Lemon Curd

I love lemon! It is refreshing and zippy and makes for wonderful sweet desserts as well as a multitude of savory applications as well (most importantly in my kitchen for my infamous hummus). I learned to make Irish Lemon Curd and I love it! I'm sure you will love it too.

Recipe courtesy of The Gallic Kitchen

Yield: 8 jars or approximately 16 Cups

Ingredients:

8 Lemons (grated rind & juice)

4 Sticks Salted Butter (454g)

2 C Sugar (500 g)

20 each Whole Eggs, beaten

Method:

1. Heat butter, sugar and lemon rind & juice til melted and clear.

2. Remove from heat and QUICKLY whisk in beaten eggs.

3. Return to low heat and continue to quickly whisk.

4. Stir with a wooden spoon (to avoid a more metallic taste).

5. Bring to a boil and keep stirring. When it bubbles and is thick, remove from heat.

6. Pass through a strainer and cool.

Melting sugar, butter, juice and rind. Eggs are beaten and ready to add.

Stir Stir Stir!!!

Added the eggs and it is thickening up

Done! Cool and set and add to pies, layer in cakes or enjoy as you like.

Fruit Scones

For those of you who know me, you know I don't bake. My sister bakes. My neighbor bakes. My friends bake. They are all wonderful bakers! Me, I don't bake. Give me cheese for dessert and I am a happy girl. Baking and pastry are both an art and more importantly, a science. It is a science I typically do not have the patience or passion for. This has apparently changed. I came to Ireland and now I bake. In fact, I bake a few things, and am pretty darn good at it. I have to tell you, my scones ROCK! And this is a country that knows their scones. 

By following the steps listed below, you too, can make scones that will impress even the most particular Irish foodie. 

Fruit Scones- Recipe courtesy of The Gallic Kitchen
Yield: 15 scones


Ingredients (all by weight):
1 kg Self Rising Flour
200 g Butter (slightly soft)
200 g Sugar (8 oz)
1 tsp Vanilla extract
300 g Sultanas (raisins)
3 each Whole Eggs
1 1/2 C Buttermilk or Milk (add 1 C at first and then adjust to desired consistency)
Egg Wash (2 whole eggs beaten)

Method:
1. On low speed, beat together all ingredients except milk.
2. When at consistency of bread crumbs, add milk (1 C at a time).
3. Continue to mix until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the bowl.
4. Turn onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes.
5. Roll to 2 inches in thickness and cut into circles with a cutter.
6. Arrange on floured baking tray and brush with egg wash.
7. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 F (200 C). Then turn oven off and let sit for another 5-10 minutes.

Consistency of bread crumbs

Ready to knead

Rolled to 2 inches in thickness

Cut cut cut

Floured baking tray

Egg wash

Done! Yum!! Enjoy!!!

Brown Bread

Brown Bread or "Soda Bread" is an Irish carbohydrate tradition. And it is delicious! The secret to soda bread is the leavening agent ... baking soda (instead of yeast). It is easy, contains whole grains (which you know I LOVE) and scrumptious with a touch of Irish butter and jam. Follow the easy steps listed below and enjoy making your own Irish Brown Bread :) 

Recipe courtesy of The Gallic Kitchen (thank you Sarah!)

Recipe yields 8 loaves

Ingredients (all by weight):

3 lbs 4 oz Whole Wheat Flour

3 lbs 4 oz AP Flour

150 g Wheat Germ

3 heaping tsp Baking Soda

1/2 C Olive Oil

3 tsp Salt

3-4 litres Buttermilk

Poppy and Sunflower seeds to top

Method:

1. Mix all ingredients together until the consistency of porridge.

2. Pour into parchment-lined baking tins, sprinkle with seeds and bake at 350 F (200 C) for 1 hour.

All ingredients are now mixed. This is the porridge consistency you are looking for. 

Ready to bake!

Ta-da! I particularly like the one on the front left with the nobly top!

Tunes

Ireland is known for it’s great musical talent. I have not only enjoyed many “tunes” around a fire and in pubs, but thanks to my co-helpers and hosts, I have also been introduced to some great artists from all over the world.

Many of these are the oldies and goodies that I am just now becoming familiar with (y’all know that I am a bit behind in the music world). But others are new ones to me and from around the world. I thought you might like to mix up your iPod selections or find something new on Pandora (in the US) or spotify.com (in Europe). Enjoy!

Adele
Brooke Fraser

Imelda May

Eva Cassidy

Mary Black

Mary Coughlan

Mumford & Sons

Feist

Avett Brothers

Langhorne Slim

Rodrigo y Gabriella

Fink

Ray LaMontagne

Tom Waits

Jeff Buckley

PJ Harvey

Jack Johnson

Brett Dennon

Regina Spektor

Temper Tap

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Gotan Project

Kate Nash

Bonobo

Jem

John Butler Trio

Bic Runga

Ellis

Stornoway

Gemeli Diversi

Parov Stella

White Mink- Black Cotton

Juliet Turner

Daft Punk

Alexi Murdoch

Words of Wisdom

I’ve learned a lot on this trip about people, life and myself. I have made a point of listening more. I have also tried to ask people what they have learned in life, marriage, business, and relationships. As I continue on this journey and as I am getting a bit older, more and more of it makes sense.

The earlier blog that highlights my thoughts on Italy (part 1) has some of my insights but I thought I’d compile more of them here. Many come from my cousin Laura, reflecting on what she has learned most in her 30’s (thanks Laura!). Others are my own reflections.

Enjoy, and perhaps some of these can be useful for you as well.

•       Do not be quick to judge others; you may not have a paper trail but you           are not perfect either.
•       Stop and play! “Smell the roses” and don’t stress so much.
•      Either it will all work out or it won’t, but worrying won’t change the                    outcome.
•      Find what makes you happy and BE THERE.
•      Live in the moment. Everything changes (whether you want it to or not).
•      Dance every day- everyone is crazy!
•      Patience, compromise and forgiveness will help a marriage last.
•      People are put on your life path for a reason. It is up to you to discover            why and be open to what they have to offer. You will learn something               special from everyone.

·      

31

If you know me, you know how much I LOVE my birthday. I usually like to celebrate it for the entire month of May and this year I was very much looking forward to celebrating it in another country. 


29 was spent in Modena, Italy with an entirely balsamic dinner (YUM!). 30 was an Epic Extravaganza with all my friends (and some special family members) in Colorado. 


31 was destined to be international.  When I planned this trip, I first had visions of mariachi bands playing in Mexico, then I thought maybe I’d celebrate with special sushi rolls and tea in Japan, then the thoughts of the Swiss Alps were in the picture, then the beaches of Croatia or Turkey. Finally I determined that a healthy pint of Guinness would be the ticket to welcome my 31^st year.

Pat and Alice (my hosts at the Valley House Hostel & Pub) were kind enough to start the celebration off right with a bottle of red vino and a chocolate cake! There were even candles to boot! Surrounded by my new friends (Jim, the Brit and Blanka, the Spaniard) I made a fabulous wish and blew them all out. It was a slow night at the hostel and pub so we call got to hang out in the bar with Pat & Alice, listen to some tunes and then retreat to our living room and watch a great movie- fun “slumber party” style!

The next day I had to say good-bye to my first Irish “family” and board a train to go to my real family in Kilkenny. These good-byes are not getting any easier. I am meeting great people and connecting with them in ways that make it very difficult to say good-bye every few weeks. I guess that is a good problem to have.

The Delaney’s met me with a warm welcome! I was shown to my own apartment at their home and was welcomed with this birthday spread!

Not only did they have cards from my family in the US, but they mailed me cards in the Irish post so they’d look like they were sent from far away! So cute. Yes, you do see another bottle of red vino, chocolate and other treats. And my own fridge, there were Brie and Irish cheddar cheeses, jams, Irish soda bread, cookies, crackers and a few more adult beverages… all for me! Boy, they sure do know the way to my heart! Laura had also thoughtfully printed information on my next destinations, provided great magazines and books and stocked the apartment with lovely bath items and a lush robe. I felt like a queen!

My actual birthday was a perfect day. Began with a run to a local estate and got caught in the rain- love the Irish weather (not). We then bought lotto tickets (no winners) and picked up Maia from school and went shopping at Mr. Wong’s. This is the best-kept secret in Kilkenny- a small shop with international ingredients from all over Europe and Asia- I was in food heaven! We bought stuff for our Italian feast and for making sushi and other delicious treats (yes, a hummus lesson did occur). Went home and prepared my favorite Italian specialties… a variety of bruschetta and pici pasta, Siena-style.

The cake was the best part- an individual linzer torte with 31 candles carefully placed in it. We skyped with my family in Florida and we all sang while I blew out the candles. Made the same wish again- can’t hurt right? The best part of all of this was that half the people skyping were celebrating their birthdays within one week of each other… Evan’s was on May 8^th, Laura and her brother Larry share a birthday on May 13^th and mine was May 11^th. Fun!

So 31 was brought in with family, food and vino… three of my favorite things. I think this will be a great year. Looking forward to what the next 365 days will bring. We all know that the past 365 have been quite an adventure and it’s not letting up any time soon. 

As they say in Ireland, “bang on”! 

A "Chill" Island

I have been on Achill Island, the largest island in Ireland (an island nation all of its own), for the past 3 weeks now. The hostel had been nearly empty on most nights with the pub supporting the few locals who decorate the bar every evening. This past weekend was Easter and we saw more people trickle in to this sleepy farming community. The music sessions around the peat fire, many pints of Guinness and endless chatter brought life back to the Valley House.

For the past few weeks, I have really been enjoying the slow life here. I sleep, run along the beaches, read my kindle, blog, cook, walk around the bogs, look at the sheep, listen to the waves crash and talk with my new Slovakian and Spanish friends who are also "working" here with me and interact with the great guests that pass through. I have really appreciated this time to be with myself and in nature.

Enjoy photos that capture some of the fun times I've had chilling at Achill Island.

Beautiful Beaches of Achill Island

                       Golden Strand Beach                                                                 

Silver Strand Beach (aka Doogort)

Keel Beach

Keem Bay

Wildlife of Achill Island

Whinn Flowers

Bluebells

Sheep!

Shellfish on a rock

Food & Drink 

Creamy mushroom, bacon and sage over pasta... trying to bring some Italian flare to Ireland!

Tuna, sardines on bread- a perfect beach picnic!

Local favorites... seafood chowder and soda bread

Mariana and Anni roasting marshmellows over the peat fire in the living room

The best s'more ever! We introduced the "all American" food to the girls. Digestive cookies that have a chocolate coating are the perfect way to make s'mores!

Achill Island Landscape

My "rock" memory from this island. I have been collecting stones from my travels all over the world since my first trip to Paris in 1997. I have stones from under the Eiffel Tower, Amazon Jungle, Italian Coast, Galapagos Islands, and now from Achill Island, Ireland. 

My Run

I have loved the 5 mile round trip run to Doogort Beach. I do it 2-3 times a week and love to sit on this rock and listen to the stream trickle over the rocks while listening to and watching the waves crash in front of me. Love this spot.

My route

The weather can change very quickly here. This is a shot of part of my running route home. 10 minutes after I took this photo it was sunny again. 

Hikes... Cliffs... Waves... Oh my!

Along the Atlantic Drive

More of Atlantic Drive on a typical cloudy day, just what you'd expect from Irish weather

Beautiful hike to Lake Annagh (Nakeeroga)

View of the Lake Annagh and the ocean from the ending point on the hike

View of Keel Beach from on top of the cliffs

Irish Culture

Music session at the Valley House

Measured pours not only ensure consistency and help with inventory but it's also the law!