Posted on Aug 12, 2008 in Do | 3 comments

Launch of new Irish Food Awards

After writing about Irish success in the Great Taste Awards last week (I was also delighted to hear that my favourite Ummera smoked chicken took a Gold award), I was interested to receive this press release (see below) about the just-launched Irish Food Awards. Awards will be given in a total of 17...
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Posted on Jun 3, 2008 in Cookery Books, Read | 0 comments

The Book of Sweet Things by Seán and Kieran Murphy

The Book of Sweet Things by Seán and Kieran Murphy
It was only a matter of time before Kieran Murphy’s entertaining Ice Cream Ireland blog made it to the printed page. The Book of Sweet Things, written by Kieran and his brother/business partner Seán, tells the story of how two Americans got into the ice cream business in Dingle. Murphys’ Ice...
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Posted on Apr 1, 2008 in Bake | 1 comment

Sweet treats for work: Chocolate Hazelnut Squares

Sweet treats for work: Chocolate Hazelnut Squares
Sometimes you start with one particular recipe and end up going off on a slightly different tangent. That’s what happened with these Chocolate Hazelnut Squares. After a comment by Sarah on my Lemon Traybake, I wandered over to Val’s Kitchen and took a look at the Hazelnut Caramel Slice that she...
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Posted on Apr 1, 2008 in Do | 0 comments

Mallow Farmers’ Market

If you’re anywhere in the Mallow area this coming Saturday, 5 April, you can catch the first Mallow Farmers’ Market in the wee courtyard outside URRU – the culinary store, deli and café where I work – from 10.30am to 1pm. Stalls that will be there include my favourite Fermoy Natural...
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Posted on Aug 13, 2006 in Bake | 5 comments

Birthday brownies: Caroline’s Chocolate Brownies

As a child, I was an avid cookbook reader and collector. Of course, growing up in a small town in the middle of the countryside, there weren’t too many opportunities to actually buy many new cookbooks so the few that I did have were well-treasured. One of my most loved books, judging by the...
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Posted on Apr 17, 2006 in Cook, Storecupboard Specials | 4 comments

Confiture de lait

Confiture de lait
If there’s one thing nicer than Murphy’s Seacláid (chocolate) Ice Cream, eaten straight from the tub beside the fire (yep, it’s still cold in Ireland!), then it’s got to be that self same cold, intensely flavoured ice cream topped with great generous spoonfuls of creamy sweet/salty...
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Posted on Oct 5, 2005 in Do | 9 comments

Parcels in the post

Parcels in the post
I’ve always loved getting parcels in the post (hence my involvement with Blogging by Mail 2!) and this year in New Zealand has only accentuated that fact. When you’re far away, it’s always nice to know that your friends and family at home are thinking of you, something which is even more...
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Posted on Sep 9, 2005 in Bake, Do, Living in New Zealand | 7 comments

Fair Trade spices in Oxfam

Fair Trade spices in Oxfam
My local Oxfam Fair Trade shop here in Christchurch has started stocking Fair Trade spices, including ground ginger, cinnamon – ground and sticks, whole cloves, whole and ground black peppercorns and chilli powder, all from Sri Lanka. I’ve only bought the black peppercorns so far –...
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