Meatballs are seriously underrated in this country. They can be served up within 20 minutes and they are hellishly delicious. A quick whizz round the supermarket with this short ingredient list means you can be home and have dinner on the table even before the 6 o’clock news has finished. With a bit of persuasion the kids will even help with the most tricky bit — rolling the balls.

Fast and simple is not my speciality and not at all what I do in the kitchen at Vinnies so whenever I do have to cook dinner for the family after rushing back from ballet or rugby practice, my wife Jane laughs at how long it jolly takes me and how many dishes I produce. So it’s three of Jane’s recipes I am sharing here to help us all get dinner on the table quickly and efficiently.

Ingredients

Directions

1. Mix together beef, egg, garlic, parmesan, onion, herbs and breadcrumbs. Season with salt and pepper then roll dessert spoonfuls of meat mix into even-sized balls.
2. In a large frying pan heat oil, add meatballs and fry until the balls begin to brown.
3. Add tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Sprinkle over cheeses then place under a hot grill. Top with extra chopped parsley and serve with pasta.

Here are more of Geoff's wife Jane's super quick meals