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Subject Focus Week – Hospitality and Catering: Students’ top lockdown recipes
As part of Subject Focus Week, we asked catering students to share their top recipes to try this week. These are the tasty dishes they were making all through lockdown, to raise spirits in their family homes.
Have a go at creating the dishes yourself and post a picture to the college social media accounts so we can share. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #lockdownrecipes
Lewis Bailey – Ham & cheese pinwheels
Ingredients:
• 8 slices of ham
• 140g grated mature cheddar cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 roll of puff pastry
Method:
1. Get all ingredients out and ready, weigh the cheese.
2. Roll out puff pastry.
3. Place the slices of ham all over the pastry to cover it.
4. Sprinkle over the cheese to cover the pastry.
5. Roll up the pastry from one side all the way to the other side.
6. Cut equal slices, about 2cm a slice.
7. Place the pinwheels on a baking tray with greaseproof paper on it.
8. Crack egg in bowl and whisk.
9. Brush the pinwheels with egg.
10. Place in oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Rhomanie Adelle Pamenter - Penne Ragu al Forne
Ingredients ( serves 4 people):
• 480g beef mince
• 2 carrots
• 400g penne pasta
• 2 cartons chopped tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons of tomato puree
• 2 cloves garlic
• Half a red onion
• 100ml red wine
• 2 balls of mozzarella
• 40g grana pandano
• Small bunch of chives
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 200 C. Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to the boil. Meanwhile heat a large frying pan on a medium heat. When hot, add beef mince and cook until brown – about 5 minutes. Drain any excess fat from pan and add crushed garlic and red onion finely chopped.
2. Meanwhile, trim the carrot (remove top and bottom) and grate. Add penne to boiling water and cook for 12 minutes. When cooked, drain in a colander, place back into pan with a small drizzle of oil to stop the pasta sticking together. Once mince is browned, add carrots, stir then add tomato puree. Cook, whilst stirring for another minute.
3. Pour the chopped tomatoes into the mince, along with the red wine, bring to the boil and stir to incorporate the wine, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Whilst the sauce is reducing, finely chop chives. Also get some washing up done!
5. Once sauce has thickened, stir sauce and pasta together along with half the chives and transfer to an ovenproof dish. Drain mozzarella and tear into pieces. Scatter over the top of the pasta then sprinkle over the gran pandano. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly - about 10 minutes.
6. Serve sprinkled with remaining chives.
James Rose – Banana bread
Ingredients:
• 100 g softened butter
• 175 g caster sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 225 g self–raising flour
• 1 level teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons milk
• A handful of walnuts
Method:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 C, lightly grease a 900g loaf tin then line the base and sides with baking parchment.
2. Measure all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat for about two minutes, until well blended. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and level the surface.
3. Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 1 hour, until well risen and golden brown. A fine skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes then turn out, peel off the parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack. Slice thickly to serve.
For more information about Hospitality and Catering courses at the college, visit https://www.southessex.ac.uk/hospitality-catering
Success stories
My confidence has boosted massively and my work is recognised here. Last year I won who wants to be an entrepreneur and student of the year in business and logistics
South Essex College Group student, Chloe Wade, has been accepted as an Apprentice Marketing Executive for the BBC in White City.
Chloe is currently studying Level 3 Interactive Digital Media. She previously studied business at the college before swapping over to the Digital Media course. Other colleges didn’t supply the course she was looking for, and she felt that South Essex College Group provided the perfect environment and location to suit her needs.
Chloe applied for the apprentice position on Boxing day in December 2022 after finding the advert on Indeed. The interview process took six months and there were six different stages of the interview. Originally, there was supposed to be only five stages, however towards the end on the interview process it was whittled down to Chloe and another candidate so the BBC added an extra interview on top. The role is for a Marketing Executive Level 4 for 18 months, as well as being full-time with one day-a-week apprentice study through the online external provider.
When asked about the support from tutors, Chloe said: “They were all so encouraging, as each stage went on I informed my tutors. Darren who teachers audience theory, was so interested and excited, he was helping me prepare for everything and teaching me certain areas such as core values to put me ahead of everyone. They were so supportive, and I don’t think I would of got this far without their help.”
Chloe enjoys the flexibility at the college and secured work experience at which she created content for a zen and holistic company. She said: “The college offers such a variety of courses and freedom.
“The courses are structured, but you get freedom as well, for example for my final project I chose to rebrand a cosmetic palette, where as another student created a music video. You all have the same criteria but freedom too. If you are worried, try it and give it a shot, the opportunities here are so wide.”
She added: “My confidence has boosted massively and my work is recognised here. Last year I won who wants to be an entrepreneur and student of the year in business and logistics. My work recognised given me a boost. I work really hard and I’m so proud of how far I have come. The college appreciates you as an individual and gives you praise when you do work really hard.”
Chloe hopes to have her own business one day, in marketing, doing social media and content creating. As well as hoping to study Level 5 and 6 at the BBC.
Ethan hopes to produce music in games production as a career and performs rap and hip hop as well as his studio work. His final message to anyone struggling with autism or any mental health issue is: “Remember it’s okay to be not okay.”
South Essex College student Ethan Khumalo, 20, from Southend on Sea has taken part in a BBC documentary series ‘Inside Our Autistic Minds’, which is presented by wildlife expert Chris Packham who himself lives with autism.
Ethan studies Games Design at the college’s Centre for Digital technologies in Basildon and has progressed from a Level 2 course through to currently studying for a degree. Ethan was asked to participate through his involvement in the Anna Kennedy Online charity which aims to raise autism awareness.
Ethan said that he enjoyed the whole filming process and that Chris Packham was really down-to-earth. He commented: “I learned a lot about how TV crews work and really got along with Chris. I am really excited about the show.”
Talking of his autism, Ethan explained that he prepared in advance before attempting his studies. He said: “With autism and other mental health issues preparation makes you feel more comfortable and you have to make the best of your abilities. You have good days and bad days the same as anyone but personally, If I have moments where it doesn’t go so well, music helps me.”
Ethan’s tutor, Rama Maccha said: Ethan is a dedicated and committed student who never misses a deadline. He is wonderful with sound and has helped younger students with their projects.”
Rathi Raman, the Head Basildon Town Centre Campus (BTC) would like to thank all the staff and students who volunteered to take part in this filming, and to the Estates team at Basildon Campus for providing hospitality to Chris Peckham and the BBC crew on the day of filming.
Ethan hopes to produce music in games production as a career and performs rap and hip hop as well as his studio work. His final message to anyone struggling with autism or any mental health issue is: “Remember it’s okay to be not okay.”
To watch the episode, follow the below link:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001jgbw/inside-our-autistic-minds-series-1-episode-2
For more information on the Anna Kennedy charity, visit the below:
Celebrating Success 2022: Maison Lundrigan
Course studied
It’s a great college, especially for people with disabilities. The support I received from my tutor Charlie was brilliant. I really enjoyed the practical, hands-on aspect of the course.
Maison Lundrigan was named Motor Vehicle Student of the Year for his dedication and the consistent hard work he put into his studies.
The 18-year-old was praised for the high quality of his work and the fact that he was the first to pass his online exams.
He has excelled during his time at the college, so much so, he is now embarking on a three-year apprenticeship programme at the college.
Maison has achieved all this despite living with additional needs.
He said it felt ‘brilliant’ to win the award and ‘it’s made me realise that I can achieve even with my disability.’
He added: “I chose the college because it offered the right course for me.
“It’s a great college, especially for people with disabilities. The support I received from my tutor Charlie was brilliant. I really enjoyed the practical, hands-on aspect of the course.”
Maison is now looking forward to his apprenticeship so he can pursue his dream of becoming a car mechanic.
His tutor said: “He is a pleasant and well-mannered young man that any college or employer would be pleased to have. Maison has a very bright future ahead of him.”
