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Posted on Feb 19, 2012 in Bake | 2 comments

Pancakes aplenty: Buttermilk Pancakes

Pancakes aplenty: Buttermilk Pancakes
Flour. Eggs. Milk. Pancakes, in their purest form (100g plain flour, a pinch of salt, 1 egg, 250ml milk and a dribble of melted butter all whisked together), are one of the easiest things that you can cook. I’ve never been one to resist a pancake opportunity so Little Missy and I have been slaving over...
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Posted on Jan 10, 2012 in Bake, Life | 3 comments

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Cinnamon Raisin Bread
It’s January. Time for just a little indulgence. Yes, I know that we’re all supposed to be on a hair-shirt-fun-free-detox-diet but on a dark, dreary school/work morning it’s no harm at all to have a little something that will lift the spirits. This Cinnamon Raisin Bread, born from a love...
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Posted on Dec 20, 2011 in Bake, Food for Friends | 0 comments

A few Christmas favourites

A few Christmas favourites
I was digging through the archives this week to find my recipes for Christmas Muffins and Mincemeat and Polenta Shortbread - much better ways of using up mincemeat than trying to make fiddly mince pies with my pair of squawkers both demanding attention – and I came across some Christmas-orientated...
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Posted on Dec 14, 2011 in Bake, Brewing and beer, Demos | 2 comments

RDS cookery demo: Caramel Ale Sauce

RDS cookery demo: Caramel Ale Sauce
When I first developed the recipe for this sauce I was looking for a way to use the seasonal beers that appear in the run up to Christmas.  And then Eight Degrees Winter Ale, made with a specially fragrant spice blend from Green Saffron, turned out to be so popular that there wasn’t even a random...
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Posted on Dec 9, 2011 in Bake, Brewing and beer, Demos, Work | 6 comments

RDS cookery demo: Chocolate and Knockmealdown Porter Brownies

RDS cookery demo: Chocolate and Knockmealdown Porter Brownies
Rich dark chocolate + full-flavoured malty porter = the most lusciously moist brownies. Enjoy! Chocolate and Knockmealdown Porter Brownies A dark, full-bodied beer is a good balance to the chocolate in these brownies. I use Knockmealdown Porter here but Dungarvan Black Rock Irish Stout, Porterhouse Plain or...
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Posted on Dec 6, 2011 in Bake, Brewing and beer, Demos, Work | 9 comments

RDS cookery demo: Cheese and Herb Beer Bread

RDS cookery demo: Cheese and Herb Beer Bread
Last week I was up in Dublin for the National Crafts & Design Fair in the RDS, doing a couple of demonstrations on the Cooks Academy stage  in the Food Emporium. The title of my demo was Baking with Irish Craft Beer and I had a lot of fun using beers from Eight Degreesto develop recipes for Cheese and...
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Posted on Oct 23, 2011 in Bake, Food for Friends, Life | 6 comments

Sunday morning pikelets

Sunday morning pikelets
A lazy Sunday morning. Outside our new draft-proof windows it’s solidly pouring rain but indoors at the cottage, the fire already lit, we’re all warm and still sleepy. The Husband’s parents have spent the last two-and-a-half weeks in Ireland, staying here while they build cookbook shelves,...
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Posted on Jun 23, 2011 in Bake, Kitchen | 13 comments

Equipment review: kMix from Kenwood

Equipment review: kMix from Kenwood
During the three months that I spent at Ballymaloe Cookery School, I saw Kenwood mixers – the workhorses of the kitchen – put up a lot of punishment. Mixing cakes from morning to night? Not a bother. Making the finest mashed potatoes known to cookery school? In minutes. Kneading bread dough was just...
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Posted on Apr 21, 2011 in Bake | 0 comments

Easter baking: Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns

Easter baking: Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns
When I lived in New Zealand I fell in love with Kiwi-style Hot Cross Buns. That is, HCBs with chocolate chips which, far from being an aberration as I thought at first, are Very Good for morning tea. And afternoon tea. And a post-pub, pre-bed snack for the Eight Degrees Brewing boys. They’re great when...
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Posted on Apr 2, 2011 in Bake | 1 comment

The last bake: Chocolate Sheet Cake

The last bake: Chocolate Sheet Cake
The last bit of baking in the old cottage kitchen before the big move? This regular favourite Chocolate Sheet Cake. It’s easy to make with one hand after you’ve badly sprained your wrist falling down the stairs like Someone around here did on Thursday night. Cue having to drag the Husband away...
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Posted on Mar 9, 2011 in Bake, Print, Work | 0 comments

The Press, Christchurch: No-fuss comfort food

The Press, Christchurch: No-fuss comfort food
With all that’s happening in my former home of Christchurch, New Zealand at the moment – victims of the earthquake still being named, constant aftershocks some up to 4.1 in magnitude, work continuing on restoring electricity, drinking water and sanitation systems, damaged buildings having to be...
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Posted on Jan 20, 2011 in Bake | 13 comments

Your daily bread: Sourdough from starter

Your daily bread: Sourdough from starter
After our Doodle Bread adventures last weekend, I went on a bit of a bread making buzz. Normally we make our bread in the machine – it’s quick, efficient, makes decent bread and, secondhand, it only cost me €10 – but I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the kneading side of things so it was...
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Posted on Jan 18, 2011 in Bake, Kitchen | 10 comments

Your daily (Doodle) bread

Your daily (Doodle) bread
This baking event was a long time in the planning. Little Missy and I had been sent a Doodle Bread kit to try out before Christmas and, after watching the super-speedy how to video online, we were dying to try it out. The cold weather, however, combined with a non-centrally heated cottage meant ridiculously...
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Posted on Dec 16, 2010 in Bake, Life | 4 comments

Christmas baking: Mincemeat and Polenta Shortbread

Christmas baking: Mincemeat and Polenta Shortbread
Although I made mince pies for the Christmas Cookalong, that was the night I realised why I don’t normally make them. As I fiddled with the pastry and Little Missy stuck her hands, once again, under my rolling pin – difficult to avoid when she’s standing on her wee stool directly in front...
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Posted on Dec 14, 2010 in Bake | 0 comments

Christmas cookies: Salted Caramel and Hazelnut Squares

Christmas cookies: Salted Caramel and Hazelnut Squares
Shortbread, salted caramel, roasted hazelnuts and dark chocolate, with a little dusting of sea salt – how could you possibly resist these? I don’t make them very often but they’re a great Christmas gift, just perfect for layering in a little tin, wrapping up safe and sending to someone...
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