So Thanksgiving will be celebrated in America, later this week. Each year I always feel that we are missing out on a truly wonderful holiday. I understand that the origins of the American & Canadian Thanksgiving are to do with the anniversary of their pilgrims settling in their countries, but the whole idea of having a holiday dedicated to giving thanks, I feel, is something really special.  Continue reading »

I know it’s November, and I’m a firm believer in waiting until December to exude the festive spirit, but I wanted to share an idea with you for a different take on a Christmas day dessert! Besides, we’re almost there … Continue reading →.  Continue reading »

Kilkenny Christmas Market – December 9th to 23rd

When I’m travelling abroad, I don’t usually go reaching for the Irish Times or the Kilkenny People. I like to throw myself into the local newspapers and see what’s happening on the ground where I am. That said, I’ve been tipped towards the following that appeared on KilkennyPeople.ie about the return of the Christmas market stalls on the Parade.  Continue reading »

A.  Continue reading »

Uachtair Nollaig – it’s a piece of cake!

The first Domestic Goddess, Hannah Glasse, is often credited with the famous recipe that begins … First, catch your hare. That’s how I feel about Christmas cakes… First, bake in September, then bathe in whiskey for 3 months. Doh! Missed that boat again!
Never mind.  Continue reading »

Everyone seems to love Italian food. Even people who don’t consider themselves foodies will have eaten pizza and their store cupboards will contain the likes of pasta and tinned tomatoes.  Continue reading »

Several years ago, I was asked to do a photoshoot where the subject was going to be food, a first for me but I thought it would be an interesting challenge and accepted. The date, time and fee were all agreed upon and just as we were about to finish our meeting, the client asked me if I’d be providing the food-stylist. To be perfectly honest, I had no idea what a food-stylist was, nor what he or she would do to food [and yes, I'm fully aware that the title contains a hint].  Continue reading »

Parties call for mini appetizers, dips and chips and of course, a little bit of snack mix. Whether you like yours with a little bit of everything, extra spice and everything nice or just plain old crunchy and tasty, we have the recipe for you!
There is nothing better than a little mix of something spicy and sweet. I find that cayenne pepper bumps up any recipe, especially when its a fresh blend.  Continue reading »

So, I have been a bit of a bad blogger over the last couple of weeks, in the sense that I haven’t actually blogged.  I extend my sincerest apologies for this.  I’ve had stuff on my mind.  You know the kind of stuff you would rather not think about but you have to.  The kind of stuff that gets in the way of cakey and chocolatey thoughts.  Then, Mr. LMUTB had a week off work and so we headed for the exotic west coast of Ireland for a few days r&r.  It was bliss.  Continue reading »

Home-made mayo is ridiculously simple to make and so much creamier and tastier than anything you will ever buy from a jar. It does have a shorter shelf life than most processed mayos, but you will find endless excuses to use up this yummy mayonnaise. I usually make ranch dressings, Marie rose and the tastiest cheesy toasties with mine.  You can also make variations of this mayo by adding fresh garlic to create a great garlic mayo or a few gherkins, capers and oilves to make a tartare sauce.  Continue reading »

As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience when buying wine, we’ve added something to make you contacting us just a little sweeter.

From now on, your calls to Curious Wines are on us. So whether it’s for help ordering, checking on a delivery, or asking us anything at all to do with wine, you can call us free on 1800 99 18 44.
We look forwarding to speaking with you.  Continue reading »

This recipe came about because of a bag of cooking apples I bought last week with great intentions.  As usual, real life got in the way and I ignored them in favour of making dinners rather than dessert.  The weekend came around and I decided to use them for my usual Sunday baking extravaganza (the new work people seem to be enjoying Monday mornings a lot more now…) and couldn’t decide between.  Continue reading »

 
Christmas gift (in March!)
Hint. Hint. For the wine lover’s lover.
Give the gift that lasts.
Wine weekend: starts €495.
(Also, below: Faustino 1 gift set €99
and Pandora Bell hampers form €29.99)
WINE WEEKEND COURSE AT
BALLYMALOE HOUSE
2nd – 4th
March 2012
Mary Dowey’s Weekend Wine Course has become a firm fixture on the spring calendar at Ballymaloe
House, Co Cork twice yearly for the.  Continue reading »

Irresistible

I’ve got two words for you: Sweetcorn Fritters. Sunshine on a plate.
I always associate them with cafés in New Zealand, eaten outside in the morning sunshine, sunglasses on and a long black, aka a double shot Americano, on the side.
We’ve been lucky enough to have a few Kiwi visitors recently – the Husband’s parents were with us last month and we just said goodbye to his sister and brother-in-law yesterday.  Continue reading »

You’ve got piles of washing ahead of you, and a small child is in the corner licking the pudding bowl clean. But the best is yet to come, the Christmas cheese is still to be served! Most supermarkets stock a stunning range of cheese and crackers at great prices. All you need to add is a homemade chutney and some figs and you’re good to go! For the classic crowd-pleaser, you’re going to need contrasting textures, tastes and shapes.  Continue reading »

I made my christmas puddings yesterday they smelt fantastic. The only issue I have with this is it’s to much temptation I can see myself digging into these before christmas but i’ll try my best I might stash them away in my parents home keep them out of sight and reach. I just love the tradition of making these it’s already got me in the christmas spirit.  Continue reading »

You’ve got piles of washing ahead of you, and a small child is in the corner licking the pudding bowl clean. But the best is yet to come, the Christmas cheese is still to be served! Most supermarkets stock a stunning range of cheese and crackers at great prices. All you need to add is a homemade chutney and some figs and you’re good to go! For the classic crowd-pleaser, you’re going to need contrasting textures, tastes and shapes.  Continue reading »

My grandma’s neighbor is a baker and gives her leftover bread, which she sometimes passes down to me (lucky me!). This week I received two loaves of focaccia and decided to use one of them for a sandwich experiment. Not only was I looking for that perfect, toasted, crispy, savory bite, oozing with a little cheese, I wanted to see how much food I could clear out of my cupboard at the same time.  Continue reading »

So Thanksgiving will be celebrated in America, later this week. Each year I always feel that we are missing out on a truly wonderful holiday. I understand that the origins of the American & Canadian Thanksgiving are to do with the anniversary of their pilgrims settling in their countries, but the whole idea of having a holiday dedicated to giving thanks, I feel, is something really special.  Continue reading »

Let me take you on a whirlwind tour of Cork and some of the fine eating & drinking I enjoyed there recently. As well as all the treats listed below, we also visited the Fish Wife chipper on MacCurtain Street and Market Lane restaurant on Oliver Plunkett Street. Separate blog posts will follow for those locations.

After checking in at the Gresham Metropole hotel on MacCurtain Street, we headed out for some drinks.  Continue reading »