Mavi's "Mammaproof" Croquetas

Ingredients (for 4 people)

• Flour (4 spoonfuls)
• Milk (approx half a litre)
• 1 small onion
• The ingredient of your choice, very finely chopped (spinach, ham, baccalao, left over meat or fish....)
• 2 eggs
• Breadcrumbs
• Salt, pepper and nutmeg

A little bit of background info for you - croquetas have always been the way many mums have made the most of the left-overs of cooked meats, fish, stews etc to create a delicious dish that is also easy for little ones to eat - they love them!
The base is a thick bechamel to which you add the ingredient of your choice. You can use any ingredient you want, the croquetas always turn out to be delicious!
You can make them on your own but it's much more fun to invite your "mamamigas" over for the afternoon and make them together. In less than half an hour you will all have a tupperware full of yummy croquetas that you can either cook and eat straight away or freeze.
My grandma taught my mum this recipe and when I was growing up my mum always made the sauce and then the kids rolled out the croquetas.

Procedure

• Finely chop the onion
• Heat a glug of olive oil (approx 2 spoonfuls) in a deep-sided frying pan and add the chopped onion
• Fry on a low heat to soften the onion
• When the onion is soft add the ingredient of your choice and continue to cook on a low heat
• Add the flour and then the milk, a little at a time, stirring continously with a wooden spoon
• When the flour is fully dissolved add the remainder of the milk and mix well, ensuring that there are no lumps, then turn up the heat
• Add salt, pepper and a little nutmeg
• When the sauce starts to come away from the sides of the pan take it off the heat and let it cool
• When it has cooled enough for you to handle it the rolling process begins! The best way to do it is with a 3-person "human chain". Your little ones will love helping with this! The first person wets their hands and forms small pieces of the sauce into the shape of croquetas, the second dips it in the beaten egg and the third rolls it in the breadcrumbs to coat it.
• Once coated the croquetas are ready to be fried in plenty of hot oil until they are golden and crunchy. Remove the excess fat with kitchen paper and put them on a dish to serve.
• Enjoy!