HOW TO SURVIVE UNIVERSITY

It’s everyone’s favourite flat, dough-based combination of cheese and tomato! Making your own pizza is incredibly satisfying, and also very easy. This recipe serves four people.

Ingredients:

• 300g of flour;
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil;
• 1 teaspoon of salt;
• 1 teaspoon of fast-acting yeast;
• 100ml tomato purée;
• 1 crushed clove of garlic;
• 1 teaspoon dried basil;
• Cherry tomatoes;
• 125g of sliced mozzarella;
• Grated parmesan;
• Other toppings of your choice (e.g. pepperoni, olives, red onions… pineapple?).

1. Start with the base. Pour the flour into a big bowl. Pour in the yeast and salt, then stir together. Make a small hole in the centre of the mix (with the rear end of a wooden spoon), then pour in 200ml of lukewarm water. Then pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the same hole. Stir together until it forms wet, soft dough.
2. Once you have this dough, move it onto a floured surface (so it doesn’t stick!) and knead it for 5 minutes, or until smooth. It doesn’t need to be rolled into shape yet. Once smooth, cover the dough with cloth so that it doesn’t dry out.
3. Next, you need to make the sauce. Mix tomato purée, the crushed garlic, and the basil. At this point, heat the oven to 240C (fan 220C) or gas 8.
4. Now you need to roll the dough into shape. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to be incredibly thin in the shape that you want. If you find that you have too much dough, you can split it into two separate pizza bases. Once done, place on baking sheet(s).
5. Now it’s time to top the pizza. Pour and spread the sauce over the base until it covers smoothly. Then, cover with your cheese and cherry tomatoes. Add other toppings of your choice.
6. Then, place in preheated oven and let it bake for 8-10 mins.

Serve with olive oil.

Jacket potato is an easy, customisable meal which is great for when you’re not feeling up to cooking much. There’s a wide range of different ingredients which will be suitable as toppings, making this perfect for vegetarians. This recipe serves two people.

Ingredients:

• 2 baking potatoes (preferably large ones);
• 25g of grated cheddar cheese;
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil;
• 1 tablespoon of butter or margarine;
• Other ingredients of your choice (e.g. baked beans, tuna, bacon, red onions, spring onions).

1. Start by pricking the potato several times with a fork. Make sure you do this, as otherwise the potato can explode in the microwave!
2. Place the potato on a microwaveable plate and cook it in the microwave at full power for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, turn the potato over and cook for another 5 minutes.
3. While the potato is in the microwave, prepare your toppings. For example, heat baked beans in a pan.
4. Once the potato is soft, remove it from the microwave and cut an ‘X’ shape into the top. Then, push gently underneath to open the top of the potato.
5. Top the opening of the potato with butter and cheese. Then, cook in the microwave for up to one minute to melt the cheese.
6. Repeat entire process for additional potatoes.
7. Add toppings and serve.

This recipe is incredibly simple, quick, and tasty. You can also customise it with additional ingredients of your choice. This recipe serves 1 person.

Ingredients:

• 3 beaten eggs;
• 1 teaspoon of sunflower oil;
• 1 teaspoon of butter or margarine;
• Salt and pepper;
• Additional toppings of your choice, such as ham, cheese, mushrooms, peppers, or onions.

1. After beating the eggs in a measuring jug, season them with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a non-stick frying pan with oil and butter at medium heat until the butter has melted.
3. One the butter has melted, pour the eggs into the pan.
4. Then, lift the pan and tilt it gently from left to right, back and forward until the egg mix has covered the entire surface of the pan. Leave it to cook for a few seconds, then tilt again. Repeat until the egg has set.
5. Add toppings of your choice. Then, fold the omelette in half and serve.