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Potato Peel Crisps
When we’re preparing food, we get into a rhythm. I suppose that rhythm is to blame for us not using every single bit of our ingredients. Traditionally we peel potatoes because the skin can be tough. Skin on potatoes makes for horrible mash unless you remove it. Skin on roast potatoes makes sections chewy. There are blemishes on the skin of potatoes, from where the tubers had shoots. These blemishes are perfectly edible but unsightly to some. There’s a natural instinct to take what we cast to one side and then put it into the bin. However, potato skin is fine to eat. It contains dietary fibre, and providing you’ve…
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Easy Tomato Tart Recipe
Hooray for Irish tomatoes being in season! My tomatoes in the polytunnel are nearly ready but you should be seeing Irish tomatoes in the supermarket at this stage. There is nothing like the flavour of a warm sun-ripened tomato picked straight from the vine. This easy tomato tart recipe is uncomplicated, in fact it’s nearly too easy to call it a recipe! Don’t let the small number of ingredients listed here limit your options. I make this tart with chorizo, fresh basil (thyme, oregano, and sage also work well), peppers, courgette, onions, the list goes on. As a bonus, to go along with the recipe I’ve another simple video for…
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Quick Pickled Radishes
It’s been two and a half years since we moved into our current allotment. This year is the first time that I feel like we are managing our time there better, we’re growing far more crops than we ever had, and the kids are reaping the benefits. I used to feel overwhelmed when I stood at the gate and viewed all the work that had to be done, now though it’s more like I have a list of jobs to complete.
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St Patrick’s Day Pie
St Patrick’s Day Pie is made at a time of the year when the core ingredients are still fresh, seasonal, and local. I accept it’s also a cheesy/corny name for a pie, but with the green, white, and gold colours what else could I call it? Apparently it’s “Pie Week” in the UK. There’s a week for pies now? I just had to redeem myself after the whole Leftovers Pie affair a few weeks ago. You could eat this pie still warm from the oven, or you could wait for it to go completely cold, wrap it in a snug covering of greaseproof paper, then put it in the fridge…
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Warming Soup
After 5 days in a row at the allotment, I’m taking a break today. It has been great to get back to work, even if it’s a bit hard going at the start of the year. We’ve been adding to our raised beds, changing the format of the polytunnel, and much more. This warming soup has been on the go all week. I made a couple of batches. The gentle heat instantly starts working as soon as I have a bowl in my hand, and the fresh bitter greens along with citrus hit from the lemon is a real change to a classic thick blended soup. The key to making…
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Beetroot Roast Lemon Salad
It’s so hot I’ve considered (not for the first time this year) cooking biscuits on the car dashboard. Unfortunately I’ve discovered it’s not quite hot enough here so I’ll have to forget about that fantasy for another day, or a trip abroad perhaps. I made the mistake of putting the boys to bed 3 hours late last night. We were out and about and by the time we got home they wanted a snack which pushed bedtime to 10.30pm. There wasn’t a hope of them lying on this morning though because the 2-year-old gave the household a rousing rendition of ‘The Wheels On The Bus’ at 6am. It was very…
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Garlic Beans
The teen swears that her all time favourite meal is my homemade baked beans. She is always happy with a slice of toast and a big ladle of goodness and I’m delighted that she’s eating well. Feeding hungry teens on a budget can be tricky!
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Spice Crusted Potatoes
I’ve reached that point in January where my body just craves healthy food. I think it’s down to the need to feel well and boost vital nutrients in the body. I realise that I normally blog on a sweet-savoury rotation but I’ve not been baking much recently. I’ll try my best to squeeze something sweet in soon I promise!
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Slow Cooker Beans
Today is the day that I will get a tea break to myself, all to myself, while the 2 year old naps and the other kids are in school, himself will be at work. I will get a tea break. I will drink a hot cup of tea from start to finish and the house will be quiet. Apart from the quiet bubble of the slow cooker that is. Please do read the advisory note on cooking with dried beans in a slow cooker at the end of this post.
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Creamed Corn Noodle Soup
Today we went for a walk. This is a momentous occasion. Between chest infections, colds, flu and the dreadful weather we’ve had over the past month these trips out haven’t been happening. Wow but getting out in the fresh air with the two boys is good for the soul. I love my home, it’s such a haven from the bad weather; warm and cosy, but it’s no substitute for the pure Vitamin D and glorious breeze coming in off the sea that we benefit from.
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Savoury Crumble With Mustard
I was recently contacted by Maille, who asked me to review a gift box of their premium mustards. What better way to review a product than to try it in a recipe and see how it stands up to my Savoury Crumble with Mustard?
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Green Bean Salad
The weekend has come to a close, and I’m practising a little bit of mindfulness. The opportunity to sit and just think is so cleansing and refreshing for me that I think I should do it more. It’s not just that I’m working on my mind, I’m paring back many of my favourite recipes to simple, clean flavours that work like this green bean salad.
