I haven’t had much luck with strong Italian beer. Most of the time it is merely a stronger version of a bland thirst slaker that curiously manages to taste of just as little.
I picked up this ‘Birra Artiganale’ in a fabulous Roman shop richly stocked with a truly mind boggling selection of wine, olive oil, pasta, meat, cheese and chocolate.  Continue reading »

Tacos are a family favorite that cannot be beat!  They’re simple, quick, budget-friendly, and definitely tasty.  Check out Mexican Recipe4Living’s top 10 taco recipes and try one for dinner tonight.

Here are our first 5 favorite taco recipes, provided by our brand new Mexican recipe site, http://MexicanRecipe4Living.com!
Shredded Pork Tacos: A Mexican-inspired dish with jalapeno peppers, olive, and garlic.
Chipotle Shrimp Tacos: Serve these shrimp tacos with fresh orange sections.  Continue reading »

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Have you planned your Thanksgiving menu yet? Only 2 days left!
Yesterday my missus posted vegetarian and vegetable side dish ideas and today I’m focusing on my bird (the turkey not my missus!).
If you haven’t picked out your turkey yet, read this. Not sure how to cook your turkey? Personally I’m a briner but salting is another great way to make sure your bird doesn’t dry out.  Continue reading »

This weekend, an early Thanksgiving was celebrated at the farm
The menu was planned with great care;
using many local & farm fresh ingredients
along with a few exotic choices

We invited 11 wonderful Irish and expatriate friends
whom we are so fortunate to have in our lives
to share our feast and give thanks with us

It was a magical evening filled with laughter, joy & warm wishes…
and then, as tradition would lend itself,
was ended with a pretty slice of pumpkin pie

Happy Thanksgiving!  Continue reading »

I recently joined an organic vegetable box service from a local company. Every two weeks I get a delivery of organic fruit and vegetables to the office. They’re fresh, in season, local and delicious! Since you’re receiving whatever is in season, you never know what you’re getting, which makes cooking for the two weeks ahead a mystery and an adventure! 
I really like the service and so far and it has made a difference to how I approach dinner time at home.  Continue reading »

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There’s a little bit on us in this week’s Dubliner magazine. That’s my brother Sean, there, hiding behind the cone…

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My friend Lisa is looking for a decent, affordable, baby-friendly restaurant in Dublin for her family’s annual Christmas breakfast. I’ve suggested Gotham Cafe just off Grafton Street or the new Gotham South in Stillorgan (disclosure: my flatmate works in the latter place). Does anyone else have any recommendations – or have you noticed any good deals being advertised?
Meanwhile, our reader Una Campbell asks:
Does anyone know where you can get a thermal cook pot ?  Continue reading »

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Time is running out for our terrible turkey twosome. They’re much larger than when they arrived – a little bit taller than a Little Missy at this stage – and strut about the garden as if it is their own especial fiefdom. They were eight weeks old when I picked them up from poultry specialist David Kelly; now, almost three months later, it’s nearly time to say goodbye.  Continue reading »

As published in the Irish Examiner on 2 October 2010.
“They’re rather…ugly,” said Scott, aka the husband, gazing intently at the pair of awkward-looking eight-week old turkeys that he had just wrestled from the boot of my car into their new home. All long legs, ruffled feathers and indignant hissing, they huddled together in the back corner. “We’ll have no problem eating such awful looking birds!” he added with satisfaction.  Continue reading »

As published as a sidebar to A turkey for the table in the Irish Examiner on 2 October 2010.
Barbara Kingsolver may be responsible for propagating the myth that turkeys are so suicidally dumb that they can drown just by gazing skywards as it rains but a quick online search will soon see you right.  Continue reading »

It wasn’t all mild, porter and stout in Belfast on Saturday. With 22 different drinks tasted, a bit of variety was needed, and this included one of the rare deviations from beer to be found on this blog. I had never tasted proper perry. Since Hereford Country Perry, at a modest 4.5% ABV, was on I thought I’d take the opportunity. It wasn’t worth it. This totally flat pale green drink was incredibly sweet without offering any real pear flavour.  Continue reading »

I’d never heard of Catalina chicken before coming across this recipe for it a few years ago in the Cooks Academy Cookbook.  Continue reading »

I have a problem. My boyfriend is English. You would think that would mean that he loves curry. It is, after all, supposed to be their national dish.
But no. He can’t eat chillies. His stomach can’t handle lentils. And he refuses chickpeas. So far, this has meant that he rarely – if ever – eats curry.
I, on the other hand, love it and I’ve been trying to convert him for years.  Continue reading »

It’s Superquinn’s 50th birthday this Thursday, and they’re offering triple points on all shopping.
It’s also a good time to go to Superquinn, as there’s so… many… nice things in Superquinn – once again it’s easily the best of the big four for special offers.  Continue reading »

O’Donnell’s Crisps – Tasty and oh so tempting.

I’m a crispoholic. I’ve been looking for bags of O’Donnell’s Authentic Hand Cooked Tipperary Crisps for a while. Easy Food magazine had them pinpointed to Super Valu but no joy in Kilkenny, similarly in Super Quinn. Thankfully though, a chance visit to Spar at the Newpark Centre in Kilkenny produced the crisps at the counter for €0.90 a bag.  Continue reading »

The suspense is over and the next Iron Chef has been chosen!  The winner?  New York City’s Marc Forgione!  He pulled through on the final episode with a turkey-free Thanksgiving feast and was named an Iron Chef!  Keep reading to learn a bit more about Marc and to get his killer sweet potato recipe!  Continue reading »

When artisan preserve-maker Theresa Storey of The Green Apron first set up stall at the Limerick Milk Market, geese were still being killed and plucked to order and there were always piles of feathers in the corners. This was in 1977 and she was there helping her mother, the family’s first “jam lady”, on her stall.  Continue reading »