Arrival day

My sprightly little red VW winds its way down the mossy Irish lane to the sign pointing me to Ballymaloe Cookery School.

A chicken runs across my path and I hear the sound of barking and quickly break to  see a bounding yellow, fat I might add, labrador. This is my welcome to the place I will be living for the next 12 weeks. 12 whole weeks in this small Irish country estate. 

I meet several girls, younger. Much younger girls. As in leaving school younger. Sweet but have I mentioned young? A quick cup of tea, teaming plates of scones piled high with whipped cream and raspberry and coconut slices were offered. I can feel my jeans tightening as the plates pass me by. Quick, off to see the accommodation!

I'm in the pink cottage, guess why? I'm feeling lucky and so I should be. I have a twin room all to myself, twin room! Two massive wardrobes, my own bathroom (with bath) and a radiator that seems not to turn off. Yes Mum, I have tried!

After unpacking whilst trying to move as much as possible (working off the plate of scones I looked at) I go off to wander around the grounds. Little piglets run around, rows and rows of veggies, rows and rows of glass houses and a maze. A real life maze! Not tall enough to get lost I might add, but a maze!

I've spent the last couple of hours reading through the 500 pages of information and recipes I was given on arrival. Oh yeah, that is just for week 1. I'm trying not to get scared by how much information there is for me to take in and learn. It's been a long 7 years since I studied..I have my colour coded lever arches at the ready, fear not!

Knives at the ready, until next time!

Getting excited and a little nervous!

I am currently sat in a small BnB in Fishguard awaiting my decided time to board the ferry to the Emerald Isle so that I can get started at Ballymaloe Cookery School.

For the next 12 weeks, I will be moulded, instructed, chopped up, burned and be filled with so many recipes and new information I might explode.

Since having booked on the course I seem to know more and more people that have attended, and loved, so something has to be right! Hopefully I will exit having fantastic technical skills, a myriad of traditional recipes, able to cook for 100 people whilst feeling confident and some fantastic contacts.

Fingers crossed.
x

Roasted pear and chocolate scones

Merry Xmas and a happy new year to all!
A little late, I know but life gets in the way sometimes, don't you think?

Well as it's been a house slightly full of people these little bad boys were a perfect treat!
Stolen from the wonderful Deb at Smitten Kitchen this recipe rocks!
I adapted it slightly adding less sugar, baking powder and using self raising flour however, they still tasted amazing!

3 firmish pairs
190grams self raising flour
85grams cup of sugar
½ cup of whole milk/cream
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
85grams unsalted butter
85grams of chocolate
2 eggs, 1 for dough and 1 for the glaze

Peel and chop pears then roast for 10mins or until slightly brown and soft

 

Mix butter, four, sugar, baking powder and salt into a crumb like mixture (see next pic!)

Chope your chocolate into the size chunks/flakes you want and add along with the pears

Add milk/cream to make a dough and make your round shape cutting into triangles of yumminess!

Colour on a rainy day

Just needed this to brighten the day :)

Dog treats #1

This, is for all you pet owners. Whether your super furry animal is a cat, dog, hamster, rabbit, guinea pig, horse (you get the picture) we are all aware that pet treats are an awesome way to spoil our beloved creatures.

The trouble is however, that there seems to be so many treats out there with far too much junk in and not enough goodness….you know what I mean, the weird non pronounceable chemicals with the three types of food dye..not fun. For us or for our animals. Why should we get to look after ourselves and think about all the ingredients, good and bad, that go into our food and we don´t think about our pets food in the same way.  I am guilty of it, looking only at the food, as in the main food supply for my puppy and not what goes into the treats. But…. no more.

So here is a recipe that my mum had been making (thanks for telling me mater!) for our old dog who had big problems with arthritis…

3 cups of whole wheat flour
1 cup of cheese
1 cup of vegetable oil
½ cup of whole milk
2 tsps tumeric/garlic powder
a little pinch of salt
1 egg
1tbs chia seeds

Mix egg, oil, milk, cheese and chia seeds together and let sit for a while.
Mix flour, tumeric/garlic powder and salt together and form a well in the middle.
Add the wet mix to the dry and stir.
Place mix onto a floured surface and roll into about 1 inch, little less and then cut into any shape you want.
Cook till goldeny around the edges, 190 for about 20mins.


TUMERIC is a great great great spice…yes, I love it! Famously known for helping with swelling and joints. This is the perfect, PERFECT thing to add to treats for your pet with arthritis problems.

CHIA SEEDS are famous for helping to keep people and animals hydrated. So, if you're planning a trip with your loved one then add a spoonful to an egg, mix around for a little and do this for several days leading up. You will notice that the chia seeds go glutenous (a lot of vegans substitute eggs for chia mixed with water/apple juice and this give the same binding consistency). So whether you are going on a trip or not, you pet can always do with water in their system and these little bits of magic will help with that.

Hope the pet enjoys :)

Final product...

Yippppeeeeee….I'm dust free! Dust free peeps and oh how joyfully clean it feels.
It's been half a week exactly since all work was stopped and on to final details, the paint line isn't quite straight, this little bit of wood needs sanding…you get it. I might be admitting I'm a perfectionist…hmmmm.

But finally, drum roll please, it's here!
Enjoy.

Inside outside

Maybe I mentioned that I'm covered in dust 24/7??? One of the reasons I'm covered in dust (yes I will go on and on about it!) is that I'm building two bathrooms…and one is kind of an inside/outside bathroom, with a beautiful gardinia tree coming out of the ceiling. Hopefully eventually to give you a feeling that you are bathing in lush tropical garden…think big rain shower head, the smell of gardinia and a view of mexican pink bouganvilla…

Here are a few inside/outside that got me going.