World Leaks

UP your jacket potato game with the help of Spud Man’s Spudtacular Baked Potato Cookbook.

The brainchild of TikTok sensation Ben Newman, known as Spud Man, this recipe book promises to transform the baked potato into a culinary classic with minimal effort and cost.

Georgie Glass / HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Ben, 39, runs his own jacket potato business from Tamworth, Staffs, with wife, Sarah – naturally, he calls her Spud Wife – and their nine kids.

Today Ben, who has 3.7million followers on TikTok, shares some of the secrets of his recipes with Kirsty Spence, for you and the family to try at home.

THE STEAK SPUD

THIS beats steak and chips hands down! And it’s much less fiddly and a bit healthier.

You can cook the steaks to your own preference, from rare to well done. Anything goes.

Add some chopped herbs, such as chives, parsley or tarragon, or sprinkle with some rocket or watercress. Grilled tomatoes are nice with this, too.

Serves 2

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

YOU NEED:

For the fried onions and mushrooms filling:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Knob of butter
• 2 large onions, sliced into thin rounds
• 200g button or chestnut
• Mushrooms, sliced
• 2 baked potatoes
• 2 x 150g lean rump or sirloin steaks
• Olive oil, for brushing
• 2 large knobs of butter
• Mustard, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce or bearnaise sauce
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD: First make the fried onions and mushrooms. Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan set over a medium heat and add the onions.

Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until they are soft and golden brown.

Remove from the pan and keep warm. Add the mushrooms to the pan and cook, turning occasionally, for five minutes or until tender and golden brown. Remove and keep warm.

Meanwhile, lightly brush the steaks with oil and season with plenty of salt and pepper.

 Set a heavy frying pan or ridged griddle pan over a high heat and when it’s smoking hot, add the steaks. Sear for two to three minutes each side for rare to medium-rare – longer if you like them well done.

 Remove from the pan and leave to rest on a chopping board.

Cut a big cross in the top of each spud and press gently on the sides to open it up.

 Add a big knob of butter and season with plenty of salt and pepper. Pile the fried onions and mushrooms on top.

Cut the warm steaks into thin slices and arrange on top of the onions and mushrooms. Serve immediately with lashings of mustard, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce or bearnaise sauce, or treat yourself to a combo of all four!

THE COTTAGE PIE BAKED POTATO

THIS is a sensational two-in-one recipe – and these spuds taste as good as they look.

You can make the minced beef filling in advance and keep it in a sealed container in the fridge until you are ready to go.

Serves 2

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 40 minutes

YOU NEED:

• 2 baked potatoes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 sticks celery, chopped
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 200g minced beef
• 200ml hot beef stock
• Handful of frozen peas
• 2 tbsp tomato ketchup (or tomato paste)
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp cornflour
• 15g butter
• ½ tsp wholegrain or Dijon mustard
• 60g grated cheese
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD: Make the cottage pie filling. Heat the oil in a saucepan set over a medium heat.

Cook the onion, celery and carrot, stirring occasionally, for five minutes, or until softened. Stir in the mince and cook for five minutes until browned all over.

Stir in the stock, frozen peas, ketchup (or tomato paste) and Worcestershire sauce, then season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer for ten minutes, or until the sauce reduces.

In a small bowl, mix the cornflour with a little water to a smooth paste. Stir into the minced beef mixture and cook gently for one to two minutes until thickened.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200C (fan 180C).

 Cut the cooked spuds in half and scoop out the flesh, leaving a 5mm (¼ in) thick shell. Transfer the flesh to a bowl and mash with the butter.

Beat in the mustard and grated cheese, then season to taste with salt and pepper.

Divide the minced beef mixture between the potato shells and cover with the mashed potato, roughing it up with a fork. Place on a baking tray.

 Bake in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes until the potato is crispy and golden brown.

TUNA MELT SPUDS

MY take on tuna melt toasties. Swap the bread for spuds and you’ll never look back.

 This will soon be a firm family favourite and you can knock it up for your tea with a little (all right, a lot of) cheese and some store cupboard staples.

 Serve this with a crisp green salad – cos or little gem lettuce, cucumber, avocado and chopped parsley.

Serves 2

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

YOU NEED:

• Two jacket potatoes
• 15g butter
• 60g grated cheese
•  145g tin of tuna in spring water, drained and flaked
• A few sprigs of parsley, chopped
• 4 tbsp tinned sweetcorn, drained
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 spring onions, thinly sliced

METHOD: Preheat the oven to 200C (fan 180C). Cut the cooked spuds in half and scoop out the flesh, leaving a 5mm (¼in) thick shell.

 Transfer the flesh to a bowl and mash with the butter. Season with salt and pepper and beat in most of the cheese, reserving a spoonful for the top, then stir in the tuna, parsley and sweetcorn. Spoon the mixture into the potato shells and place on a baking tray. Sprinkle with the reserved grated Cheddar.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes until the shells are golden brown and the cheese has melted.

 Serve piping hot and with the onion sprinkled on top.

THE THAI CURRY IN A HURRY

DOES what it says on the tin, this, for when you’re craving something spicy.

 I’ve used frozen prawns but you can substitute cooked chicken or extra vegetables, whatever rocks your boat.

Serves 2

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

YOU NEED:

• 2 baked potatoes
• 1 tbsp groundnut or olive oil
• 4 spring onions, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 200g (7oz) mushrooms, quartered
• 1-2 tbsp green curry paste
• 200ml tinned coconut milk
• 1 tsp Thai fish sauce (nam pla)
• grated zest and juice of ½ lime
• Large handful of basil or coriander, chopped
• 200g frozen raw King prawns, defrosted
• 1 red bird’s eye chilli, chopped

METHOD: First make the Thai green curry topping. Heat the oil in a saucepan set over a low to medium heat. Add the spring onions, garlic and mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for five minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender and golden brown.

Stir in the green curry paste and cook for 20-30 seconds, then add the coconut milk, fish sauce, lime zest and juice and half of the herbs.

 Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for eight to ten minutes. Add the prawns and cook for two minutes until they turn pink.

Cut a large cross in the top of each spud and gently squeeze the bottom to open the top.

Place each one in a shallow bowl and spoon the curry over the top.

Sprinkle with the chilli and remaining herbs and serve immediately.

THE LEBANESE CHICKEN SHAWARMA SPUD

THIS is for all the garlic fans out there. A kebab on a spud – that’s the stuff dreams are made of.

 Dead easy to make and absolutely mint. These spuds taste great served with a Lebanese salad, made with diced tomatoes, green pepper, cucumber, spring onions and parsley tossed in an olive oil and lemon dressing.

Serves 2

Prep: 10 minutes

Chill: 15 minutes

Cook: 10-13 minutes

YOU NEED:

• 2 baked potatoes
• 3-4 garlic cloves, crushed
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 250g (9oz) chicken breasts, cut into strips
• 1 small red pepper, seeds removed, thinly sliced
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 4 tbsp fat-free Greek yoghurt
• A few sprigs of parsley, chopped
• A good pinch of paprika
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD: In a bowl, mix together the garlic, ground spices, one tablespoon olive oil and the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and add the chicken, turning it in the marinade. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.

Heat the remaining oil in a griddle pan set over a medium to high heat and cook the red pepper and onion, turning occasionally, for four to five minutes, until tender and slightly charred. Remove from the pan and set aside.

 Add the chicken to the pan and cook, turning occasionally, for six to eight minutes, until cooked through and golden brown.

cut a large cross in the top of each spud and gently squeeze the bottom to open the top. Place each one in a bowl.

Gently mix the chicken and griddled vegetables with the yoghurt and spoon into and over the top of the potatoes.

Sprinkle with parsley, dust with paprika and enjoy.

The post Don’t be sad — pet photos are coming soon appeared first on VUMC News.

A MUM has revealed the battle between two celebrities when it came to naming her son – but her tot’s surname meant there was only one option.

Stacey Dolan, 33, and partner Jordin Gallagher, 30, are both huge Oasis fans.

John Kirkby - Commissioned by The Sun Glasgow

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But delivery driver Jordin is also a die-hard Hoops man.

So when it came to thinking up an appropriate moniker for their baby boy, Lennon and Liam were the frontrunners.

Lennon would even have two meanings – after former Celtic manager Neil Lennon and Oasis frontman Liam’s son, model Lennon Gallagher, 25.

But ultimately the couple opted against giving him the surname of former Celtic gaffer Neil, 53 – who, coincidentally, has a footballing son called Gallagher Lennon, 18.

Stacey, a carer, said: “The two names that I had in mind were Lennon, for the Celtic thing, or Liam.

“But Liam was just fitting.

“I call him my wee rock ’n’ roll star. When he came into the world he caused absolute havoc.”

Jordin — who was born weeks before the release of Definitely Maybe — added: “I love Oasis. My mum was always playing Oasis.

“People did tell me to call him Noel. But I just like Liam’s boldness and his cockiness.”

Little Liam Gallagher – who was given the middle name Jordin after his dad – is now one of 18 kids in Scotland named after the Oasis singer.

The four-year-old is the youngest to be named after the Live Forever star.

But the “mad for it” youngster from Glasgow, who regularly sings the lyric “in the sunshiiiiine” with Liam’s distinctive drawl — won’t meet a Gallagher under 30 called Noel.

In the three decades since Oasis released Definitely Maybe, parents north of the Border called Gallagher have shunned the name.

The trend has emerged weeks after the feuding brothers agreed to reunite for a tour that could be worth a reported £400million.

And Stacey did admit people are shocked when Liam, who is autistic, tells people his name.

She added: “They’ll ask, ‘Is that Liam Gallagher?’ And I’m like, ‘Aye’. And they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s brilliant’.”

The pair said their son is “mad for it” and constantly parrots a line from the hit single Cigarettes & Alcohol

Jordin said: “He’s very much Liam Gallagher. He shouts ‘in the sunshiiiiine’ all the time.”

The pair — who were unable to secure tickets for any of the band’s three gigs at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium next August — say they are not planning to have another child.

But Jordin joked: “If I had another son he would definitely maybe be called Noel.”

Since 1994, 1816 children with the surname Gallagher have been born in Scotland.

Hundreds of children have been given the name Noel – but with a different surname.

Thousands have been named Liam, which is a hugely popular baby name.

THOUSANDS of lucky customers will have their electricity slashed by 50 per cent this weekend.

British Gas will be be offering customers half price electricity at 11:30 and 1:30 on Saturday and Sunday with its Green Flex event.

Alamy

With Green Flex events, customers get half-price electricity when it is very sunny or windy and there is lots of renewable energy available.

This is in addition to its usual half price electricity on Sunday between 11am and 4pm for qualifying customers.

The scheme first launched in December 2022 but has been extended multiple times since.

British Gas uses its own forecasting to set the events to test the potential savings and impact on the grid with this scheme.

The discount is available to new and existing PeakSave customers, and all savings will appear as a credit on customers’ energy bills.

So far, British Gas has paid over £13 million to more than 650,000 customers taking part in the scheme.

Crucially, you can only sign up to the scheme if you have a smart meter that can send half-hourly meter readings.

Smart meters come with a display that shows your gas and electricity use in pounds and pence in real-time.

Their major advantage is that they let you more accurately track how your household habits affect your energy usage.

British Gas says if you don’t have a smart meter, it will install one for free in your home.

Other help to pay for energy bills

If you’re not with British Gas, Ovo Energy has a similar scheme which rewards customers for reducing their energy consumption during peak times.

Power Move offers customers up to £10 a month if they cut their usage between 6-9pm, Monday to Friday.

For example, by using the dishwasher in the morning or waiting until after 9pm in the evening to catch up on TV.

You might be able to get free home insulation or have other energy-saving measures installed in your property through the Energy Company Obligation.

The scheme is designed to help low-income households on certain benefits such as Universal Credit, Child Benefit and Housing Benefit.

The Government previously told The Sun households eligible for the scheme save around £600 to £700 on their bills each year after having energy-saving measures put in place.

You can find out more on the scheme via the Government’s website.

You might also be able to get help via the Household Support Fund which has been extended by six months until the end of September.

The fund has been shared between councils in England who then allocate their portion to those in need.

That means what you can get depends on where you live and can be a bit of a postcode lottery.

However, the help is usually dished out to those on a low income or benefits.

You should contact your local council to see what help is available.

You can find your nearest council by using the Government’s council locator tool.

MABVUKU - Ambitious Northern Region Division One League outfit, Scottland FC could be on the verge of making history in Zimbabwean football.

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