Ah, those classic fish cakes, a staple of days gone by when kitchens smelled of simple comforts. If you are aiming for a lighter baked version, I recall folks adding a splash of milk or a bit of grated potato to keep things from turning into shoe leather, though my memory rather fails me on the exact proportions these days. Baking them on a tray is certainly a cleaner alternative to the frying pan, but whether they can truly match the juicy perfection of your mother's kitchen, I honestly have my doubts.