Watts Cooking: Deliciously simple recipes to inspire home cooks

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That's because things could've been very different for Jon, now 32, although he's proven that anyone can change their circumstances with the right attitude and application. I was practising the night before, I was making the dish at home and pretending I was talking so I wasn't going unprepared, but I've also done it in my head for the last seven, eight years. It didn't stop me being very, very nervous." Add both of the sugars into a large mixing bowl then pour in the melted butter and beat together until it is smooth. When I left school [at 16] I felt completely lost, a little bit let down by the school to be honest. I just felt like I had no guidance on where to go," he said. Melt the butter and the marshmallows in a saucepan over a medium heat stirring continuously until it is completely smooth.

Recipes - Chef Jon Watts - inspiring you to cook

I found myself hanging around with people that were involved in crime and all sorts of other nonsense and it sort of gave me a sense of belonging and a kind of purpose.

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But it was in prison that his life changed and he was given a second chance. He came across the Duke of Edinburgh Award and jumped at the chance to learn new skills and change his fortunes. Fast forward three-and-a-bit years and he became the first person in custody to get their bronze, silver and gold award. He hopes his inspiring journey shows that if you apply yourself correctly and demonstrate a willingness to turn things around then great things can happen. Finally fold through the white chocolate chips before pouring the mixture into the lined baking tin. In a clean bowl, melt the biscuit spread in the same way until it is runny, then drizzle all over the top to give a nice pattern.

Jon Watts Chicken Alfredo - Chef Jon Watts

Never stop believing in yourself," said Jon, who is hopeful of soon putting together a cookery book. "We as humans are all very powerful, every single one of us. We all have greatness inside of us. Sift in the flour and then add the cornflour, fold it together until you have a fudgy brownie like texture. Long story short, 18 years old, ended up in prison with a six-and-a-half year sentence. At that point I'd very much thought that was my life over, that I was never going to achieve anything because that's what's built into you when you're going through school and stuff like that. During the last year of his sentence he went out to work for one of Jamie Oliver's restaurants and eventually earned employment in Reading for when he was released. Don't give up and I'd say don't get frustrated. I think for too many young people, the way society is maybe doesn't fit them.A pinch yourself moment if there ever was one, and the appearance came 10 years to the day from his prison release. If you end up in prison you're told that you're never going to get a job and you're going to be in a vicious circle." When you go to school, you learn the subject and then the normal path is to then go to university and get a job and do this and do that. I think for a lot of those young people it leads to anger and frustration because they perhaps don't fit that mould. He added: "I practised a lot. I went there the day before and I did live rehearsals and the producers were firing questions at me left, right and centre as well so I was almost used to it. Jon's career has evidently gone from strength to strength and he uses his experiences to help youngsters today.

Sweet Chilli Chicken - Chef Jon Watts

This is something that I always knew would happen," he added, "but I thought it would be like I'll release a book and I'll be able to get myself on there. One of the components of the gold award is to learn a skill, and Jon opted for cooking as he was already working in the prison kitchen at the time.

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