Three baking recipes that help you save

The oven, that great unknown for some. For those who know what it looks like... and more because they have seen it on MasterChef than from looking at the one in their own kitchen.

For those who use it as a dark cave to store pans. For those who don’t dare to turn it on because someone once told them they use a lot of electricity.

It is true, the oven is one of those appliances that consumes the most kWh in an average home... but it is only in fourth place, behind the fridge, the television and the washing machine. It is just that you never think of not using any of these three, but you have an excuse for the oven.

We suggested introducing you to your oven, so you can get to know it and learn to love it. To do this you only need to do one thing: use it. These three recipes are so easy that they are going to work even if you don’t know how to fry an egg.

There are many types of meatloaf: German, the typical American one that appears in many films, and even a vegetarian version.

There are many types of meatloaf: German, the typical American one that appears in many films, and even a vegetarian version.

• What do I need?: half a kilo of mince, three or four potatoes, an onion, garlic, red pepper, green pepper, cheese, red or white wine, tomato sauce.

Boil the potatoes whole and with the skin in salted water. Once they are done, peel them and mash them until you have a purée with no lumps (this part you can leave to the kids while you choose the wine to use later). In a large pan with olive oil fry the garlic, the peppers and the onion.

You must season the mince and add it to the pan. Mix it with the vegetables and let them cook. Once the mince has started to colour, add a quarter of a glass of wine (white or red depending on your taste) and leave it on the heat until it reduces.

Now it is the turn of the tomato sauce. Pour it in and stir well. Lower the heat and let it cook more or less until the sauce thickens.

What about the oven? Relax, it’s coming now. Preheat it to 200 degrees.

Meanwhile, in a dish about 5 or 6 centimetres deep, pour in a little tomato sauce. Spread it over the whole surface. This will stop the first layer of the pie from sticking. Pour half of the mashed potato into the dish. Now, as a second layer, add the mince.

Lastly, top it off with the rest of the mashed potato. Add the mozzarella cheese on top. As much as you want, we are saving electricity, not calories.

Place the dish onto the central oven shelf and leave it for 10 minutes at 200 degrees with the “top and bottom” function on. After 5 or 6 minutes (depending on the oven) you can turn it off, the residual heat will do the rest.

If you want to give it a crunchy finish, you can put the oven on “grill” mode for the last few minutes. Take the tray out and let your succulent cottage pie rest for several minutes. What are you waiting for?

Baked salmon

You may think that fish is a difficult to cook. Here you have a quick and easy recipe for you to look after your diet with a dish that is rich in vitamins and protein. You’ll lick you fingers clean!

• What do I need?: two fresh salmon fillets, two large potatoes, an onion, green, red and yellow peppers, fresh parsley, white wine, fresh basil.

Peel the potatoes and cut them into small chunks, more or less a centimetre thick.

Cut the onion and the peppers into strips. Fry everything in a pan with a splash of olive oil or even put it in the microwave for four or five minutes. This way you will reduce the cooking time in the oven.

Meanwhile, preheat your new best friend to 180 degrees. Pour a splash of olive oil in an oven proof dish and make a bed of potatoes, onion and pepper. Season the salmon and place it on top of the vegetables.

Peel the garlic cloves and crush them together with the parsley leaves in a mortar. Add a little olive oil and half a glass of white wine. Mix it all together.

Pour the mixture in the mortar on top of the salmon. Make sure it is all covered. Place the tray onto the central part of the oven, with “top and bottom” heat, and leave it for between 15 and 20 minutes, depending on the size of the salmon, at 180 degrees.

You can turn off the oven 5 minutes before so it can finish off with the residual heat. Place some basil leaves on top as decoration and serve the salmon with the potatoes, onion and peppers while hot.

Gluten free muffins