them in a preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, until well risen and golden. Allow them to cool and then enjoy.

Thanks For Stopping By! :)

British Tag!

I am very late to the bandwagon with this, but I thought I would do it anyway.

1. How many cups of tea do you have a day & how many sugars?

As un-British as it sounds, I actually don't like tea. Or any hot drink for that matter. Sorry.

2. Favourite part of your roast?

Sounding a bit more British now, but I love a good Yorkshire Pudding.

3. Favourite dunking biscuit?

As much as I hate drinking tea, I do still remember my mum allowing me to dunk rich tea biscuits into her tea when I was a kid.

4. Favourite quintessentially British pastime?

I have literally just had to google British pastimes, because I had no idea what to put for this! To be honest I still have no idea, but I would have to say I love being by the sea and going to the seaside, but I don't know whether that counts really.

5. Favourite word?

Thingamabob. Don't really know why, but I just like the sound of it.

6. Cockney rhyme slang?

From watching Eastenders I have a very basic knowledge of cockney rhyme slang, e.g. dog and bone is phone and apples and pears means stairs.

7. Favourite sweet?

Milk bottles every time!

8. What would your pub be called?

The Crashing Wave (first thing that came into my head!)

9. No.1 British person?

The Queen obviously!

10. Favourite shop/restaurant?

Probably Boots.

11. What British song pops into your head?

Life on Mars by David Bowie.

12. Marmite?

Awful!

Thanks For Stopping By! :)