Life

At your convenience

THESE are a couple of my fall-back recipes, that can be made at a moment's notice when both cost and time are of the essence.

Irish beef cooked the Italian way can be made with one of the cheaper cuts of meat, or minced steak.

My secret tip here is to slice it really finely and, if time permits, to marinade in a little oil, balsamic, lime juice, garlic or ginger all

of which will tenderise the meat and cook quickly. Allow to soak in the marinade for as long as possible - up to 24 hours.

The ingredients in this list are simple. If you like, finely sliced red onion, scallions and spinach can also be added.

Passata is a tomato sauce available in most supermarkets but you can use tinned tomatoes or a similar product of your choice. The muffins are made by the all-in one method, using self-raising flour, adding all the main ingredients to the bowl and beating well.

Feel free to vary the fruits of the season in this recipe, though, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries look and work exceptionally well.

Add a hint of spice, if you like, and, as the season progresses, lemon balm - a wonderful-tasting herb - also works well.