Once a fortnight we hold a cook club at the Botanic Cottage. Anyone is welcome to join us to learn new cooking skills and to enjoy a healthy meal that’s been freshly prepared by the group. Sadly, the Botanic Cottage is still closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we won’t let that stop us! Cottage Cook Club tutor Ailsa has prepared some great recipes from store cupboard ingredients to encourage us to keep home cooking and keep eating right. Over to Ailsa…

Hello everyone,

I hope you’re well and enjoying the summer so far. I had a few days out of the city which felt like such a treat. In my kitchen at the moment I’m keeping things simple – beautiful British tomatoes with a pinch of salt, big salads and plenty of strawberries while they’re in season. Today’s recipes are perfect for summer eating. A simple omelette recipe that makes a great breakfast but is equally good at any other mealtime, fish finger wraps (that might sound strange but taste amazing) – and a generously filled roast vegetable quiche that is sure to impress anyone you make it for. Also, just for fun, we’re making a dark chocolate mousse that goes ever so well with strawberries. Enjoy!

Green omelettes with cherry tomatoes

I love omelettes, so quick and easy but a great hot meal. These green omelettes are a family favourite. If you like, add a slice of ham and be like Dr. Seuss and have ‘green eggs and ham’. A slice of toast on the side makes this a more filling meal.

Fish finger wraps with a caper remoulade

You can keep your chips and beans, for me this is the best way to enjoy fish fingers. Hot crispy fish with a punchy remoulade and a crunchy salad, all encased in a soft wrap. Trust me, this is worth a try! I used to be snobby about fish fingers but actually they are a great source of healthy protein – and you can easily make your own too. I’ll save that for another time, this is about making a quick delicious lunch. If you don’t fancy making the remoulade, a shop-bought tartare sauce works too.

Roast vegetable quiche

This is a gorgeous summery quiche. I like it at room temperature and tend to make it in the afternoon so I don’t need to rush. It’s also good hot. I’ll give you a recipe for making shortcrust pastry, but you can use shop-bought if you prefer. Serve with a salad.

Dark chocolate mousse

There’s a lot of whisking involved in making this mousse, that’s why it’s so light and bubbly. If you have an electric whisk then it’ll be easy, if not maybe enlist someone else to take turns whisking. My kids did most of the work in my house, excited at the prospect of something chocolatey for pudding!

Our Community Cook Clubs at the Botanic Cottage are kindly supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.