My January Roundup

The days are getting longer, second by precious second, and the festive season is but a distant memory (apart from the "thunk" of the credit card bill hitting the mat).  I've quite a few things to tell you about that are happening right now, so pull up a chair.

Deconstructed Afternoon Tea at the Fitzwilliam Hotel

Courgette & Lemon Linguine - Low FODMAP

This recipe takes no time at all to make and yet produces a vibrant, healthy dish that tastes fantastic. The use of gluten-free pasta means it's kind to your digestion – important if you are struggling with the complexity that food intolerance brings to your diet - and the combination of heat from the chillies and zing of the lemon gives you a perfect flavour combination. Find out more about food intolerance symptoms as they vary and it's wise to know which food affects you and how.

Calling All Food & Drink Producers : Great Taste 2014

We all know about the X Factor and The Voice (the UK one, not the Voice of Direland as that's just brutal) where people enter to win and be lauded throughout the land. Did you know that the food and drink world has a similar competition? Well pull up a chair and allow me to tell you all about it. You may be familiar with a little black and gold sticker on some of the products that you buy in your local shop, deli or supermarket. It's actually a Great Taste sticker, awarded to food and drink producers who are quite literally the best of the best. And reader, last year I was one of the judges.  I'd like to think I was a cross between Gary Barlow & Cheryl Cole : keeping it real but being honest too.  Stop laughing and keep reading...

It could be you

My Favourite Kitchen Gadgets

Recently somebody asked me what I would save if the house was on fire. I thought about it for a minute and figured I’d go room by room. I’d go for passports, jewellery and photos in our bedroom, our wedding DVD in the sitting room (The Hubs would probably try to save his previous music collection instead) and as for the kitchen, I’d be in a bit of a quandary as I’ve so many things I’ve collected over the years. The two that stand out to me though, are the two items I use the most – my food mixer and my food processor. Having a dodgy back means I find it harder to manually knead dough or grate vegetables by hand, so owning these two gadgets makes my life much easier.  

We Are Saving (for a Rainy Day)

We are saving, we are saving - sing along there. It’s something we all promise we’re going to do and then we forget and spend the money on something else. Over the years, I’ve managed to get into the habit of saving a small amount regularly so I have an emergency fund and it gets raided regularly despite my best intentions. Last year there was the curious case of the leaking immersion, the day that Hubs impaled the car on a giant gate and the garden gate disintegrating. It’s all about the money. Last month, I saw an article online about an American lady who decided to save, a dollar at a time, to create a little nest egg and I was hooked.

ItalianFoodie's Big Boobstravaganza

A what of a what?  Let me explain this to you.  ItalianFoodie is the alter ego of my friend Lorraine Fanneran.  Joint owner of the delectable La Cucina in Castletroy, Limerick with the equally delectable Bruno Coppola, they have a fantastic restaurant, a brilliant pasta sauce range called Real Italian Foodies and are parents to the most photogenic girlies I know, Miss Alessia (#MiniIF) and Miss Sofia (#BabyIF).  Sickening, wha'?

2013 : What A Year

12 months seems like such a long time but for me, 2013 has flown by in the blink of an eye.  So much has happened, mainly good with some sadness, and this is a chance for me to do a month-by-month roundup of what was memorable for me in 2013.

Christmas Dinner Made Simple

Oh no, it's Christmas next week and if you're like 99.9% of the population who has to cook Christmas Dinner, then I've no doubt that you've an acute case of The Fear.  The Fear is normally reserved for mornings after the night before when you've overindulged on the grape juice but at this time of year, it includes the thought of cooking for a crowd.  Relax, it's just a meal.  You manage to cook loads of them throughout the year, so why are you getting your knickers in a knot over another one?  I've loads of tips to help you get through the next week without pulling your hair out in chunks.

First things first, channel your inner Santa Claus and make a list.  This is a godsend as you can take your time, write it all down on paper and start prioritising.  I know it's a bit old school, but use your tablet or phone if it makes you feel better.  Once you've made a list, have a good read through it and make sure you cover everything you need.  Think about what you're going to cook and if you're missing any ingredients, write a shopping list.  Don't do what I did one year - forgot to buy red cabbage and there wasn't one to be had in Dublin or Wicklow on Christmas Eve.  I had my little brother running up and down Moore Street with strict instructions to not return home without it.  He eventually got one and Christmas was saved!

Raspberry Vanilla Cake with Baileys Chocolate Icing

Sometimes, a picture tells a thousand words.  Sometimes words help though!  This is my entry for our office Great Ground Floor Bakeoff competition.

 

Babaduck in Brilliant Baking Magazine

A few weeks ago, I got an email from Andrea and Leigh, the founders of Brilliant Baking Magazine asking if they could feature one of my Christmas recipes in their launch edition.  How could I refuse?