Posted on Feb 26, 2010 in Bake, Life | 4 comments

Baking for babies: Banana Spelt Biscotti

Baking for babies: Banana Spelt Biscotti
Sometimes, in this house, baking is not just for the bigger members of the family and, along with the Flapjacks and Shortbread, there’s even a tin marked with Little Missy’s name. It’s currently filled with these twice-baked Banana Spelt Biscotti, which I love because they are easily made,...
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Posted on Feb 23, 2010 in Do | 9 comments

Irish Blog Awards 2010: Bibliocook nominated

Irish Blog Awards 2010: Bibliocook nominated
It’s that time of the year again. The Irish Blog Awards longlist has been issued and it’s great to see Bibliocook getting a mention in the Best Food/Drink Blog section, again this year sponsored by Bord Bia. Last year’s awards took place in the International Airport Hotel in Cork so off I,...
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Posted on Feb 23, 2010 in Do | 2 comments

Bibliocook on Facebook and Twitter

Bibliocook on Facebook and Twitter
I swore I wouldn’t get sucked in. Ah, the promises I make to myself! This whole social networking thing can be like a black hole, whole chunks of the morning – work time for me while Little Missy sleeps – disappearing while I catch up on Kieran Murphy’s ice cream tweets and check out...
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Posted on Feb 22, 2010 in Cookery Books, Read | 0 comments

Forgotten Skills of Cooking: The Lost Art of Creating Delicious Home Produce by Darina Allen 

Forgotten Skills of Cooking: The Lost Art of Creating Delicious Home Produce by Darina Allen 
If ever your grandmother knew how slow cooking turned beef cheeks meltingly tender, could tell her Rhode Island Reds from Marans or was able to grow, harvest, preserve and cook her own runner beans, you’ll nod knowingly at Forgotten Skills of Cooking and enjoy leafing through the pages. If you...
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Posted on Feb 21, 2010 in Do | 0 comments

Teach the kids about food: Jamie Oliver

Watch Jamie Oliver’s passionate speach for TED, an American non profit organisation focusing on spreading good ideas, about the power of food and the importance of teaching children what to cook and how to cook it. Today America, tomorrow – or, perhaps, tonight –...
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Posted on Feb 18, 2010 in Grow, Work | 0 comments

Grow your own spuds (and other useful things)

Grow your own spuds (and other useful things)
Despite the current cold snap and impossibility of actually doing anything about it, I’ve been looking at the raised beds in the garden and trying to plan for the summer to come. Last year we went on an inspirational (and very affordable) two-day gardening course at Glebe Gardens with Jean Perry,...
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Posted on Feb 15, 2010 in Food Events, Food for Friends | 4 comments

Pancake Tuesday: Buckwheat Pancake Cake with Leeks and Mushrooms

Pancake Tuesday: Buckwheat Pancake Cake with Leeks and Mushrooms
Pancake Tuesday came early at the cottage this year. I always love to have friends come over to eat pancakes but with the Husband getting home from work late and a Little Missy who is decidedly not at her delightful best in the evenings, lunchtimes are a much better time to entertain. Sunday became our...
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Posted on Feb 13, 2010 in Bake, Food Events | 0 comments

Sweet treats for the one you love: Chocolate Caramel Shortbread

Sweet treats for the one you love: Chocolate Caramel Shortbread
Never mind flowers and forget about going out for dinner, with Valentine’s Day tomorrow, get baking for your sweetheart with this Chocolate Caramel Shortbread. This recipe makes plenty to devour – and share – but it’s so good that your biggest problem will be not eating the entire...
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Posted on Feb 9, 2010 in Food Events | 5 comments

Good Food Ireland Week Cork – eat now!

Good Food Ireland Week Cork – eat now!
Last night I was at the launch of the Good Food Ireland Week Cork in, naturally enough, the English Market. An array of Good Food Ireland producers had teamed up with restaurant, hotel and café members to showcase their products and there was a multi-course feast lined up on the Farmgate Café balcony...
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Posted on Feb 7, 2010 in Travel | 1 comment

Bye, bye Hanoi

Bye, bye Hanoi
And goodbye to all our new friends at the noodle stalls lined up on the roadside just around the corner from where we were staying. A few mornings of breakfasts there and we were regulars. With a choice of Pho Ga (chicken noodle soup), Pho Tofu (noodle soup with, yes, tofu) or Banh Cuon (rolled rice...
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