Fish Cakes

Serves 10-12

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

  Olive oil

  Usually the darker green the oil, the richer the flavour.

  • Extra virgin olive oil is good for drizzling on salads and should never be heated as this destroys the fine properties
  • Lighter olive oil is good for adding to bread, or to flavour a salad or marinade for chicken, meat, fish or vegetables. Lighter olive oil can be gently heated and added to marinades and baking.
• 50g spring onions, finely chopped
• 900g cooked fish fillets

  Fish fillets

  Keep a variety of frozen fish

  They defrost quickly and most can be cooked from frozen.

• Chopped herbs

  Herbs

  Ideal for seasoning pastas.

  To keep cut parsley or coriander, put in a hole free polythene bag with a couple of tablespoons of cold water, give the bag a good shake and keep in the salad drawer of the fridge. Herbs should keep for a week like this.

• Salt

  Salt

  Consider tablesalt, sea salt or crystals.

  Sea salt’s pronounced and salty flavour means less is required to season food.

• Black pepper

  Black peppercorns

  Best used as a condiment.

  They can be lightly crushed and used to spice up a creamy sauce or to coat fillet steak or chicken breasts.

  • Although it might seem odd, grinding black pepper over a bowl of strawberries enhances the flavour of the fruit.
  • Pepper that is pre-ground is not fresh tasting and often has other ingredients mixed in.
  • Choose the type of mill that suits you, and if you want coarser pepper you can loosen the screw on the top of the mill or crush the seeds in a pestle and mortar
• 550g leftover mashed potato
• Squeeze of lemon juice
• Flour

  Flour

  For pastry making or to thicken sauces, soups, stews and casseroles.

  • Raising agents are added to plain flour to make self-raising flour, used to lighten and give an airy texture to cakes and sponges.
  • Once opened reseal with quick clips or transfer to an airtight container or kilner jar. It will keep for up to 3-4 months
• Beaten egg

  Eggs

  Always have some on hand for quick scrambled egg.

  • Keep eggs in the fridge in their box and never eat them after their use-by date.
  • The Health Protection Agency recommends buying Lion branded eggs, which come from vaccinated hens and are therefore less likely to contain salmonella
• 2 handfuls bread crumbs

  Bread crumbs

  Made from leftover bread.

  Dry slices of white or wholemeal bread on a flat baking sheet in the oven – just pop them in when (or immediately after) something else is cooking. Leave to dry until completely crisp, when they will snap in half easily. Cool completely and whiz in a food processor or blender. Store in a freezer bag.

• 100g butter

  Butter

  Unsalted is better for cooking.

  Easy spread butter is ideal for sandwiches and toast.