Midweek meals: Five quick family dinners to kick-start an after-school routine

Schools are back after the summer break so here are some easy dinners to enjoy with school-going kids

Take the stress out of back-to-school week with these recipes

Garlicky Sausage Pasta

recipe by:Caitriona Redmond 

Quick and simple Italian food, without sacrificing style or substance!

Servings

4

Preparation Time

 10 mins

Cooking Time

 25 mins

Total Time

 35 mins

Course

 Main

Cuisine

 Italian

Ingredients

• 454g (1lb) pork sausages

• 1 tbsp oil

• 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped (or more)

• 175g of broccoli, chopped

• 1 tin of red kidney beans, drained

• 300g pasta

Method

1. Get your water on to boil while you prepare the speedy sauce.

2. Using a sharp knife remove the skin from the sausages and fry them in a little oil on a medium frying pan. Use the back of your spoon or break up the sausage meat into chunks. Once browned, add the chopped garlic and stir before adding the broccoli. Stir.

3. Put the pasta into boiling salted water. After five minutes add a ladleful of the pasta water to the frying pan and this will cook the broccoli and add a sauce. Finally, add the kidney beans and simmer.

4. Strain the pasta and add to the sauce and serve.

 

Cheesy pasta bake

recipe by:Ciara McDonnell

This pasta bake reheats beautifully for an office lunch.

Servings

6

Preparation Time

 10 mins

Cooking Time

 50 mins

Total Time

 60 mins

Course

 Main

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 onion, diced

• 1 celery stalk, diced

• 3 garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 1 tbsp dried Italian herbs

• 2 x 400g tins cherry tomatoes

• 500g penne or pasta shape of your choice

• 200g grated cheese

Method

1. In a pan, fry the onion and celery in the olive oil for five minutes before stirring in the garlic and balsamic vinegar and herbs. Bubble for a minute or two until the vinegar has reduced. Add in the tins of cherry tomatoes and bring to a simmer.

2. Preheat the oven to 180C. Cook the pasta in lots of boiling water with salt for seven minutes. Add the pasta into the sauce along with half a cup of pasta water and stir to combine, seasoning with salt and pepper. Top with cheese and pop in the oven for 40 minutes until the pasta is cooked through and the top is crispy and delicious.

3. If portioning your pasta for lunch, wait until it has cooled down, as it is easier to cut.