This light creamy soup is a great option for lunch or would work well as a starter. To maintain the colour and vitamins, the broccoli is steamed over the simmering stock and then added at the end.

Like the other soups I’ve posted, this is great served with a slice or two of Weight Watchers whole meal bread and a little low fat butter, or 2 slices of wheaten bread such as Mc Cambridges.  Continue reading »

In a feat that made the Odyssey look a summer day trip to the countryside, I am finally home. My  whinging commentary on the arduous journey was documented for posterity on Twitter via Amsterdam, Brussels, Lille, London, Cardiff, Fishguard and Rosslare.  Continue reading »

To say my two-year-old son is a light eater is a bit of an understatement — he’s been known to go an entire weekend eating little more than a banana — but the night I made this risotto, he sat at the dinner table and practically chanted “more, more, more” in between mouthfuls and had a second helping.
As for the cake, I’d be hard pressed to think of a more perfect spring dessert than this.  Continue reading »

I’m going to be demonstrating at Bloom 2010 which is taking place in the Phoenix Park, Dublin over the June bank holiday weekend.  I haven’t been before so I’m very excited to be heading down!  Here’s a bit about the event:

The Food Market is now firmly established as a key attraction at Bloom and this year’s Food Market will be Bloom’s biggest yet!  Continue reading »

Photo: sxc.hu

Our reader Ellen contacts us to say…
I was given 4 jars of honey recently, good stuff made in the irish countryside, but I have no idea what to do with it apart from the obvious greek yogurt, herbal teas etc.
Can someone suggest nice recipes that include honey so I can try some out ? Cake is the obvious one, but would love to try marinades for meat or something savoury too.

Personally, I’d eat it from the jar with a big spoon, Pooh-bear style.  Continue reading »

As good as new

Pasta and rice are notoriously hard to measure. At some stage, most of us end up with too much and it gets thrown in the bin. You might as well flush it down them toilet.
The internet is littered with useful pasta measuring tools, while you can also buy pasta measures in kitchen equipment shops or IKEA.
Sometimes, however, there’s still some leftover, or you have to heat up a plate of food for a latecomer. I have a simple trick for bringing pasta and rice back to life.  Continue reading »

BBQ Rub

Ingredients;
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
2 teaspoons paprika
Zest of one orange, finely diced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon brown sugar
A good pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves of garlic, peeled

This post is the first of 3 recipes that will be coming over the next few days, the 3 together make the best BBQ Ribs I’ve tasted, yes better than anything I’ve been served in any restaurant, anywhere, so do try this.  Continue reading »

This photo was sent in from my US correspondent, Cynthia. It was on a car in Brooklyn, NY. Looks like the Dingle name battle has some far flung warriors!

Bookmark to (click here):

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$$(’div.d4293′).each( function(e) { e.visualEffect(’slide_up’,{duration:0.5}) });.  Continue reading »

Looking for a quick “hands on” starter dish which comes packed with a punch?  Well I’m pretty sure these quesadillas fit the bill!  I am completely addicted to chorizo, it’s full of great smokey spiced flavour, has a fantastic, rich, deep red colour and adds so much to any dish you use it in.  Continue reading »

Super quick one: I’ve started contributing to the organic supermarket’s site, today, and you can read it here

It’s called: in defence of the 16E organic chicken.  Continue reading »

In the loving words of Miss Piggy, “Never eat more than you can lift.”  Where is this diet tip taken from?  Her cookbook – In the Kitchen with Miss Piggy.  Yes, we live in a world where puppets are running around the kitchen gathering their best recipes and then proceeding to publish them. (Can’t you just imagine Miss Piggy wearing an apron and chasing after Kermit with a spatula, either deliriously infatuated or seething with rage.  Continue reading »

Pork is one of those meats that’s a little underrated. There’s so much flavour in all the various cuts especially the fattier varieties but of course I like to use the more leaner cuts like the chop or loin. One of the main issues using these cuts is the chance of over cooking or drying them out. My technique of adding some broth when cooking the chops always gets you a juicy succulent result. This is no exception and it’s such an easy recipe to make.  Continue reading »

Pork is one of those meats that’s a little underrated. There’s so much flavour in all the various cuts especially the fattier varieties but of course I like to use the more leaner cuts like the chop or loin. One of the main issues using these cuts is the chance of over cooking or drying them out. My technique of adding some broth when cooking the chops always gets you a juicy succulent result. This is no exception and it’s such an easy recipe to make.  Continue reading »

Mark your calendar ‘Evening Echo Dine In Cork-Restaurant Week’ running from Friday the 30th of April to Sat the 8th of MayWhat’s On Offer In Restaurants?
Devised by the Restaurants Association of Ireland ‘Dine In Cork-Restaurant Week’ will see over 40 of the city’s top restaurants offering a special promotional rate of €25 per person for traditional three course dinner menus with tea and coffee.  Continue reading »

I was in a post office today and noticed a promotion for the Bloom Festival – pay two bills at a post office and get two tickets to Bloom for the price of one.
The Bloom Festival takes place in the Phoenix Park from the 3rd to the 7th of June, and is sponsored by Bord Bia.  Peter attended last year and really enjoyed it.
Related posts:

Bloom in the Park
Review: Food Producers at Bloom
Taste of Dublin Festival.  Continue reading »

Perhaps this post is a week too late, but fingers crossed we’ll be reigniting the BBQ’s when that highly anticipated heat wave hits Irish shores this summer. Niall’s Romaine Burritos sing summer. They’ve got that fresh, light and refreshing bite to go hand in hand with everything to do with summer BBQ’s, including screaming kids and scrounging dogs.

There’s a good crunch to this snack and a lovely creamy texture from the avocado.  Continue reading »

Flour tortillas on the menu today! Flour tortillas are a great alternative to bread and there’s no need to touch the oven! They taste great, are very easy to make and are ready in no time.

These tortillas are kept on the light side by using low fat milk and only one teaspoon of olive oil. They are great served as a wrap with some cooked chicken, lettuce and a little low fat mayo.The recipe will give 4 tortillas.

Ingredients
• 200g self-raising flour.  Continue reading »

Friday brought bare cupboards, exhaustion, and a reluctance to go to the shops. I fished out some butterhead lettuce, a can of tuna, and a few cherry tomatoes, poured over a simple balsamic dressing, and served with what can only be described as grated carrots with mayonnaise and toasted mixed seeds.
This wasn’t enough for a tired and hungry belly, but luckily the good folk at M&S had sent me on some of their new Italian bread range to sample.  Continue reading »

A taste of Mexico
I have mixed feelings about Mexican food. Although it’s delicious it can be quite samey, and it includes tortilla chips, the world’s most disgusting product. Still, tortilla chips aside, Mexican is always nice every now and again, and Lidl have silver tequilla to accompany the jalapenos, sauces, dinner kits, dips, and chips. Click here for more information.  Continue reading »

Special buys today at Aldi include:

Trekking boots – €19.99 per pair
BBQ tools – €2.99 each
Compass – €2.99

Click here for more information.
The current Super6 offer – a selection of fruit and veg for just 89c – includes pineapple, asparagus, and leeks. Click here for more information.
Related posts:

Special buys in Aldi
Special Buys at Aldi
Special buys at Aldi.  Continue reading »