Fish and Cake?!

The best things come in twos:
Garlic and bread.
Peanut and butter.
Kate and Hayley.

There are two things I do really love though and that's fish and cake.  Put the two together and there is my perfect dish.

I thought I'd give this easy recipe from BBC GoodFood a go one evening after work (http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1898643/salmon-and-broccoli-cakes-with-watercress-avocado-).  I had some leftover bits in the kitchen (the best ingredients for a spontaneous and surprisingly good meal) and typed them into the search bar and got the fish cake.

Broccoli is one of my favourite vegetables.  I could eat a whole plate of them on its own (as long as its not soggy) - I won't have anyone say a bad word about my beloved broccoli.

Don't forget to season your pre-mashed cakes. 

Post-mashed.

Fry them until golden brown on each side. Make sure the pan is hot before frying.

Serve with salad.

I think next time I will add a few more spices to the dish, maybe try mixing in the mustard with the mash instead.  A very simple and easy dish to make - and a lot quicker to make than you think.  It's basically just a boil and fry method.  

Chilli con Carne in 30 minutes

A tasty, juicy and lightly spiced chilli in under 30 minutes. Serve with rice, a jacket potato or in a fluffy bun for a classic 'sloppy joe'.

Serves 4
Ingredients:

• 500g beef mince
• A diced onion
• Spice mix 3 teaspoons of each unless stated (you can use a packet spice mix if you prefer): onion powder , paprika , 2 garlic cloves grated, sugar,  plain flour, cumin, oregano, chilli powder (or crushed, dried whole chilli peppers)
• Splash of white wine vinegar
• 400g tin of tomatoes
• 200g (1/2 a tin) of baked beans
• 400g tin of kidney beans
• A squirt of #5 umami paste (available from Waitrose)
• Soy sauce
• 50g grated mild cheddar (or another hard cheese of your choice)
• 1/4 pint of boiling water
• Tabasco sauce (optional, for extra heat)
• Salt and pepper to season
• Sour cream to serve.

Method: 

1. Brown the mince and onion in a saucepan. Drain off any excess fat. If you are making baked potatoes preheat your oven.
2. Blend your spice then mix with the water and stir into the mince, along with a splash of white wine vinegar and soy sauce. Also add the Tabasco sauce if you are using it.
3. Add the tomatoes, baked beans and kidney beans and a tablespoon of #5 umami paste.
4. Bring to the boil, stirring continuously. 
5. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes until thoroughly cooked. 
6. While the chilli is simmering, prick your potatoes with a fork and microwave for 4 minutes (or until soft) then move them to the oven for a crispy skin. 
7. Remove the chilli from the heat and stir in the grated cheese until melted, this will add an extra creaminess to the chilli and serve immediately with baked potatoes or rice and lashings of sour cream.

This is an easy dinner that is sure to satisfy and great if you are having friends over. If you are eating alone or with a partner just freeze the leftovers or halve the ingredients.