Looking to find new ways to incorporate whole grains into your diet? Although technically barley is not considered a whole grain, the high fiber content enables it to be counted toward your whole grain servings. It comes in two forms, either ‘pearled’ or ‘quick cooking,’ the latter of which is perfect for soups especially for those of you still wearing your winter woolies.
Continue reading “Roast Chicken & Barley Soup” on Dancing Spoon ».  Continue reading »

always a fan of cake, originally uploaded by deirdren.
I have so much to write about – sorry Im being a waster at the moment.  Continue reading »

My latest baking project – one that even takes longer than the three-day Sourdough Bread-making event! – is almost completed. All going well, the Husband and I hope to welcome a small new inhabitant to the cottage early next month, to join our family of two humans, three hens and one cat (yes, we’re back to one again – sadly the road by the cottage claimed Large, our big tom cat earlier this week).  Continue reading »

Everything about Let’s Eat In seems wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
For a start, this takeaway serves Chinese, Indian, Thai and Italian food. From experience, that kind of mixed “international cuisine” usually sends me running.
Secondly, something as basic as rice or noodles costs extra. These are normally included in the price of most takeaway meals, so this…  Continue reading »

In my potentially never-ending quest to use up a large amount of mint, I prepared this Split Pea and Mint soup. I was on holiday in California a few years ago and this soup seemed to be bizarrely popular. “Yes, we have split pea soup!” declared the enthusiastic signs.
Since then, I always have a bag…  Continue reading »

The Guardian’s lovely Word of Mouth blog has an interesting piece on tinned food. Now that we’re all skint, tinned food sales are increasing, and one of the Guardian food writers has provided a menu for a three-course meal based around tinned foods.  I like the sound of the Conchiglie with smoked oyster sauce, but…  Continue reading »

Considering my utter failure to get my herb garden going, Lidl’s starter vegetable packs – part of its Thursday to Saturday specials – might be worth the €2.99 outlay. They’re selling onion planting sets for 99c and potted Italian herbs for €2.99. You’ll find full details of their specials – which also includes a five…  Continue reading »

It appears that in Ireland it can be.  Continue reading »

Recently I was clearing some of the pictures on my mobile phone and came across this (blurred) photo of the Arbutus lunch menu I took last March. It left me feeling nostalgic and not a little hungry.

I regret not getting any photos of our lunch now. I started the meal with “Braised pigs head with potato puree & caramelized onions“, followed by “Saddle of rabbit with shoulder cottage pie & roast onions“.  Continue reading »

This Thursday, Aldi are selling a whole duck for €7.99. For something really fancy – and a little bit different – there’s also whole stuffed pheasants for €10.99. I like the look of the Bailey’s cheesecake, which costs €2.99. You’ll find all the Thursday special buys here.
On Sunday, Aldi are selling a “Ball Play Tent”…  Continue reading »

Freddy's Bistro on Theatre Lane (off Lower
Glentworth Street)
is much
loved by Limerick  foodies.  Continue reading »

People quite reasonably ask what can possibly justify spending two hundred euro, say, on a bottle of wine, when a truly magnificent bottle can be had for much, much less than that amount. I had a bottle only last month, they say, can’t remember the name of it, just brilliant, and it only cost €n. What greater pleasure could I possibly get from a wine that costs ten times as much?
Well, maybe not much more. Or maybe a whole lot.  It depends.  Continue reading »

People quite reasonably ask what can possibly justify spending two hundred euro, say, on a bottle of wine, when a truly magnificent bottle can be had for much, much less than that amount. I had a bottle only last month, they say, can’t remember the name of it, just brilliant, and it only cost €n. What greater pleasure could I possibly get from a wine that costs ten times as much?
Well, maybe not much more. Or maybe a whole lot.  It depends.  Continue reading »

Oliver Hughes was in campaign mode on Monday night, telling war stories of his time as a start-up brewer in Blessington in the 1980s and how difficult – impossible, in fact, as it turned out – it was to break into a beer market dominated by massive foreign-owned, brand-driven macrobreweries.
He noted that things have changed a bit since then, with Ireland now home to a number of small independent breweries, including his own Porterhouse.  Continue reading »

The little girl sat at the table, her face cupped in her two hands, transfixed by the activities of her grandfather, who was sitting opposite. He was preparing his usual piled-high breakfast concoction, which went something like this:

The foundation of the structure was usually a pair of shredded wheat biscuits. Fair enough, thinks the little girl, breakfast looks normal so far.  Continue reading »

Every year, the best in the food and wine industry are honored at the James Beard Foundation Awards. This laborious process of determining who is the best of the best can do wonders for a restaurant’s business. The reception to announce the winners in each category will take place in New York on May 3rd and 4th  but the official nominees were announced this past Monday.  Continue reading »

CheapEats was just recommended on RTE’s Afternoon Show, in a segment on websites that help  you save money.  See more details here.
We’ll post a clip if one becomes available.  Continue reading »

 Here’s a little tidbit for chocolate lovers – Benoit Lorge, of Lorge Chocolates is offering the following courses in April and May:
Beginner’s Workshop, Saturday 25th of  April  – Accessible to everyone. Cost: 130 euros, including lunch.
Advanced Chocolate Course, Saturday and Sunday, 9th and 10th of May – for chocolatiers, chefs or pastry chefs.  Cost of the 2 days: 290 euros, including lunch.  Continue reading »

“Buy cleverly. Waste less. Eat well.”
That’s the slogan of The Frugal Cook, a book by blogger Fiona Beckett. Published late last year, the book is full of great advice: how to cut your food bill, the art of using leftovers, the skill of stretching food, how to be more efficient, portion control, waste disposal, and…  Continue reading »

I’ve done a pretty terrible job on my herb garden: shamefully, I still haven’t even started it.
A friend of mine planted mint, but it soon colonised his entire garden. A few days ago, he arrived at my door laden down with mint leaves, dumped it on my kitchen table and said: “Here. It’s your problem…  Continue reading »