Take Out at Home

Instead of having take out - fake it a little and save yourself a lot of money.

Make your own Take Out

• Pizza bases

  (makes 4 large pizzas)

  
  

  6,5 cups flour

  1 packet of instant yeast

  3tbsp oil

  1 tsp salt

  1 tbsp sugar

  3 cups of lukewarm water

  Sift all the dry ingredients together and make a well in the centre. Mix half the lukewarm water with the oil, pour it in and slowly mix it into the flour by adding the flour from the sides. Add the rest of the water and mix to form sticky dough.

  Place the dough on a floured surface and knead it well for about 10 to 15 minutes until it is resembles play dough (smooth and manageable)

  Lightly rub oil onto the inside of a bowl and place the dough inside. Cover it with a tea towel and place it in a warm spot (in the sun or in a warmer draw) for about half an hour, where it will rise.

  Preheat the oven to about 220deg C, with the oven grill on.

  Roll the dough into 4 thin bases and place them on baking trays. Spread each base with tomato sauce and add your toppings of choice or try these easy pizza toppings.

  Sprinkle a bit of oil on top of the pizzas and bake them each for 10 minutes until the crust is nice and crisp.

  
  
  

  TOMATO SAUCE

  30ml oil

  4 tomatoes, peeled and chopped and 1 onion, finely chopped

  OR 1 tin tomato and onion mix

  10ml fresh, crushed garlic

  30 ml home-made tomato sauce

  5ml sugar

  10ml mixed herbs or dried basil

  1 bay leaf

  Fry the garlic and onion in a frying pan until translucent. Add the tomato, sugar and herbs and cook it for a further 10 minutes.

  Thicken the sauce slightly with a bit of corn flour.

  Start off by mixing a heaped tbsp of corn flour with a little bit of water and add it to the sauce.

  Cook it for a further 5 minutes. If you think it needs further thickening, then you can add more corn flour but be careful not to overdo it.




• Hamburgers and Chips

  
  These quick and easy burgers are something that I make when I feel really lazy - usually this is on a Friday.

  500g minced meat (Beef or Lamb)

  50ml brown sugar

  1 beaten egg

  100ml oats

  Salt and pepper to taste

  Mix all the above ingredients together, add more oats if necessary. Form into 5 hamburger patties and fry in shallow oil on medium heat. Or place hamburger patties approximately 100mm from the oven element for approximately 15 minutes.

  Serve on a roll with a slice of tomato, lettuce, cheese and bbq sauce.

  
  

  BBQ SAUCE

  1 finely chopped onion

  10ml oil

  5ml mild curry powder

  30ml chutney

  30ml tomato sauce

  20ml Worcester Sauce

  Fry onion in the oil until translucent. Add curry powder and fry for a few more minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

  Peel four large potatoes and cut them into French fries. Deep fry the potatoes in very hot oil until crispy.




• Stir-fry

  
  

  4 Chicken Breasts, cut into blocks

  2 baby marrows (courgettes) cut in long thin strips julienne style

  2 large carrots, cut in long thin strips

  1/2 a small cabbage, thinly sliced

  1 small green or red pepper, thinly sliced

  2 tbsp crushed garlic and ginger

  oil for cooking

  1 tbsp

  1/2 a cup of wine (red or white)

  1 Pineapple cut into strips (optional)

  100g of toasted, salted peanuts (optional)

  Rocket leaves

  
  

  Stir-fry sauce

  1/2 cup sweet chilli sauce

  1/4 cup fish sauce

  juice of 1/s a lemon

  1 tbsp brown sugar

  Heat the oil and fry the chicken until golden and season it to taste. Add the vegetables, and wine and cook over low heat for approximately 15 minutes.

  Mix the stir fry sauce ingredients together and add it to the stir-fry. Cook it until caramelised, lower the heat and add the pineapple until heated through.

  Remove the pan from the stove top, add the peanuts and stir it through.

  Serve your stir-fry with rice and rocket leaves sprinkled on top.

  serves 4




• Chicken drum sticks

  
  

  200ml chicken stock

  2 Tbsp soy sauce

  4 Tbsp tomato sauce

  8 chicken drum sticks

  1 cup fresh bread crumbs

  Chicken spice

  2 tsp crushed garlic

  Mix the stock, tomato sauce, garlic and soy sauce together. Place the drumsticks in an oven proof dish and pour the sauce over.

  Cook the chicken in the oven at 180deg C for about 30 minutes, turning it once.

  Remove the chicken with tongs, sprinkle with the chicken spice and roll each drumstick in the breadcrumbs.

  Place it in a baking tray and grill the drumsticks for 15 minutes, turning once until golden.




• Fish and Chips

  
  450g firm white fish fillets

  1 well beaten egg

  Sea Salt

  Cake flour

  Rub sea salt on both sides of the fish, dip each one in the egg, allow it to drip off and roll the fish in cake flour.

  Heat oil in a large frying pan and fry the fish with a bit o garlic or ginger for about 15 minutes, turning half way.

  Serve with chips or salad.

  For an Oriental flavour, pour soy sauce over the fish and serve with fresh coriander leaves and spring onion chopped into rice or couscous.