Easy Irish Soda Bread (brown)

June 19, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

3 cups whole wheat bread flour (as coarse as possible)

1 cup unbleached white bread flour (I use King Arthur brand) 

Pinch of salt

 1 teaspoon baking soda 

1 3/4+ cups buttermilk 

2 ounces butter (preferably Irish Kerrygold,available at Trader Joes) 

1 egg

Melt the butter over gentle heat. In a medium-sized bowl lightly beat the egg and then gradually add the buttermilk all the while stirring to incorporate the egg. Beat in the butter.

In another bowl sift and mix the dry ingredients and then stir in the buttermilk mixture.

If you are using a baking tin the mixture should be on the wetter side – ( like a thick brownie mix, something you could pour into the tin, not scoopable by hand really). If your dough is too dry, mix in small splashes of buttermilk until it is the right consistency.

Cook at 400F for 50 minutes on the middle rack. You want to hear a sort of hollow sound when you knock on the bottom of the tin. Resist the urge to take the bread out too soon, or the middle of the bread won’t get cooked through.

Makes 1 loaf.

Ice cream pie !!

June 19, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

You can have fun with this and it’s over the top, but everyone loves it

1 x Graham cracker crust (store bought) or Graham cracker cookies and melted butter mixed together then, pushed flat into a pie dish with high (ish) sides, then refridgerated for 1 hour.

1 x 12 oz can evaporated milk

4 cups mini marshmallows

1 quart of chocolate ice cream or another flavor

1 cup toasted sliced almonds

1 x 12 oz package of semi sweet chocolate chips (good brand)

whipped cream for garnish if you want

Combine chocolate chips, 1/2 the marshmallows and the evaporated milk in a saucepan. Cook until marshmallows melt and cool completely.

Layer half the ice cream on the bottom of the pie crust, then top with half the chocolate sauce and half the almonds and marshmallows that you didn’t melt.

Layer the other half of ice cream and finish with the sauce and more almonds and marshmallows.

Let stand at room temp before serving and top with whipped cream and more almonds if you want.

Appetizers · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Holiday Food · Nuts

Roquefort-Walnut Terrine with Apple Salad

June 19, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

8 FIRST-COURSE SERVINGS

2 cups walnuts (about 7 ounces)

1 pound Roquefort cheese, at room temperature

1 cup crème fraîche or sour cream

4 medium Granny Smith apples

2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup pure olive oil

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Crusty bread, for serving

Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool.

Line a 7-by-5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving 3 inches of overhang all around. In a large bowl, break up the Roquefort with a fork until slightly chunky.

Add the walnuts and crème fraîche and mix thoroughly. Scrape the mixture into the loaf pan and smooth the top. Cover with the overhanging plastic wrap and refrigerate until very firm, at least 6 hours or overnight.

Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. In a medium bowl, toss the apples with 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice.

In a small bowl, combine the remaining 2 teaspoons of lemon juice with the olive oil, mustard and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the vinaigrette over the apples and toss well.

Unmold the Roquefort terrine and discard the plastic wrap. Run a thin knife under hot water and wipe it off, then cut the terrine into 3/4-inch-thick slices, rinsing and drying the knife after each cut.

Arrange the slices on small plates and serve with the apple salad and bread.

Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Poultry

Boned and roasted chicken stuffed with goat cheese, lemon and herbs

June 19, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

This is a very easy and fast way of roasting a chicken in only 40 minutes as you have all the bones removed except for the wings bones. Ask the butcher to keep it in one piece as you will be putting some good stuff between the skin and the meat.
I always buy organic, free range chicken, especially as I once took a holiday next to a chicken farm (by mistake) and after taking a look around the farm, decided never to eat non-organic, free range chicken again, after what I experienced.

Some markets like WholeFoods look at you blankly when you ask them to bone out a chicken, but my local Bristol Farms doesn’t flinch at my request.

Lay the chicken flat on a lined baking sheet (I use non-stick aluminum foil). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Stuffing
This stuffing is going to be put between the skin and the meat.
1 small 5.5oz log goat cheese, room temperature
2 large cloves garlic, crushed
grated rind of a large lemon
4 good sized scallions, chopped fairly small
1 heaped tbsp fresh sage, chopped fine
2 heaped tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped fine
1/2 heaped tsp sweet paprika
cayenne pepper (if you like a kick)
salt and freshly ground pepper

Put all the stuffing ingredients in a bowl and mix together well.
With your fingers, gently separate the skin from the meat of the breast of the chicken and shove the stuffing mixture in between wherever possible, pushing it down to the bottom of the breast.
Also the thigh/leg area can take the stuffing too. Turn the chicken over and slather any remaining stuffing on the underside of the chicken.
Sprinkle with a little olive oil and more salt and pepper then turn the chicken over.
You should be able to see the stuffing under the skin of the chicken. Again, sprinkle with a light drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper, then put in the oven for about 40 mins until the skin is browned and it is cooked through. Sometimes it can take a little longer, so test it for done-ness. When cooked, transfer it to a wooden chopping board and let rest about 5 mins.

PS Of course, I completely forgot to take a picture of the browned crispy topped chicken when it was cooked as we fell upon it!!

Do-ahead · Gluten Free

Mushroom Bourguignon

June 15, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

The best part about this — well, besides all of it, — is that it’s a bourguignon without the heft of beef, but all of the indulgence. Plus, since you don’t need to braise it in the oven for three hours, it can be a weekday night dinner.

Serves 4

2 tablespoons olive oil 

2 tablespoons butter, softened 

2 pounds portobello mushrooms, in 1/4-inch slices (save the stems for another use) (you can use cremini instead, as well) 

1/2 carrot, finely diced 

1 small yellow onion, finely diced 

2 cloves garlic, minced 

1x cup full-bodied red wine 

2 cups beef broth

2 tablespoons tomato paste 

1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon dried) 

1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

1x cup pearl onions, peeled (thawed if frozen) 

Egg noodles, for serving 

Sour cream and chopped chives or parsley, for garnish (optional)

Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil and 1 tbsp of butter in a medium Dutch oven or heavy saucepan over high heat. Sear the mushrooms until they begin to darken, but not yet release any liquid — about three or four minutes. Remove them from pan.

Lower the flame to medium and add the second tbsp of olive oil. Toss the carrots, onions, thyme, a few good pinches of salt and a several grinds of black pepper into the pan and cook for 10, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for just one more minute.

Add the wine to the pot, scraping any stuck bits off the bottom, then turn the heat all the way up and reduce it by half. Stir in the tomato paste and the broth. Add back the mushrooms with any juices that have collected and once the liquid has boiled, reduce the temperature so it simmers for 20 minutes, or until mushrooms are very tender. Add the pearl onions and simmer for five minutes more.

Combine remaining butter and the flour with a fork until combined; stir it into the stew. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 more minutes. If the sauce is too thin, boil it down to reduce to the right consistency. Season to taste.

To serve, spoon the stew over a bowl of egg noodles, dollop with sour cream (optional) and sprinkle with chives or parsley.

Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Meat · Pasta · Sauces

My special bolognese sauce

June 15, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

Serves about 6

Olive oil and butter
1lb Sweet Italian Sausage, crumbled finely
1lb Ground pork
1lb Ground lamb
4oz small cubed pancetta
1 and 1/2 large onions diced finely
3 carrots diced finely
3 sticks celery diced finely
Garlic 3 cloves crushed,
Tomato paste (1/2 a small can)
1 x large jar of (San Marzano) marinara sauce
Whole milk (1 cup at least)
1 cup Chianti (at least)
1 tbsp fennel seeds, ground in mortar
fresh rosemary, chopped fine
salt and pepper

Chop fine all the vegetables and garlic and sauté in large pan of olive oil and butter.
Add the pancetta and ground fennel seeds and stir over moderate heat.
Add the sausage meat from the sausages, removing the casings and crumbling as fine as possible. Stir into vegetables and brown.
Add the pork and lamb and stir over a high heat to brown. Keep it all from sticking together.
Add red wine, milk and tomato paste and stir in Marinara Sauce. Stir well and lower heat and simmer for 1 and ½ hours.
Season and add parmesan cheese and cream if necessary before serving.
Stir the cooked pasta into the sauce and add more on top when serving in the bowls.
The milk is great and acts like cream and tenderizes the meat.

Dessert · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Vegan

Dried figs pickled in port and whisky

June 14, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

I have a jar of these sitting in my pantry and even when I first put them into the jar, they smelled incredible. Can’t wait to have them with a dollop of creme fraiche or icecream

Makes about 3 cups

1 cup water
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp pickling spices (mixed whole spices)
1lb dried figs, halved
2-3 tbsp whisky
1 cup port

Combine the water, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt and spices in a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 5 minutes, then add the figs and simmer for another 20 minutes.
Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Leave to stand for 24 hours.
Drain the figs and reserve the syrup
Sprinkle the figs with the whisky and pack into a sterilized wide-mouthed jar. Add the port to the reserved syrup, bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes.
Pour this hot mixture over the figs to cover.
Seal the jar and store in a cool dark place for 1 month to mature (yeah baby!) before using.
Enjoy!!!

Asian flavors · Dessert · Do-ahead · Gluten Free

Coconut Panna Cotta with mango and lime syrup

June 14, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

This is the ultimate of all the desserts I make, as it’s so exotic. You will love this if you love coconut!

Serves 6-8

For the Panna Cotta

2 & 1/2 cups heavy cream

1 cup unsweetened coconut cream (not coconut milk)

2/3 cup superfine sugar (caster sugar)

pinch of salt

3 gelatine leaves, soaked in cold water until limp then squeezed dry. (You can get these online)

2 mangos, peeled and cut into pieces, or slices. (or use pineapple)

15- 20 fresh mint leaves, cut into thin strips.

For the Lime Syrup

2 cups dark palm sugar (You can get this at an Asian market, or online)

½ cup superfine sugar

zest and juice of 4 limes

4 tbsp Malibu rum

Method

To make the panna cotta, pour the cream, coconut cream and sugar into a saucepan. Bring to the boil while stirring.

Add the pinch of salt and stir until dissolved.

Add the gelatine leaves, stirring to dissolve and pass through a fine sieve into a pitcher. Pour into dariole molds or ramekins and refrigerate for at least 5 hours.

Unmold either by dipping the bottom of the molds in hot water.

To make the syrup, place the sugars, zest and juice in a saucepan and reduce to a light syrup.

Pour in the rum and pass through a fine sieve. Set aside at room temperature. (This syrup can be frozen and used for up to 1 year!)

To serve, place a panna cotta in the center of a dish, arrange the mango around, scatter with finely chopped fresh mint and spoon over the syrup

Do-ahead · Gluten Free

Creamy baked Potato and Celeriac

June 14, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

This is unctuous, creamy and divine!

4 tablespoons butter, melted, plus a couple extra knobs, divided

2 pounds potatoes, peeled

1 small celeriac, peeled and halved

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pint heavy cream

1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped

1/2 a small bunch fresh sage, leaves picked and roughly chopped

4 ounces freshly grated Parmesan, divided

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a large, shallow baking dish.

Slice the potatoes and celeriac into disks just under 1-inch thick.

Place the slices into a large pan, cover with cold water, season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil.

Simmer for 5 minutes, then drain in a colander and allow the vegetables to steam dry for a minute or so. Put back into the pan with the cream, chopped garlic, sage, half the Parmesan and a good pinch of salt and pepper.

Mix together, then tip into the buttered baking dish and spread out evenly. Pour any mixture left in the pan over the top.

Sprinkle over the remaining Parmesan, cover tightly with aluminum foil and cook in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes until golden brown.

When the potatoes are cooked, take them out of the oven, remove the foil and sprinkle over the remaining Parmesan. Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until bubbling and golden.

Dessert · Do-ahead

Amaretti Semifreddo

June 14, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

I have made this several times and it always goes down a treat. The Amaretti cookies with the cognac gives it that really unique flavor that has your guests exclaiming “Wow, what’s in it?”
This is the sort of food I love that really gets people’s attention.

7 oz Amaretti cookies
5 large eggs
10 fl oz or 1 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tbsp sugar
4-5 tbsp of espresso (according to taste)
2 tbsp cognac
dark chocolate, for shavings for decoration

Crush the cookies in a small bowl and add the coffee and the cognac. Mix well until the cookies are pretty moist.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar and add them to the Amaretti mixture.
Separately whip the egg whites and the cream and add them in this order to the cookie mixture. Mix until the mixture is homogeneous but do not mix for too long or the egg whites and the cream will lose their volume
Pour the final mixture into a loaf mold. Put in the freezer and let rest for at least three hours if you like it somewhat soft or overnight if you like it very hard.

If you have trouble unmolding the semi freddo once well frozen just put the back of the pan under running water. Serve it with shaved dark chocolate on top and with additional Amaretti and/or whipped cream.