Spaghetti with sweet cherry tomato and basil sauce

This sauce tastes better than anything you can buy in the store and can be made while cooking the pasta. It’s really decadent and seems fancy but if you like the flavor of cherry tomatoes it can be very affordable!

15 minutes
Serves 2-3/ extra sauce for later

You need:
250 g cherry tomatoes
1 small clove garlic, peeled and crushed
Pasta
6-8 basil leaves, torn into 2-3 pieces

- Heat oil in a frying pan and add the tomatoes, frying for 2-3 min until the skins split
- Cover pan with a lid or with foil and cook for 4-5 min until soft
- Crush them with a fork or wooden spoon so the juices run out, turn the heat down, add garlic
- Stir and cook for 8-10 min until sauce begins to thicken
- Cook pasta in the meantime, drain and return to the pan
- Season the sauce with salt, sugar, and plenty of pepper; then add basil; pour on top of of pasta

TIP 1… You can add meat to this dish to make it fancier, such as prawns.
TIP 2… A spoonful of crème fraiche makes the sauce creamy! If you like creamy sauces you can do this with most tomato based sauces.

Barbecue chicken with 5 minutes prep!

This is a VERY EASY recipe with a preparation time of 5 minutes. Keep an eye out for sales on chicken breasts, and make sure you get free range! It tastes that much better. Steam some vegetables on the side for a full meal.

5 minutes prep/ 45 minutes cook
as many servings as you like

Ingredients: boneless chicken breast, barbecue sauce
First, defrost the chicken. Ideally this should be done overnight but in a pinch, place the chicken in a seal-able bag and run under a COLD water tap (if it is hot bacteria can grow). Preheat the oven. Next, make a small incision in the chicken so that it cooks through. Cover the chicken breast in the barbecue sauce and place in the oven for 45 minutes, turning it over halfway through. delicious!

TIP... clean your plates right away! nobody likes cooking in a dirty kitchen. then you start to think of where you can get fast take-out...

A very beginner's first meal

1. Scrambled eggs! (with cheese)
Scrambled eggs are a good first meal because you probably have eaten them numerous times but have never made them well yourself. This is a very easy way to introduce yourself to the joy of cooking and it will help increase your low level of confidence in the kitchen. Will not take more than 10 minutes.
Recipe: Heat a saucepan at medium heat. Crack two eggs in a bowl and whisk until the yolks are at a liquid consistency. Add a little salt and pepper in to taste, and if you like, a dash of milk. Place a dollop of butter in the saucepan and once it melts pour in the egg mixture. Cook the mixture over a low heat, stirring until it starts to solidify. If you like cheese, you may grate some cheddar on top. Once the eggs are no longer runny place on a plate and serve.
This recipe is the bare essentials... when you increase your cooking abilities you may add peas, bacon bits, tomatoes, whatever you like.
TIP 1... Remember, you almost always cook at a low heat!!
TIP 2 ... For your caffeine fix make some English breakfast tea! use your kettle to boil water quickly, then add to a cup along with a tea bag and some sugar. LESS THAN A MINUTE = better than coffee


2. Fried eggs over toast
Another variation. Add butter into saucepan at low heat, then crack the eggs in. do not touch! Wait until egg is fully cooked through and add onto toast.