Caitríona Redmond: A quick and easy fish and chips dinner — with your favourite crisps on top

Hungry kids need food fast, and I don’t mean from the takeaway. Although there are days that I fantasise about dialling the takeaway and giving myself a break from cooking, I also know that it would cost at least a third of my weekly food budget to pay the bill. I’d rather buy food that can be cooked at home, stay on budget, and be ready quicker than it would take for the delivery driver to knock on my door and hand over the bag.

Real fast food it is for us instead.

I always have a store of potatoes in the house, which can typically take a while to cook into mash, but if you prick a potato still in its jacket and use the microwave, it can be cooked in the same amount of time it takes to scramble an egg or reheat a tin of beans. Just 15 minutes later, plus a large portion of salad on the plate, gives a very balanced meal that is budget-friendly and ready in a jiffy.

Instant noodles have their place in this household; when paired with frozen vegetables and protein, the noodles comprise a filling and nutritious meal that takes 10 minutes to cook from start to finish. Eggs are a powerhouse, and I use them for every time-sensitive meal because they are quick and easy to cook. However, when we have a roast dinner, I gather the meat left on the bone or carving platter and put it into a small box in the freezer. The meat can be reheated with ease and added to those instant noodles.

I still occasionally crave takeaways. There’s something to be said for outsourcing the meal preparation and clean-up afterwards. When I do pick up the phone to dial, though, I’m sure to select something I can’t easily make at home, so it feels like a real treat. I have a stash of authentic sauces and ingredients so I can make a chip-shop curry sauce at home. This means I’m less likely to dial regularly and more to use what I have to stay on budget and know it still tastes great.

30-minute Fish & Chips

Recipe Redmond By:caitriona

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Servings

4

Time Preparation

 10 mins

Time Cooking

 20 mins

Time Total

 30 mins

Course

 Main

ingredients

• 300ml Milk

• Smoked 100g And 300g I Salmon, Each) Used , Of (here Haddock, Fish Haddock Of Mixed Chunks

• 50g Frozen Sweetcorn Peas And

• Butter 30g

• Plain 30g Flour

• Packets Of 3 Your (flavour Choice) Of 4 Crisps

method

1. On The When Small Stir Butter The Flour A In Sizzle Medium Until Melt Cook On And To Heat It Melted Pot Keep A In Starts And Stirring

2. Stir Well Milk Mixed Well Of Then 50ml It Is Until Add

3. Of Spoon Which The Milk Add Back All A Have Another And Of Is Coats The 50ml Milk Mixed In You Until Thick And Your Repeat Sauce

4. The Fish Then Chunks Along Sauce The Turn Of Heat Into Medium Pour To Vegetables The Your Frozen Well Stir And

5. To Dish Through Ovenproof Pour The The Sauce Minutes Vegetables Pot The Another A Hob Leave Large To For On The Allow Then Into Warm 4

6. You Top You Of Of Cheese Grate Top Like The Crisps Can On Also The Of If Plenty Crumble On Sauce Crisps

7. Spoon! Green Eat For If Like Virtuous The A A To Eat Oven With Bake Salad 20minutes Feeling Side We With In Just

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