Colouring pasta – When making fresh pasta there are many different methods to colouring it. The most common colours being yellow, red, green and black. Yellow pasta – just add egg yolks (this will also give you a richer flavour), Red pasta – boil 2-3 beetroots until cooked then grate them and squeeze out the juices and add them to your flour (as this is adding more liquid to the pasta dough, some extra flour may be needed depending on how much pasta you are making and how much beetroot juice you add), Black pasta – add a few drops of squid ink (your local fish-monger should stock this), Green pasta – wash some spinach and cook in a pot until wilted either chop finely and mix in with the flour for a speckled green pasta or squeeze out the liquid and add that to the flour, boiled and pureed carrot can also work quite well. Once you become a master of colouring pasta, start matching your pasta to the sauce – for instances if you making a prawn and clam cream sauce chop some dill and dried chilli finely and add that to you flour, mix in and once rolled you will have a lovely red and green speckled pasta that will enhance the flavour dramatically.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill - (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Wickedfood cooking school runs Johannesburg cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Cooking lessons are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these classes are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

Q: How long should pasta dough be kneaded for?

A: It all depends and what ingredients you use and how well you can knead. It could take a professional 5-7 minutes and a novice 30 minutes, if you’re using egg yolks or whole eggs, cake flour or double “00″ flour. All these things come into the equation when making fresh pasta, but just like making bread it’s all in the kneading and how dry the air is, so as long as you give it a firm “beating” it shouldn’t take long to get a nice smooth and silky dough.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Boksburg – (011) 823-5365 boksburg@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these classes are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

Q: Which sugar would be best used in banana bread?

A: I find that white sugar is the best for light cakes like sponge cakes and banana bread, there are many different types of sugar from white, brown, palm, treacle, yellow, etc… They all have interesting flavours and characteristics but certain sugars have uses for specific dishes and you wouldn’t want to compromise the flavours, that’s why white sugar is used in most day to day cooking as it gives the sweetness but has little flavour whereas Asian cuisine uses more palm sugar as it has a slight caramel flavour which adds a different complex flavour to sauces and curries.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Boksburg – (011) 823-5365 boksburg@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

Q: Can you please help us with a recipe?
EXTREMELY HEALTHY Food
We must cook this under 20 minutes
We only have a microwave and an electric pan

A: Although microwaves have become an integral part of most households, they are still largely underutilized. this recipe is for a simple Seafood Pilaf, but once you get comfortable with how your microwave works you can really start been imaginative with cooking fantastic dishes from delicious Thai green Curry’s and curried butternut soups to superb desserts like flop proof carrot cakes and creme caramels.

This recipe is from one of our Microwave Cooking course which we did in our recent Individual cooking class at Wickedfood Cooking School.

Rice, with a mixed seafood base of squid, fish and mussels. This dish is delicious served hot, or the next day at room temperature for lunch.

1. In a large pyrex bowl that will eventually hold all the ingredients, mix together the oil, rice and turmeric. Microwave on 900W for 1 minute.
2. Add the mushrooms, marrow, pepper, onion, stock and orange juice. ¾ cover the dish with gladwrap and microwave on 900W for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. Allow to stand for 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the fish and prawns, and microwave at 600W for a further 4 minutes, stirring halfway through.
4. Add mussels, squid and tomato, and cook for a further minute, adjust seasoning and serve.

Serves 2

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Boksburg – (011) 823-5365 boksburg@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. We offer a variety of Microwave Cooking Classes. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these classes are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

Q: I find that a lot of pre-made and fast food joints make burgers stuffed with all sorts of rubbish how can I make the best beef burger that doesn’t shrink and loose flavour?

A: Beef burgers are very easy to make at home and can also be much healthier as you know exactly whats going into them. When buying the mince buy the best quality lean mince you can afford, but with a little fat to keep it moist. The  jungle oats or breadcrumbs in the mix helps to retain moisture and keep the patties nice and juicy.

Next month at Wickedfood Cooking School we will be teaching a 30 minute meals class where we will be making these burgers along with Thai vegetable curry, chicken breast with feta and pasta, chilli steak wraps, penne with a rich tomato vodka cream sauce,and  fried fish with oven chips. A great class to introduce anyone into the kitchen or just to get new and exciting meals to make after a a long day at the office.

Mince patties
250g beef mince
1 egg
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup Jungle oats or breadcrumbs
1T tomato sauce
1/2T chutney
1t Worcestershire sauce
1t salt

1T grapeseed oil
4 round bread rolls
Tomato sauce (optional)
1 onion (preferably red), thinly sliced (optional)
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
4 salad leaves, washed and dried

Making the meat patties

• Combine the meat patty ingredients together in a large bowl ensuring that they are well mixed.
• Divide the meat patties into 4, place each portion of mince onto a board and mould into flat round shapes, about the size of the rolls.

Making the burgers

• Slice the rolls open and spread the base with a thin layer of tomato sauce. Cover with a thin layer of onion and tomato.
  The patties can be either grilled or fried.
  • To fry – heat the oil in a pan, and then fry the patties, in two batches, on each side for about 4 minutes. Keep warm.
  • To grill – heat the grill, and once hot, place the patties on a grill pan, lined with foil, grilling each side for about 4 minutes, until done. Keep warm.
• Place a meat patty into each roll, topped with a lettuce leaf.

Serves 2

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Wickedfood Cooking School Johannesburg runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and team building cooking classes these classes are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.