If you fancy a speedy snack or supper, these are the best things since, well, sliced bread
1 Cheese & onion grill
Cook 1 chopped onion in 1 tbsp olive oil for 5 mins. Tip onto a plate and add 25g butter to the pan. Add 25g plain flour. Cook, stirring, for 1 min, then whisk in 150ml milk. Simmer for 2 mins, then take off the heat. Add 1 tsp mustard, 75g cheddar, a dash of Worcestershire sauce and the onions. Toast 8 small slices bread, top with the sauce and grill until golden. Serve with watercress, if you like. Serves 4.
2 Coronation chicken
Tear 200g cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Mix with 2 tsp madras curry powder, 3 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp mango chutney, 25g flaked almonds, 25g sultanas and a handful chopped coriander. Leave for 30 mins in the fridge, if you have time. Spoon over 2 slices toast and top with shredded Little Gem lettuce. Serves 1.
3 Herby mushrooms
Roughly chop a 250g pack mushrooms, then fry with a knob of butter for 5-6 mins, until soft and light golden. Add 1 crushed garlic clove and cook for 1 min more. Remove from the heat, then stir through another knob of butter and 1 tbsp chopped parsley. Toast 2 slices bread – crusty wholemeal works well – and top with the mushrooms. Serves 2.
4 Smoked salmon & beetroot
Slice 1 large or 2 small cooked beetroots into wedges. In a bowl, mix the beetroot, 25g soured cream, juice and zest of 1/2lemon and 1 thinly sliced shallot. Spoon onto 2 slices toast. Top with smoked salmon and a little chopped dill. Serves 1.
5 White bean, tomato & anchovy ragout
Cook 1 sliced garlic clove, 4 chopped anchovy fillets and 1 tbsp chopped rosemary leaves in 1 tsp olive oil until the garlic is just brown. Drain and rinse a 400g can cannellini beans. Add to the pan with 2 tbsp tomato purée and the juice and zest of 1/2lemon. Cook for 5-10 mins, crushing the beans slightly. Spread over 2 slices toast and serve with rocket. Serves 1.
6 Bacon & eggs
Dry-fry 4 rashers diced streaky bacon until crisp. Beat 6 eggs with 2 tbsp milk and season. Tip into the pan with the bacon and gently stir until scrambled and fluffy. Toast 4 slices bread – s
