meatball subs are for the girls

and a list of other things that are for the girls

What I’m reading: two Deborah Levy books that I got from the library (The Cost of Living and Real Estate) - two autobiographical essays that I can’t stop thinking about. I really enjoy her perception of the world, and find her writing encouraging without being patronising.

What I’m listening to: this episode on the David McWilliams podcast (which is unfailingly accessible and digestible) about Ireland’s recognition of the state of Palestine.

What I’m eating: perhaps my favourite meal in Auckland so far - at Lilian in Grey Lynn. Particularly the lamb ribs and the aubergine (below)

This newsletter contains a pretty straightforward recipe for meatballs, that I make quite often. I always make a big batch (usually for Sunday dinner with the girls), and then keep some for lunches during the week, ideally one of which will be a meatball sandwich, either on ciabatta or focaccia.

The key to the meatballs themselves is both in the seasoning and in the “panade”: essentially soaked breadcrumbs that help to bind the meatballs and make them nice and moist. I soaked my breadcrumbs in slightly warmed milk for 10 minutes before mixing in the rest of the ingredients, and that seemed to do the trick. The seasoning is just dried and fresh herbs (including fresh sage which is ESSENTIAL), a small amount of nutmeg and paprika, and parmesan - plus salt and pep, of course. I like to bake/roast my meatballs, because I find it cooks them nice and evenly, and saves you standing at the stove for ages, frying your meatballs in batches.

The sauce is a very simple tomato and basil sauce, which I blend at the end (mainly so that I don’t have to pick the basil or chop the onions and garlic too evenly). The ciabatta is, to be honest, a work in progress, so there will most likely be a new recipe soon, but the main thing is that you use fresh, crusty bread for your meatball sandwich - focaccia or any white roll will also work.

While eating our meatball sandwiches on Tuesday evening, we decided that meatball sandwiches were, without question, for the girls. We don’t have a particularly good justification for this, it’s just something that we feel we as girls can claim, along with the following:

Things that are for the girls:

• Chappell Roan

• 4x400 relay (specifically for the Irish girls)

• Saturday nights

• Pipeline (and by extension, Caity Simmers)

• Hot water bottles

• Emojis

• Dreams (but not nightmares)

• Straws

• Spicy margaritas

• Suzuki Jimny

• VSCO

• Bridgerton

• Birthdays

• Tote bags

• Ankle socks

• Zoomies

• Emotional support water bottles

recipe: meatball sandwiches

(makes enough meatballs and sauce for roughly 8 people)