We’re not long back from Bloom 2013 and I’m a bit peckish. I may have over indulged a little earlier in the day so I decided to make these quick and easy crispy chickpeas which are far more virtuous than my shopping basket! Read More
There’s no doubt that chocolate and Tayto go together but what if they really, really went together?
It’s the 7th day of my 12 Days of Christmas blog series. Today it’s a little something different that you can gift, or keep for yourself for the table. A seasonal red cabbage pickle.
This recipe makes use of kale stalks that I would normally put in the compost bin. Instead I’ve twice cooked kale stalks with garlic and chilli.
While it’s getting cooler we’ve got a run of clear days so why not fire up the BBQ and wear a jumper? This warming BBQ sauce is seasonal with apples and a whiskey kick!
Using a deep fat fryer isn’t an option when I fancy chips. So instead of having a potentially dangerous appliance on the go, I bake our fries.
Beetroot is in season and pickling is a simple way to preserve it. You don’t need loads of tools or time, just a small amount of preparation and space in your cupboard.
The baby has reached the stage where he can grab food and put it into his mouth. It has resulted in many messes and an unforgettable evening where Daddy gave him a piece of banana while I snook out to a meeting for 1 hour. A packet of wipes, dunk in the bathtub and a tired baby later I’m still scrubbing his bouncer to try and get the stains off.
Homemade simple coleslaw from Wholesome Ireland – Irish Food & Parenting Blog
Do you like simple coleslaw? I detest the shop bought, greasy with mayonnaise, too much salt, identikit coleslaw. You know the one where all the pieces are smaller than a corn kernel and it has more in common with cottage cheese in terms of appearance & texture. Well this is healthy, crunchy & raw simple coleslaw. You use the best of fresh ingredients and skimp on the mayonnaise.
I got this recipe from my mother who has been making a variation on this recipe for years. Whenever there’s a family BBQ it’s a given that she will bring this coleslaw along and there is rarely any leftover to take home for sandwiches the next day!
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On Saturday I spotted some sunshine beginning to peek through the clouds. Then it began to burn off the clouds and I saw a wide expanse of blue sky and found the sun on the patio. It was so warm it got up to 17 degrees in the back, North facing, garden. What better excuse to pull out the BBQ than a bit of sunshine? Do I even need an excuse?
When in the supermarket there are about 2 aisles that I gloss over now that I previously wouldn’t have. They contain factory made sauces in jars, preserved food in tins, spice mixes and meal “convenience packs”. I do stock up on some tinned foods like tomatoes and certain beans for salads but mainly I skim over the 2 aisles. I can see why you could be tempted by packets of pre-mixed spices for meat and vegetables and jars of sauces, particularly when you’re in a hurry.
There are days when I’m climbing the walls from a teething baby and a cranky toddler that I could be tempted to grab a jar and lash a dinner together and I confess I have done in the past. The problem is that it just doesn’t taste the same, to us, as something that I’ve pulled together myself and there are a large number of preservatives in spice mixes and jars of sauce. Also if I were to use a jar or a packet more than once a week the cost would make a big dent in my shopping budget.
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When I was 14 I took part in a school foreign exchange programme with a school in Avignon, France. You would think that it was a marvellous opportunity to learn about amazing french cuisine and taste some new foods. Unfortunately you would be wrong. My hosts didn’t seem to eat a lot of French food, and got take out like pizza and chinese most nights. When our exchange students stayed with us my mother went out of her way to cook up dishes that she thought they would like and also ones that gave them a taste of Ireland.
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