Currently Browsing: Cook
Posted on Jan 28, 2011 in Cook | 2 comments

Winter veg: Crunchy Apple ‘Slaw

Winter veg: Crunchy Apple ‘Slaw
Unless it’s homemade, I’m not a fan of coleslaw. Too much rancid mayo, too few shredded veg, too gloopy by far. When I was in the Cork’s The Woodford recently, I ordered meatballs in a Cork-made blaa for lunch. On the side, and which almost put me off initially, was what the menu called...
Read More
Posted on Sep 6, 2010 in Cook, Food Events | 5 comments

Vegetarian Cookalong: Greek Bean and Tomato Stew with Feta

Vegetarian Cookalong: Greek Bean and Tomato Stew with Feta
A bag of butter beans was the inspiration for this month’s Irish Foodies’ Cookalong. Soaked overnight, then thrown into the pot by themselves – or with some onions, carrots and celery – for about an hour the next morning, the beans needed little attention other than checking the water...
Read More
Posted on Aug 23, 2010 in Cook | 4 comments

Poached Chicken and other stories (with Tarragon Mayonnaise)

Poached Chicken and other stories (with Tarragon Mayonnaise)
This has been the summer of the poached chicken. It started when the weather got hot in June and I had a chicken to cook. It wasn’t exactly turn-the-oven-on time so I landed it into a big pot, covered it with cold water, threw in some vegetables and herbs and let it barely simmer away for an hour. The...
Read More
Posted on Jul 16, 2010 in Food for Friends | 2 comments

Cooking with Irish pork: Pork Loin with Fennel, Rosemary and Cider

Cooking with Irish pork: Pork Loin with Fennel, Rosemary and Cider
When Bord Bia gave me a gorgeous pork loin recently at the Irish Food Bloggers Event, I took one look at the size of it and divided it into two. After all, there are only two and a half meat-eating people at the cottage (that was before we acquired our latest rabbit hunters, a trio of cats who, we hope, will...
Read More
Posted on Jun 11, 2010 in Cook, Food for Friends | 7 comments

Twizza Party: Roast Asparagus, Knockalara Sheep’s Cheese and Roasted Hazelnut Pizza

Twizza Party: Roast Asparagus, Knockalara Sheep’s Cheese and Roasted Hazelnut Pizza
It was dough at the ready for the first Irish food bloggers Twizza Party (think Twitter plus pizza plus party) last Thursday, organised by Reindeersp of Musings of a med student. A gang of newly acquainted bloggers dementedly (or maybe that was just me!) cooked, photographed and tweeted an assortment of...
Read More
Posted on May 27, 2010 in Bake, Food for Friends | 9 comments

Pizza for lunch: Pizza dough recipe

Pizza for lunch: Pizza dough recipe
In our house we really like pizza, especially when the parents aren’t about and the cottage turns into the Sunday lunch stop for the Sister, Little Sister and Small Brother. It’s easy to make the dough and sauce ahead of time, leaving the final assembly for when everybody turns up. That way they...
Read More
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...
Read More
Posted on Nov 13, 2009 in Demos, Food Events, Food for Friends | 3 comments

Winter Warmers: Moroccan Lamb and Apricot Tagine

Winter Warmers: Moroccan Lamb and Apricot Tagine
When I lived in New Zealand, cooking was my way of getting to know the (then Boyfriend, now) Husband’s family and friends. Three of his sisters lived nearby in Christchurch and they, together with a boyfriend and various cousins, were regular visitors to our house. When I look back on the recipes that...
Read More
Posted on Nov 9, 2009 in Cook, Demos, Food Events | 10 comments

Winter Warmers: Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

Winter Warmers: Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup
This is the soup that I cooked at the Glenroe Ladies’ Club demonstration – it is something that I make regularly as it has a great flavour, doesn’t take long and is really good for freezing. The smoked paprika is fabulous with it, giving a real depth to the soup. Perfect for sipping out of...
Read More
Posted on Oct 6, 2009 in Cook | 2 comments

Leek and Cashel Blue Cheese Self-Crusting Quiche

Despite the fact that we only have two hens now, we still end up with a lot of eggs and I’m always looking for something new to do with them. I love making egg-based quiches or tarts but, with Little Missy on hand, recipes that involve a number of steps – making pastry, prebaking it, making...
Read More
Posted on Sep 24, 2009 in Bake, Food for Friends | 5 comments

In season: Rhubarb Rosewater Cake

In season: Rhubarb Rosewater Cake
When I was small, we had rhubarb growing in the back garden. Whatever variety it was – we had sourced the crown from some friend or relative so there were no labels – it grew gigantic stems, as thick as a baby’s wrist, topped by enormous leaves that we thought looked like child-sized...
Read More
Posted on Sep 7, 2009 in Bake, Food for Friends, Grow | 8 comments

Blackberry picking: Apple and Blackberry Crumble

Blackberry picking: Apple and Blackberry Crumble
As a child, autumn was one of my favourite times of year. Going back to school was much eased by the fact that there were blackberries available for eating on nearby hedges, crab apples down the fields to be gathered and plenty of field mushrooms to be picked. This year, Little Missy in her sling for our...
Read More
Posted on Aug 19, 2009 in Kitchen, Life, Lovely Lunches, Travel | 5 comments

Have spork, will travel

Have spork, will travel
Last year, on a trip to London, I picked up a spork – a light plastic utensil which features a spoon at one end, fork at the other and serrated knife edge on the fork side – in a kitchenware shop and I’ve rarely been without it since. The last quarter of 2008 was taken up with train trips...
Read More
Posted on Aug 15, 2009 in Bake, Food for Friends | 4 comments

Student treats: Caramel Squares

When we were in college, the Brother’s Housemate came from a catering household. His mother used to make hundreds of superb Christmas cakes and puddings each year, cook for parties and events and, most importantly to us, make the best Caramel Squares known to students. Living on an unbroken biscuit...
Read More
Posted on Aug 8, 2009 in Cook, Storecupboard Specials | 0 comments

Old Millbank Smokehouse Smoked Trout and Lemon Pasta Salad

Old Millbank Smokehouse Smoked Trout and Lemon Pasta Salad
When we had the Mallow Farmers’ Market taking place outside Urru last summer, I never missed the chance to pick up a pack of Old Millbank Smokehouse hot smoked trout from Geraldine Bass. Saturday mornings in work were always busy so I had to watch for a gap between customers to make a dive out of the...
Read More

« Older Entries Next Entries »