As a child I used to enjoy walking up and down country lanes near where I lived foraging blackberries from the hedgerows. My grandmother used to make classic blackberry jam and the entire process was a part of the autumn feel. More than 40 years later it still is, though now I get to do the foraging close to my own house. Blackberry jam is lovely and I've made blackberry … [Read more...] about Spiced Apple & Blackberry Jam
cooking
Making Apple Jam
I have three apple trees in the garden and while they are still very young, they are producing some fruit. This year I was able to get enough off them to make a couple of fruit crumbles combining with some of my raspberries and blackberries. But there isn't enough to make other things. However I have been lucky enough to be given apples by several people, so this weekend, with … [Read more...] about Making Apple Jam
Eggs on Toast
I love eggs. Hard boiled, poached, omelettes, fried .. however you prepare them I'll probably enjoy eating them. Some egg dishes can be very complicated, but a simple poached egg on some nice bread or toast is full of flavour. Of course there are a multitude of ways to elevate even a simple dish, but while some techniques are stupidly time consuming they don't have to be. This … [Read more...] about Eggs on Toast
Over the top Intricate Chocolate Lion
There's a new food show on Netflix called "School of Chocolate" which stars chef Amaury Guichon. I've only watched a couple of episodes, but the concept is kind of like a cooking competition combined with a teaching element. But it's not simply about making nice chocolate bars or even cakes. It's about creating incredibly complex and intricate creations with chocolate. … [Read more...] about Over the top Intricate Chocolate Lion
12 Months in Ireland
This week marks 12 months or 365 days of me being stuck in Ireland. No travel. No airports. No jet lag (there *is* an upside to this!). I got back from what was to be my last international trip on March 10th 2020. At the time I knew that things were getting bad in some parts of the world. but I did not expect to be sitting at home 12 months later in what has now become my … [Read more...] about 12 Months in Ireland