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Four Simple Meals in Four Simple Steps

Posted: 11th March 2016 08:36

SALMON AND DILL FISH CAKES

Fish cakes are great and really filling, the beauty of them is you can use pretty much whatever fish you have lying about and they fry really quickly. You can also serve them with almost anything and they make a great alternative to less healthy battered fish while still packing all the flavour.  

1. Poach the salmon in a frying pan by pouring milk over it and bringing to the boil before lowering the heat and leaving for four minutes.  Then put it on a plate and flake into large chunks.

2. Meanwhile make some mash potato, boil potatoes for 10 minutes and mash for three, then add your choice of seasoning.

3. Combine the fish and the mash, mixing gently so the fish doesn’t break up.  Next shape the mixture into eight or more patty shapes approximately 2.5 centimetres thick.  Flour might help.

4. Dip the cakes in egg and press into breadcrumbs until all sides are covered, fry the cakes for 5 minutes on each side in half a teaspoon of oil and serve hot with potatoes and veg. 

TOAD IN THE HOLE

A hearty classic and one of the few culinary achievements we in Britain are proud of, everyone likes a good told in the hole because after all, sausages and Yorkshire pudding is a wonderful combination.  Make sure you serve it with gravy or your toad in the hole will frankly be an abomination.  The following recipe serves four people.

1. Make the batter/ Yorkshire pudding by combining 225 grams of flour with four eggs and 125ml of milk.  Gradually add another 125ml of milk whilst stirring until you have a smooth mixture.

2. Cover the bottom of a baking tin with oil and place eight sausages on it. Bake for about 10 minutes in a preheated oven.

3. Pour the mixture into the tin with the cooked sausages in it.  They should be three-quarters covered as the mixture needs room to rise.

4. Put the tin in a preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, removing when the centre has risen and gone brown.  Don’t open the oven while rising is happening as you risk the whole thing collapsing like the Greek economy.  Cover with gravy and enjoy!

PIZZA MARGHERITA

Everybody loves pizza, it may well be the greatest food mankind ever invented, and being able to make your own is a real thrill especially if all those takeaways are becoming expensive.  The best thing is the amount of options you have, thin crust or thick? What toppings? Tomato or barbeque sauce?

1. Make the base, pour 300g of flour into a bowl and add a tablespoon of yeast and salt.  Stir these in then add 200ml of water into the middle along with olive oil.  Stir together then knead for 5 minutes.

2. The sauce, mix passata or puree with basil and crushed garlic. Season as much as you want and leave to stand.

3. Roll out the dough very thinly across a circular baking tray covered in oil. Add the sauce, mozzarella, cheese, tomatoes and any other toppings you fancy.

4. Put the baking tray in the oven and leave to bake for 8-10 minutes.  The crust should rise and is ready when it browns and hardens. 

CHICKEN PICCATA

This could also be called jazzing up your chicken in a few quick steps.  We’ve all been in a situation where there’s chicken breast lying around and you’ve got no idea how to make it interesting, so it’s a good thing chicken piccata is here to get rid of this problem.  Super cheap and super easy. 

1. Slice a chicken breast into 3 cutlets, season it then dredge evenly in flour.  Cook for 6-8 minutes on each side in a frying pan with oil.

2. Transfer chicken to a platter and add mushrooms to the pan, stirring until they are brown and cooked.  Should take 5 minutes.

3. Pour white wine and lemon juice into the pan, and add capers and stock, stirring in butter until a sauce comes together.

4. Pour the contents of the pan over the chicken and garnish how you like. Serve with vegetables and potatoes or both.  

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