Jamie Oliver Recipes: 2011

Friday, January 7, 2011

Finding the Right Hobby For You

Standing back from the daily rat race can be tricky, but taking time out to do something for yourself is important for your well being. We were interested to see what's out there that doesn't fall under the usual 'socialising', going to the cinema and reading' that usually graces people's CVs - here are some of the most interesting activities we came across which are sure to prove for fun, stimulating and which may even lead you down a new career path in the future!

Learn a foreign language: For you keen travellers out there, imagine how amazing your next holiday would be if you could engage with the locals in a cafe or the supermarket without any embarrassing, broken attempts at communicating the simplest things! Learning the local lingo can enrich every aspect of visiting a country, and you are guaranteed to learn loads about the culture, food and everyday aspects of that country - plus it's really sociable!

Become a pyrotechnic... This ticks a lot of boxes - it's got the 'thrill' effect, it's sociable as you work as part of a large team, it's creative and you get the buzz of a crowd's reaction to a display... and it's as detached from 'work' as you can get!! Some companies run pyrotechnic training days.

Under the sea... If you love being in the water and are curious about life under the sea, scuba diving is great for keeping fit, it's relaxing and can be a great string to your bow as you can gain professional qualifications along the way... It clearly lends itself to discovering some amazing places; Egypt, Thailand, Venezuela... the world is your oyster (or tropical fish, dolphin, lion fish... You only need Google your local leisure centres to find scuba diving lessons and you'll be diving in no time!

Become the new Jamie Oliver...Okay not quite, but if you have a passion for food - why not experiment, and even sell your fave recipes, be it, cupcakes, sushi or chutney and see where it takes you. Why not join local craft fairs, or spread the word amongst friends - just make sure it stays fun and doesn't become extra work... maybe even combine it with our next idea...

Be a writer - Literally, why not start up a blog on something that really interests you; music, food or tiddlywinks... whatever gets you excited. Take photos, comment and invite people to share their thoughts on your chosen topic. Updating your blog means you'll be motivated to go out there and find some great new material to add to your site!

These are just a few hobbies we think would be great ways to spend your leisure time - but this is only scratching the surface! There any so many weird and wonderful things out there to spend your spare time doing (and helping your CV stand out from the crowd!) - but we hope these have given you a good kick start to finding your dream hobby!

Sandra Blakesley
http://www.galaxy-fireworks.co.uk

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Jamie Oliver

Jamie Oliver is one of Britain's most popular chef's and personalities. But although his light-hearted approach and ready charm have endeared him to everybody, surprizingly little is known about this young man. Stafford Hildred and Tim Ewebank have approached Jamie's friends, family and collegues to produce a biography that shows just what makes him tick.

Price: $7.95

Click here to buy from Amazon

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Jamies Peas and Beans

Quite interesting to sit and watch Jamie Oliver on his gardening programme at the moment he is showing us the peas and broad beans that he has grown. Apparently everyone thinks you have to peel broad beans but Jamie says you don't need to do that when they are fresh.

He is now using a pestle and mortar to bash up broad beans, mint and peas, busting and breaking all the skins and mint, bruising the hell out of everything. When it's a sort of mush you add about three tablespoons of olive oil and some grated parmesan cheese. This makes a harmony that you've just got to scream about, so Jamie says. Have a little taste and appreciate the fabulous colour, keep tasting and add cheese and lemon juice until you get a good flavour.

You can serve it over a piece of fish or on toast. You can add a bit of garlic rubbed on the toast if you like then get a big lob of the paste and slap it on the toast. If you want to take it up a notch, tear a ball of mozzarella in to bits and put it on top then grill it.

You can also add some pea shoots which look beautiful. Raw peas in salad are a total luxury and also small broad beans with just lemon juice and olive oil dressing. Then sprinkle with more parmesan cheese to make a pretty green and white starter on toast or luxury snack.

Brian the gardener taught Jamie to grow peas and beans by first of all working up and chaffing up the soil then add some fertiliser which gives the beans a good head start - organic is best.

Then you dig a gulley with a spade and plant the seeds about 6 or 7 inches apart, a couple at a time - they don't mind that. 16 times 50 is 700 broad beans in a row. Put water in the gulleys and then fill over the soil so they're 3 inches deep.

Peas are even easier to grow. Make a 6 inch gulley, sprinkle the peas in and then fill the dirt over, give it a good watering. You can grow two crops a year.

Pigeons like peas so it's a good idea to build a twig wigwam over them so that the pigeons can't get them, because pigeons don't like twigs in their eyes and it also looks pretty.

Toads are good for the garden because they eat all the slugs and snails which is good for an organic garden that has no pest killers. Spice broad bean fritters is a recipe that Jamie says you will love and is the tops! Pod 250g of broad beans then heat some oil and half a potato in a pan and when the potato goes brown you know the oil is ready. Nice spices for it are cumin, cayenne pepper, teaspoon of each, half a chilli, finely sliced to give the blender a bit of help. This is a falafel type of dish.

Pulse the blender until the ingredients are mushy, add a little bit of flour, just enough to bind it for a crispy outside and juicy inside. Make quenelles from the mixture and drop them into the hot oil.

One can make them beforehand and put them in the fridge. A nice dip is made from Lemon juice, Yogurt and Mint. Jamie loves them and as he takes them out of the oil he says, 'oh my lord!'

Served on a plate with some fresh lettuce, a squeeze of lemon juice and some olive oil. He loves this type of cooking as this is what he likes to eat, together with a wodge of chili.

This is the account given by those who watched Jamie Oliver's Peas and Beans programme. If you'd like to read more about their television encounters just go to

Mister and MissesO and dexter cow