QUICK AND EASY IDEAS

Magneplan is a new meal planner with go-to-recipes on magnetic cards, which forms a time-saving and budgeting tool to help claw back time, money and headspace for you and your family. You can create your own Magneplan collection over time with the starter pack, which contains 49 of the most popular dishes cooked in Ireland today – some of which can be found below. You can plan a week, fortnight or month ahead – the further ahead you plan, the more you save. The colourcoded recipe cards ensure variety and good meal rotation, are written in text speak and you can stick them to the cooker head while cooking. The starter pack is €29.99 from magneplan.com.

STARTER IDEA: PEAR WALNUT AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD

Mix 2 packets of rocket & baby leaf salad with 2 chopped ripe pears (or you can use canned pears). Add 100g of walnut halves & 150g chopped blue cheese. For the Dressing: Mix 100ml of olive oil with 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard & 1 chopped spring onion.

TASTY AUTUMN DINNER IDEA: CHILLI CON CARNE

Cook 350gms of rice as per pack instructions. Fry 1 sliced onion & 1 red chilli in vegetable oil for 5 minutes. Then add 500gms of mince beef, Salt & Pepper and cook for 8 minutes. Add 1 can of chopped tomatoes and a ½ can water. Add 1 teaspoon of chilli powder, 1 teaspoon of cumin,

½ teaspoon of paprika and 1 can kidney beans and leave it to simmer for 10 minutes. Add 3 squares of dark chocolate to finish. Serve with grated red cheddar cheese.

NANA SHEILA’S APPLE TART

Preheat the oven to 190C. Mix 115gms of plain flour with 50gms of cold butter, 1 teaspoon of icing sugar, 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of cold water. Knead into a dough and divide into 2. Roll 1 half onto greased pie dish.

To make the filling: Peel & slice 3 Bramley apples. Add in 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar & 1 teaspoon water.

For the Top: Use the remaining dough and crimp, prick & glaze with a beaten egg. Add to the top of the dish and bake for 40m. Cover with tinfoil.