So I decided to brace the 30 degree heat of last Saturday and spend the day in the Kitchen. Perhaps I was feeling a little homesick or lonesome - but for some reason I had the want in me for a slice of brown soda bread...so with no plans for the day I couldn't think of anything i'd prefer to be doing than to spend the day cooking. I had also spend a number of hours on friday reading this amazing blog http://eatlikeagirl.com/ an Irish lady living in London ...which inspired me to get up off my ass and back into the kitchen!
Himself had had a pretty late night/early morning so as I was getting up he was going to bed...which left me with a quiet house and more time to plan my cooking.
So first things first, I made my brown soda bread. Then while it was baking I took out the laptop and my cookbooks and made a list of all I was going to make...exciting times were ahead...
So I made the list - from Nevin Maguires cookbook CountyLiving - One I truely recommend..It was actually the book that inspired me to cook more - he is my favourite Irish Chef - I have met him a few times throughout the years, firstly as a Thermomix consultant in Ireland, then while in China he visited as part of Irelands Ernest and Young Entrepreneurs of the Year, then as a treat for my parents and myself we visited his restaurant which is in my home county of Cavan in Ireland. We stayed in they're B&B and had the most wonderful experience! I can safely say that my parents have never had a better meal before and will be hard pressed to ever have a better one. http://www.nevenmaguire.com/
Anyway back to the baking...so after a quick trip down to Wollies and the South Melbourne Market for supplies I found myself back home shopping in bags at my feet and the thermomix wizzing!
Nevin's White Irish Soda Bread with spring Onions and Cheddar cheese was created and thourally enjoyed.
I toyed around with the idea of making rough puff pastry for the Beef Wellington recipe I had stolen from the amazing website The British Larder http://www.britishlarder.co.uk/ . But decided with my tiny kitchen and overflowing fridge and freezer it was near to impossible to do so I bought a sneaky frozen one from Wollies while I was there!
So that leads you to what our dinner was that night - Beef Wellington with Creamy, Garlicky Potatoes.
When the boy got up at 4pm he was hungry so I made him our favourite Potato and Bacon Soup - always the best hangover cure - especially when served with freshly baked bread.
And for desert, well I just made some cookies...
Himself had had a pretty late night/early morning so as I was getting up he was going to bed...which left me with a quiet house and more time to plan my cooking.
So first things first, I made my brown soda bread. Then while it was baking I took out the laptop and my cookbooks and made a list of all I was going to make...exciting times were ahead...
So I made the list - from Nevin Maguires cookbook CountyLiving - One I truely recommend..It was actually the book that inspired me to cook more - he is my favourite Irish Chef - I have met him a few times throughout the years, firstly as a Thermomix consultant in Ireland, then while in China he visited as part of Irelands Ernest and Young Entrepreneurs of the Year, then as a treat for my parents and myself we visited his restaurant which is in my home county of Cavan in Ireland. We stayed in they're B&B and had the most wonderful experience! I can safely say that my parents have never had a better meal before and will be hard pressed to ever have a better one. http://www.nevenmaguire.com/
Anyway back to the baking...so after a quick trip down to Wollies and the South Melbourne Market for supplies I found myself back home shopping in bags at my feet and the thermomix wizzing!
Nevin's White Irish Soda Bread with spring Onions and Cheddar cheese was created and thourally enjoyed.
I toyed around with the idea of making rough puff pastry for the Beef Wellington recipe I had stolen from the amazing website The British Larder http://www.britishlarder.co.uk/ . But decided with my tiny kitchen and overflowing fridge and freezer it was near to impossible to do so I bought a sneaky frozen one from Wollies while I was there!
So that leads you to what our dinner was that night - Beef Wellington with Creamy, Garlicky Potatoes.
When the boy got up at 4pm he was hungry so I made him our favourite Potato and Bacon Soup - always the best hangover cure - especially when served with freshly baked bread.
And for desert, well I just made some cookies...
