Looking For a Free Lunch?

I can't help with 'free', but I can certainly do you a pretty cheap!

I bet your cupboards are quite relieved that their sides aren't bulging anymore. 

They are undoubtedly revelling in the news that the Christmas and New Year celebrations are over and it's time to get back to normal (whatever that is...).

If you had more plates of meat (no, not feet, meat) than you knew what to do with, you'll probably still have some slices kicking around in the fridge in a sad wrapping of limp tin foil.

Have a go at making some funky flatbreads, stuff in some salad and a slap of spicy mayo and you can clear out the fridge too!

The recipe is so easy, you don't need a breadmaker, just a little kneading effort and if you get cracking now (10.30am), you'll be munching for lunch.

Are you ready - let's go...

Sling 8 floz warm water, 1 teaspoon of salt (I like using garlic salt - yum), a tablespoon of olive oil (don't use up the virgin, regular is fine) 3 cups of white bread flour and a sachet of dry fast action yeast, all in a bowl.  Slap it about it a bit, until it forms a ball, then knead it.  It's not technical, you don't need experience, just splat it on a floured surface, then using the palm of your hand, simply stretch it away from you and fold it back on itself and repeat. 

Have fun with this bit, it's a great way of letting your stresses melt away and if the wind is blowing in the right direction, you can even have a Patrick Swayze 'Ghost' moment, whilst humming the tune of 'Unchained Melody'.

Once it looks like a well formed ball of dough, cover it with a damp (clean) tea towel or with a sheet of oiled cling film, so it doesn't dry out and shove your bowl in the airing cupboard for about an hour.

If you haven't made bread before, don't panic, this is the bit where it gets bigger, so make sure your bowl can take it!

Once it looks like a football or thereabouts, take said 'proud' bowl back to the kitchen and professionally throw a bit of flour on a clean worksurface.  Grab a rolling pin or anything that resembles one (can of fizzy pop, lemonade bottle...etc).  Grab an egg sized ball of dough and roll it out, thin and round as you can (the thinner the better)...

Heat a large frying pan (ideally a cast iron one, but it's no big deal) until it's proper hot, then throw in one of the thin rounds of dough and jiggle it back and forwards using the handle for a couple of minutes.  Then turn it over and repeat.  Turn it out onto a warm plate and put a clean towel over the top to keep it warm while you do the next one and so on.

That's it!

Stuff with your favourite yummies, sit, eat and enjoy!

 (I'm off to get mine out of the cupboard as we speak and will post pictures on here later......)

 TS xx