Sam J Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Main Page

2026-01-04T11:47:43Z

SamWatkins: Protected "Main Page": Excessive vandalism ([Edit=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only autoconfirmed users] (indefinite))

This is my wiki, it is to allow me to quickly share information.

Of particular note are my [[Recipes]] pages.

I'm begining to pull together a [[Gardening]] section too!

HouseDetails

2025-12-12T09:45:55Z

SamWatkins:

Unique chalet style home, built in 2012, offering comfortable, spacious modern living. Triple glazing to north aspect and double glazing to the south, supplied and fitted by Anglia Windows. All heating controls are programmable via wifi comfort and energy saving. [https://samjwatkins.com/images/GradeB.pdf EPC certificate, rating B]. Fibre broadband providing 950 Mbps symmetric access.

4kWh solar array, Tesla power wall, and air sourced heat pump central heating provide sustainable, comfortable living for the 244m2 (2630 ft2) of floor space. All glazing is double glazed as a minimum, including the veluxes - the majority are now triple glazed. Air soured central heating is controlled by fully programmable system via web or phone app.

= On ground floor =
[https://samjwatkins.com/images/floorPlans/214355.jpg Architectural drawings] - not quite what was realised.

== Spacious entrance way ==
L shaped with access to all downstairs rooms and stairs to upper floor, with underfloor heating and zone programmable thermostat leading, [https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/HJgO2f313b6.jpg picture one] to

== Gym, 12'x7'2" (8m2) ==
Karndean oak strip flooring with feature boarder, underfloor heating with its own programmable thermostat. Window to back garden.

== Lounge, 30'8" x 18'3" (52m2) ==
featuring Kardean flooring with feature boarder, brick surround log burner with stone mantel [https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/OCnQ0g575h0.jpg Picture one] and granite hearth with up to date chimney sweep's certificate, [https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/HJgO2f313b1.jpg Picture two]. There is an opportunity to open fire up to enjoy the full inglenook fireplace.

Triple aspect double glazed windows and french doors with outside lights, leading to spacious back garden, [https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/HJgO2f313b2.jpg Picture three], and a set of double glazed triple patio doors to a private south aspect courtyard with LED lights and ample room for hot-tub and barbeque, [https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/HJgO2f313b15.jpg Picture four], outdoor power point available. Access to front door and parking area to front of house is provided by a wide aluminium gate, with secure lock.

Underfloor heating is controlled by wifi programmable thermostat. Four led wall lights and three central wifi controlled dimmable lights, all separately controlled. Double and glazed doors provide access to the rest of the house.

== Guest toilet, 5'5" x 4'4" (2.14m2) ==
Underfloor heated stylish room with half tiled walls, LED light and extractor. Triple glazed opening window to rear garden. Floating basin with combination softened water tap and floating toilet unit. [https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/OCnQ1c555f1.jpg Picture one]

== L-Shaped Kitchen/dinner and sitting area, 24' (at widest point, narrowing to 11'6") x 19' (at longest point, narrowing to 12') (34.3m2)==
Underfloor heating with wifi controlled programmable thermostat. Ceramic tiles on floor.

Triple glazed windows to front, and a triple glazed french door and windows to back garden.

Good range of units supplied by Magnet, American style fridge and Neff built-in wifi programmable double oven. Under-counter lighting and three zone LED spotlights throughout area. Four ring induction hob with extractor and space for microwave. Miele dishwasher. 1.5 sink unit with combination tap for potable drinking water and softened water for washing up.

6 seater dining table and lounge area.

There is easily room for an additional room for a second 6 seater table for entertaining.
[https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/HJgO2f313b3.jpg Picture one][https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/HJgO2f313b4.jpg Picture two] [https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/HJgO2f313b5.jpg Picture three][https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/HJgO1j363g5.jpg Picture four][https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/HJgO1j363g3.jpg Picture five].

A door leading to

== Laundary area and generous double garage, 20'x 16'7" (30.8m2) ==
Built in sink and plumbed in washing machine and condensing tumble dryer. Wall hanging heat pump central heating distributer. Fuse box complaint with 2022 regulations.

Four LED lights ensure usage throughout the year. Water softener and 300 litre hot water tank with solar diverter. Range of shelves and remote controlled garage doors. Solar panel meter and solar power diverter.

Featuring high powered electric vehicle charging point and second low powered one.

Softened water provided to sink unit, mains water to the washing machine.

Full service history available for the air sourced heat pump. Lockable door to rear garden.

= First floor =
[https://samjwatkins.com/images/floorPlans/214420.jpg Architects drawings] - not quite what was realised. Single upstairs zone for central heating, controlled by wifi programmable thermostat.

== Landing ==
With two triple glazed windows to rear and built in cupboard and craft area 11'4" x 7'2" (7.7m2, excluding cupboard). Wifi programmable radiator and wifi programmable zone thermostat.

== Master suite ==
a comfortable room to prep for, or unwind from, a productive day, featuring

=== Lobby area, 7'x4' (2.6m2) ===
(measurement is the walkway, excluding the cupboard space). Comfortable walkway featuring a bench, mirror, separately controlled light and LED lit double wardrobe leading to

=== Bedroom 1, 24'4" x 18' (40m2) ===
With four further wardobes, all LED lit, three three-drawer units and two bedside units. South facing double glazed French doors with a balustrade hosts a comfy sitting area with table. Pair of central LED lights and two led wall lights. Two wifi, separately programmable thermostat radiators. TV point and good range of sockets, including 4 usb charging points.

=== En-suite shower room, 12'4"x5'6" (6.3m2) ===
Fitted by Anglia factors, floating combination toilet and bidet, jack and jill sink units with built in storage and walk-in shower unit. Softened water to all units. Programmable heated towel rail. Dual aspect triple glazed feature window to rear and double glazed velux to east with blind.

== Bedroom 2, 17'2" (into dormers) x 13' (20m2) ==
Dual aspect triple glazed dormers to rear and front, two wifi separately controlled programmable radiators, triple fitted wardrobes and built in desk. Two bedside tables. Own loft space and en-suite. Space for arm chair and desk. TV point. Carpetted.

=== En-suite shower room, 10'4"x5'4" (5.3m2) ===
With dual aspect double glazed velux windows and blinds to front and rear of property. Tiled throughout, floating sink with storage, separate built in storage, double shower and traditional toilet. Heated towel radiator powered by air sourced heat pump central heating. Softened water provided to all units.

== Bedroom 3, 11'10"x11' (11.88m2) ==
wifi controlled programmable radiator and south facing triple glazed dormer window. TV point. Carpetted. Broadband access point and telephone.

== Bedroom 4, 11'6"x10'10" (11.55m2) ==
wifi controlled programmable radiator and south facing triple glazed dormer window. Used as office and spare bedroom. TV point. Carpetted. Fibre broadband point. Access to boarded, powered and lit, full height loft space running length of main house, circa 60m2. Easy access to fans for the bathrooms.

Built in double Murphy/[https://www.studybed.co.uk/products/majestic-studybed/ study bed], providing an amazing space for a teenager.

== Family bathroom, 10'x6'6" (6m2)==
White suite featuring generous sink, combined tap, p shapped bath with combination tap and hose, separate shower and curved shower screen. Standard WC and south facing triple glazed dormer window with privacy glass and blind. Air sourced heat pump heated towel rail. Tiled throughout. LED lighting. Wall mounted cupboard. Softened water provided to all units. [https://samjwatkins.com/inaframe/source/HJgO1j363g13.jpg Picture One].

= Outside space =
Private driveway with comfortable room for six cars with lockable iron gates and planted beech hedge and south facing rose garden to front with mains cold water tap and decorative lighting, leading to south facing private courtyard with power socket.

This leads to the large back garden with established beech hedge, lawn, fruit trees and plants and shed 8'x10' with patioed area to rear of house. A convenient and lockable gate allows access to the pedestrian crossing on Valley Road, with paved access to kitchen door. The patio leads back to front garden, through a lockable aluminium gate. Three flood lights provide all day access.

The plot is 725m2, with the house taking up 185m2. Parking space (excluding garage) is approx. 170m2.

Baked potato with fried onion and cottage cheese

2025-09-03T11:35:03Z

SamWatkins: /* NetApp */

[[Recipes | Other recipes]] | [[Recipes#Special_meals_and_treats. | Special meals and treats]]

= Baked potato with fried onions and cottage cheese =
A tasty meal for one. There are various techniques for this, but in the the UK with a 1000W (cat E) microwave, this is a simple and fast way to a tasty treat.

''I love purely microwaved baked potatoes in their skins. No charring, no burning, no hard bits. Just tasty, fibrous potato flesh and skin. If you like the charring, make use of the microwave with a preheated grill to give you the speed.''

== Ingredients ==
* 1 x 270-300g White potato.
* 1 medium onion, diced.
* 10g butter.
* 150g cottage cheese.

== Directions ==
# Wash potato. Put a couple of slits into the potato, place on microwaveable dinner plate and cook for 5 minutes at 1000W.
# Fry onion in the butter in a small sauce pan.
# Turn potato over and do a further 4-6 minutes at 1000W. Adjust for the size of the potato!
# Spoon cottage cheese onto cold dinner plate and pour onions next to the heap of cheese. Split potato and serve on plate.

A lovely hot, quick, low washing up lunch or lighter evening meal for one.

NB a different powered microwave will need the times adjusting, as will a smaller or larger potato.

(If doubling up, remember to increase the time. For 450g of potatoe, the time is 9 minutes, turn then 8 minutes, for example).

[[Recipes | Other recipes]] | [[Recipes#Special_meals_and_treats. | Special meals and treats]].

Cauliflower cheese

2021-07-04T13:43:07Z

SamWatkins: /* NetApp */

[[recipes | Other recipes]]
Originally from the cook book from my oven.

= Cauliflower cheese - serves 2 =
== Ingredients ==
* 2 baby cauliflowers
* 1.5oz cheddar cheese

Then a cheese sauce
* 0.5oz butter
* 0.5oz cornflower
* 5 floz milk
* 1ml mustard powder

== Directions ==
# Partially cook the cauliflower - I steam mine in a microwave: steam 1 + LOW microwave for 7 minutes
# While doing that, heat a flan oven to 200°C.
# And cook the roux: melt butter, add flour then milk, keep stirring.
# Put cauliflower into a baking dish and cover with cheese then power on roux sauce.

Bake at 200°C (fan oven) for 20 minutes. Optional, dust with nutmeg.

[[recipes | Other recipes]]

Cauliflower cheese

2021-07-04T13:40:35Z

SamWatkins: /* What are we delivering? */

Lasagna or spaghetti or taglatelli

2021-05-15T19:10:31Z

SamWatkins: /* What are we delivering? */

[[Recipes | Other recipes]]

= Home made pasta =
== Ingredients ==
* 200g 00 pasta and pizza flour
* 2 medium eggs
* 1.25ml salt (yes ml not tsps. 1/4 tsp is a little light).
* water only if necessary

== Directions ==
Mix all ingredients in the mixer with a dough hook until a complete dough is formed.

Knead together until smoothish. Place into fridge for 20mins.

Roll out to 4mm so can be feed through the rollers.

Roll once on "No 0" setting - the thickest.

On the slowest setting, roll through so that the pasta can be joined into a circle. Wind through going from setting 0 to setting 6 on the roller.

Now feed through the "spaghetti" cutter and hang to dry before cooking.

"Fresh pasta" needs only 2 or so to cook. It doesn't need salt to cook al dente and do not add oil until after cooking, if there s

Take out, fold and re-roll. Once at
See [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO35wyBIEFg Raymond Blanc making spaghetti vongole] from 5mins onwards.

Also see [https://www.kenwoodworld.com/uk/disasterchef-2016 Disaster chef 2016].

[[Recipes | Other recipes]]

Jelly

2021-05-15T18:53:22Z

SamWatkins: /* Bulgar wheat salad */

[[Recipes | Other recipes]]
= Jelly and fruit =
Again, making use of the microwave this time to cook a family favourite.

== Ingredients ==

* 175g tin of mandarins in juice
* 135g [https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/hartleys-orange-jelly/098203-50073-50074 Hartley's Orange jelly]
* 100ml water from tap

== Directions ==
Get a microwavable jug and cut the jelly up into the 100ml of water.

For a 1000Watt microwave, cook for a minute on high.

Stir in the jelly: if any solid lumps of jelly remain, cook for a further 10 seconds.

Open tin of mandarins and pour off the juice into jug with jelly solution.

Pour the mandarins into a glass bowl with a lid - this works really well for a frost free fridge!

Make up level of jelly, juice and water to 500ml and pour over mandarins.

Allow to cool down for 20 minutes then place in the fridge to set. Typically this takes 4 hours.

[[Recipes | Other recipes]] |

Hot chocolate fudge sauce

2021-05-15T16:59:02Z

SamWatkins: New page: {{:Events_2008_4_24}}

[[Recipes|Other recipes]]

== Microwave hot chocolate fudge sauce ==

This cooks really quickly, not least because we're using the microwave to do the heavy lifting.
Ingredients

25g butter
75g Soft brown sugar
30ml cocoa powder
30ml milk
5ml vanilla essence

== Directions ==

For 650Watt microwave Melt butter 1min. Stir in. 2minutes with the rest.

For a 1000Watt microwave, melt the butter for 20secs. Stir in and cook for 1min with the rest.

[[Recipes|Other recipes]]

French onion soup

2021-05-15T16:58:22Z

SamWatkins: New page: {{:Events_2008_4_24}}

[[Recipes|Other recipes]]
French onion soup

Based on french onion soup. This is more detailed for my food processor.
Ingredients

* 3 large onions
* 15ml olive oil
* 25g butter
* 1/4 tsp sugar
* 50ml vermouth
* 12.5ml cognac
* 500ml beef stock
* 1/4 tsp mustard(optional)
* 5ml bistow gravy granules
* 10g gruyère or extra matured cheddar cheese (grated, blade #3)

Directions
# Blade #4 and slice onions. This is the thin slicer blade, so if doing by hand aim for thin slices.
# Heat oil, butter and sugar and then add onions.
# Cook until caramalised.
# Add booze cook for 10 minutes or until liquid has evaporated
# Add beef stock, mustard and bisto, cook for 45 minutes.
# Serve
# Add grated gruyere or cheddar after serving.
[[Recipes|Other recipes]]