Caitríona Redmond: How to make my ginger and garlic pork meatballs with noodles

Yes, I have to figure out how much they may grow over the summer, and they do grow like weeds on the holidays. Still, making an informed guess will save me an awful lot of money.

Warmer clothing has been reduced by as much as half price or more in popular online stores. I’m thinking about ski jackets which will withstand the chill and wetness of a dark Winter morning and thermals. 

Retailers convert their stores to Summer products in the Spring and now is the time to pick up a bargain if you can.

The honey season is about to begin and as soon as I can get some local honey I will stock up. 

I love having honey on hand for seasonal hayfever, coughs and colds through the winter, and also as a natural sweetener.

I’ve memorised all our bills, know which date they come out of the bank account on and the amounts they’re meant to be. 

Of course, I know when essential payments are going to fall, like child benefit, and their amounts.

The list is full of extra things that we need to pay for; some are items that we can expect like “back to school” expenses, birthdays and insurance for the car. 

Other items are ones that I have no control over like needing to repair essential equipment. I check the bank account every morning to make sure that I’m on track, count the bills, and tot up my school shopping list as I go around the shops.

There are 15 weeks or so to go until school starts back. By picking up small items in a piecemeal way I can ease the cost into my weekly shopping budget. This week I might get copybooks, next week it could be socks, the following it’s a lunchbox.

It does feel like I’m paying for something extra for 52 weeks of the year so I’ve increased my shopping budget slightly as a result. 

When the Summer holidays come around the two boys will eat me out of house and home because it’s a proven fact that kids on holidays eat twice as much as kids who go to school every day.

It’s not that I need to buy everything brand new either. The school group Whatsapps and local Facebook groups are proving a great resource for picking up nearly brand new pieces of uniform and other essential kit. I go to bed at night mentally ticking off the items off the to-do list.

It might feel like an elephant now, but one bite at a time, I’m chipping away at what we need. It’s not that long ago that the bills weren’t paid and I was struggling to sleep let alone think more than a day ahead.

Home Truths

Cleaning out the kitchen is good for the head. Actually, it’s also good for the wallet.

With the warmer days ahead it’s a good idea to make sure your fridge is in tip-top working shape. Empty the entire contents and gently clean the fridge with a damp cloth and a basin of water with bread soda (bicarbonate of soda). Then dry off the fridge with a tea towel. 

When you return the food to the fridge, make sure that your vegetables and fruit are in the crisper drawer and dairy products are at the top of the fridge where it is coolest. 

The door of the fridge is best for sauces and condiments only. Wipe down the seals on the fridge last and this will help keep the fridge at an even temperature all through the summer. Keeping the fridge in good condition will save you money on energy.

When the kitchen is clean and the machines I use are in great condition I find it easier to move around the workspace. I know where everything is and I’m less prone to go shopping for impulse items or overspend.

Ginger and garlic pork meatballs with noodles

Redmond By:caitriona Recipe

Dinner In Family Under Whipped Hour An An Up Easy

Servings

4

Time Preparation

 15 mins

Time Cooking

 25 mins

Time Total

 40 mins

Course

 Main

ingredients

• Water 100ml

• 200g Breadcrumbs

• 1 Mild Chilli

• Stalks) Fresh (including Handfuls The Coriander Of 3

• Spring Onions 5

• Ginger Paste Garlic Tbsp Minced And 2

• 400g Pork Mince

• And Salt Pepper Each 1 Of Tsp White

• Dried Rice 250g Noodles

• Soy 2 Sauce Tbsp

• Sliced And 2 Carrots, Peeled

• 1 Red Pepper

method

1. Stir Allow Large A To Place Into Water The Bowl Breadcrumbs Water, And The The Into Soak The Breadcrumbs With

2. Coriander, Minced And Fine Onions, Chilli, Blitz Ginger And Spring Together Paste You Garlic Until A Paste The Get

3. You Blender Do This But It I To Stick A Of Course Chop Use Finely Can

4. Pork To Paste Then And Breadcrumbs Soaked Add The Add Spice Mince The

5. Bined Pepper Fully Season Until Well Salt With Stir And Then

6. Bring Slow Litre Simmer A To A Water Of Saucepan Large In A

7. Ball Water The Simmering Shape Small Into Meatballs To The Mixture Add Sized Meat Golf Hot And

8. 10 Cover Before The Saucepan Cook Chopped To Soy Dried For And And Noodles, Sauce, Vegetables Minutes Adding Allow The

9. Minutes A Further And Again Cover For Simmer Five

10. Bowl In Green Plenty Noodles Serve And Large Fresh On Herbs Top Extra Of With Coriander A Or The Meatballs