I didn’t know that I could make omelette. In the Allcock family it is traditionally something that only my Dad makes, so when Emma requested it for her cooking lesson I have to admit that my heart sank a little. I wasn’t confident to make it up as I went along as I usually do so I dutifully scouted the internet for a recipe and came across one by Jamie Oliver – I reckoned that he probably knew what he was talking about so I went with using his basic recipe.

Emma and I added artichoke, bacon and olives to our omelettes which was delicious. The joy of this recipe is that you can add all sorts of things, and can do each one differently if you have picky people to cook for. It’s good for using up leftovers – I am quite tempted to make one with some leftover roast chicken tomorrow – and you can throw all sorts of store-cupboard bits at it to make it more interesting.

Basic Ingredients
For one person

• 2 large free-range eggs
• salt
• black pepper
• 1 small knob butter
• 1 small handful Cheddar cheese , grated

Method for a Basic omelette:

1. Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl with a pinch of salt and pepper. Beat well with a fork.
2. Put a small frying pan on a low heat and let it get hot. Add a small knob of butter. When the butter has melted and is bubbling, add your eggs and move the pan around to spread them out evenly. When the omelette begins to cook and firm up, but still has a little raw egg on top, sprinkle over the cheese.
3. Using a spatula, ease around the edges of the omelette, then fold it over in half. When it starts to turn golden brown underneath, remove the pan from the heat and slide the omelette on to a plate.

Method using added yummy stuff:

Follow the recipe above; but prepare the extra bits (some may need cooking first) and then when you get to Stage 3 put them on top of the cheese before you fold it over.

Some examples of things you might like to add:

• Mushrooms
• Ham
• Tuna
• Sweetcorn
• Spinach
• Bacon
• Onion
• Cooked chicken
• Courgette

Some of these will need grilling or frying first, such as the bacon, courgette and onion.

Please do share with me your omelette creations – I would love to know what weird, wonderful & delicious combinations you use!