Spicy garlic prawns

Saturday is always a big day of the week in my house for dinner, as is every other day but on Saturdays, everyone is around! So I was on starters tonight and felt like getting some prawns. I called into K O' Connells in the market with my sister and we got really nice big ones . They take about 5 mins to cook altogether. Very easy and simple to make but they taste great too! 

Ingredients:

-Chilli or Cayenne powder

-Garlic cloves

-Prawns 

Step 1. Peel the garlic cloves and crush

Step 2. Add the garlic cloves to hot oil. 

Step 3. When the oil is hot add the prawns, I usually leave them thirty seconds on each side until they turn a slightly crisp colour.

If you don't like spicy food you could always leave out the chilli and add ginger or you could just have plain garlic.

Bon Appetite! 

Berry Pavlova

Berry Pavlova is a super easy recipe and can be made by anyone. It can be served as a light dessert or simply something fruity and sweet for tea time. It  taste great and looks great ( if you want to show off at dinner parties :-))  It has the full works of a pavlova plus a little custard for those who are extra sweet tooths!

Ingredients:

-4 egg whites ( at room temperature) 

-Pinch of salt

-2 tsp of corn flour

-225g of icing sugar

-1 tsp of white wine vinegar

-1 tsp of vanilla essence (optional)

- Mixed Berries ( strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)

-Bird's custard
(  I know you may this may be considered cheating and I should be making my own creme anglaise but It's always been Bird's custard I use with this recipe!) 
-Cream

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 150 / gas 2

Step 2. Line two baking trays with parchment paper and draw a 9 inch circle  in the middle of each one.

Step 3. Mix egg whites and salt until stiff peeks form. Add the icing sugar gradually while continuing to whisk. Lastly, add the cornflour, vanilla and white wine vinegar.
(Your mixture should look glossy and stiffened)

Step 4. Using a spatula, pour the mixture in carefully into the circles drawn onto the parchment paper.
Step 5. Put into the oven and bake for 1 hour ( could be a small bit more or less depending on the oven)
When it is done it should appear to be an off cream colour and a bit soft on the inside.
Step 6. In the meantime, cut the green tip off the strawberries and half them while the smaller size ones can be left whole. Whip the cream ( I like to add a bit of sugar and vanilla to my cream to make it tastier!)
Step 7. Peel off the parchment paper gently and leave the meringue cool on a rack

Place the first layer of pavlova onto your serving dish. Spread the desired amount of custard on it followed by half the whipped cream. Add a few berries. Repeat this step but use most the berries on the top layer. It will make the cake look the part. 

Bon Appetite! :-)

Aroi | Cork Asian Street Food

Red Duck Curry (peas aubergine, baby corn, long beans, lime leaves, 

cherry tomatoes)

Last night my friend Aisling and I decided to visit Cork's latest Asian Street Food restaurant Aroi which is  found in the heart of Careys Lane.We arrived hopeful and determined to find tasty Malaysian food and Aroi we did! We were seated straight away and took in the decor surrounding us. The open kitchen was subtle but gave it a real Malaysian feel and added excitement to the experience. First of all, the menu was very simple offering noodle dishes, salads, stir fry's and curry dishes. We were spoilt for choice, trying to decide what to get!

 I got the Red Duck curry (picture above).I ate every last bit and savoured each bite. This dish was bursting with flavour and is perfect if you like spicy food.  The presentation was appealing to the eye with the vegetables snug at the bottom of the dish ( which were perfectly cooked!)

Aisling got the Fer Pho Bo Kar noodle soup. The presentation was amazing here  also with loads of fresh greens on top. Usually, I am not a big fan of Asian noodle soups as I think they are tasteless but to my surprise, this was not like any other I tasted in Cork. This was a huge stepping stone for me because they have always been something I'd avoid on a menu. Most importantly, the noodle dishes are made from rice noodles, which are gluten free accommodating those with different dietary needs.

Fer Pho Bo Kar (stirfry beef strips, Asia vegetables, rice noodles, in spicy beef broth)

We shared a side of duck spring rolls served on a banana leaf that were accompanied by a sweet chilli sauce. They were absolutely delicious, costing only €5.00. The banana leaf used in the presentation of Aroi's Asian street food gave it very authentic touch.

Porpia Bpet Tod (duck rolls, sweet chilli, pickled chilli and cucumber)

The staff here were relaxed and friendly. Former Michelin star Head Chef Eddie Ong Chok Fong is the brainchild behind Aroi's success. We were glad to meet him last night while he was making sure the customers were enjoying themselves . I noticed there was good communication between all the staff with loads of smiles being exchanged. The positive energy of the staff  compliments the depth and vibrant food they have to offer.  I will definitely be coming back here soon. Check out Aroi's Facebook page or Website for more information.

“It is not just the authentic Asian food, made with fresh herbs from his native Malaysia and Thailand, but the terrific value that customers can enjoy. With no dish above the €10 mark, groups can indulge in mains with as many side dishes that their appetite can manage, rounded off with delicious home-made gelato and coffees. Noodles dishes are created using rice noodles which are naturally gluten free, and everything is made with an abundance of fresh vegetables and are low in fat yet full of good things. With Asian beers and wines to match your feast, Aroi is sure to excite the discerning palates of Cork food lovers.”

Coqbull | French Church Street, Cork

Coqbull is Cork's latest new restaurant which can be found in the middle of French Church Street. I've been here twice already and feel it deserves to be praised somewhat for its authenticity in Cork. It is a quirky restaurant with an open kitchen and cocktail bar. It specializes in burgers, roast chicken and ribs. Luckily for me I can now say I have tried nearly everything on the menu and it is definitely worth a visit

The first thing you will notice is the funky surroundings in Coqbull. There is white tiles on the wall, old school chairs and tables and extremely friendly staff. Their waiters/waitresses seem very relaxed working there wearing jeans, converse and vans. This hipster look adds to the whole atmosphere of the place which I loved.

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I first started with a Coqtail with my friend Aisling as we waited for our other two friends to come along. I was indecisive as always but went for the 'Coqbull Martini Cooler'. It was so colourful and tasty! I could see it being made by the Mixologist at the bar where he cut up fruit to put inside it. This reassured me how fresh and how much effort was put into it.

Coqbull Martini Cooler ~ Martini Bianco, lemon juice, sweet and sour, sugar and cranberry juice.

€9.00

We began our meal with the combo platter which was a "Little taste of everything". It sure was! We got Coqbull wings with blue cheese sauce, buttermilk chicken wings with salsa and cider glazed pork ribs.Luckily we were sharing as there was a great amount of food there. Everything was delicious. The buttermilk wings were tender as were the ribs. They were cider glazed and the hint of sweetness could definitely be tasted from it. The Coqbul wings were marinated and slightly crispy served with creamy homemade blue cheese sauce. The Coqbull wings and ribs were both Gluten Free which makes it so much easier and enjoyable for people who need this type of option on the menu.

Combo platter~ Coqbull wings (GF) cider glazed pork ribs(GF) and Buttermilk Chicken wings

The first time I was here I got 'The bacon Bull' (picture above) which was more than what I was expecting. Insead of fries I got a side salad as I get full very easily. The side salad was very interesting as it had baby corn on the cob and mange tout in it. It was unusual but tasty and also healthy with some cool vegetables! The Burger..... was AMAZING. I have never tasted something like it here in Cork. It was so juicy and tender. The bacon that was used was streaky bacon giving it an all American feel.

Bunless Bull~ Beef, crisp bacon, cheddar, onion and crisp iceberg lettuce (GF)

The second time I was here I ot the 'Bunless Bull' This was also gluten free and came out well presented on the plate. I tasted there mac and cheese but i started to get a 'food baby' and  could not possibly enjoy to eat any more. 

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I needed something to wash down all the food I had eaten and got this Fentimans Victorian Lemonade. The menu is very quirky consisting of lemonades, craft beers and funky course names. Coqbull is definitely adding excitment to dining out in Cork and surely is a new place for my friends and I to eat out.

Find out more on their website and FB page ! :)

Apple and Blackberry Jam | Autumn 2014

Autumn is one of the best times of year to go foraging for fruits. It is the season of Blackberry picking which I am very familiar with since I've been young. I live on a country road with an endless sight of fields which are full of blackberries every year. This year I went picking with my little sister Eve. Unfortunately we are both under 5ft4 so we couldn't reach the ones very high up but we managed to get enough for a few jars of yummy jam!

 Ingredients:
-800g of Blackberries
-800g of peeled, sliced cooking apples
-Juice of 1 lemon
-1.3 kg of granulated sugar
-6-7 Jam jars
Tip: Make sure jam jars have been cleaned and labels taken off. I like to put them through the dishwasher then use a cloth and scrubber to take off the label.

Pick the blackberries in a safe area during the day. Make sure with every blackberry you pick has a white core once picked from the vine (This means the berry is ripe!) . After picking, leave the berries soak for an hour.

Step 1. Put the apples, blackberries, lemon juice and 150ml of water into a large pot. Leave it on a medium heat for 25 minutes until reduced.
Tip: Place lemon in the microwave for 20-30 seconds until warm then cut in half and squeeze. This makes it easier to get all the juice out

Step 2. In the meantime, put a saucer into the freezer to chill.
Step 3. Add the sugar and keep stirring until dissolved. Bring to the boil and boil rapidly 5 minutes.
Step 4. Take the chilled saucer out of the freezer and place a teaspoon of jam on it for 1 minute. Drag your finger over it and if it wrinkles , it has reached setting point. If not, leave the pot of jam boil more as this will reduce it then try again with another chilled saucer.

Step 4. Take the pot off the heat and leave cool for 40 minutes
Step 5. Microwave the jam jars for for 30-45 seconds depending on the size of the jar. This will sterilise them and extend the longevity of the jam.
Step 6. Pour the cool jam into a jug then pour into the jam jars.
Step 7. leave settle for 15 minutes

Refrigerate and enjoy :)

~Serve with scones, croissants, toast, oat cakes, rice cakes, pancakes, cake, porridge~

The Castle cafe|restaurant|bar | Blackrock, Cork

It was well overdue a catch up with my friend Maeve I used to work with and dearly miss.She had left me for the 'big smoke' to follow her dreams. We badly needed a catch up after spending endless hours in a restaurant working together to barely any time together at all. So after working from 4am til 1pm, I went straight home and got ready in a hurry! We were meeting Gemma who was another work friend. Tired with exhaustion, good friends and good food were the only thing to pick me up! 

The Castle is a well known cafe that is linked to the popular restaurants Market Lane and Orso that are found in Cork City. It is located in a spacious area on the banks of the River Lee. It is extraordinary in a unique way as it is found in a castle which is also an observatory space for science. There are many different menus throughout the day which also includes a coeliac friendly menu. It can often be difficult to find tasty gluten free food but there is a lovely option here (including my favourite dessert!!)

I have heard a lot about The Castle's sandwiches and after not much convincing I had ordered one in a heartbeat . The bread was fresh and was full of brightly coloured ingredients. The combination of flavours was perfect in every way. The mashed sweet potato was very impressive as I had never encountered or thought it would fit so well in a sandwich before. I was more than pleased with what I ordered !

 Lemon, rosemary & thyme marinated chicken with roast peppers, goats cheese,sweet potato and rocket

Dessert Time

Staring at the menu for about ten minutes, none of us could decide. They all looked so amazing so we had to settle by choosing three and shared. There was three spoons for each dessert which made us laugh having nine spoons between us! The desserts were scrumptious but strawberry glory was my favourite. I am a sucker for anything with strawberries and the vanilla creme anglais just topped the whole thing off. I couldn't get enough so hands down I will admit I devoured most of it!. My second favourite would have to be the coffee custard creme layered with bananas. This was rich and had a creamy texture that melted in your mouth. Bananas,coffee and nuts together are to die for together so I was in my element. Lastly, the half baked brownie was very inventive. The presentation was superb and had a small cute rectangular shape. It tasted amazing with the added touch of cream and pistachio.. The desserts are carefully constructed in a way to suit the different needs of customers. I'm far from a picky eater so I thoroughly enjoyed the adventurous desserts.

 Strawberry glory with crushed meringue, vanilla creme anglais and ice cream

Coffee custard cream, layered with bananas and almond florentine crunch

This Castle is definitely one of my favourite places to lunch in Cork. It is only 2km from the city which is very close to the centre but far enough to escape the busy atmosphere.

Find out more on there FB page and website ! :)

Holly xoxo

14A | French Church Street, Cork

Recently, I was catching up with an old college friend who I hadn't seen in awhile. We decided to re live the memories of our college days by visiting this little cafe on French Church Street. The location of this cafe is down a little street which is always full of mouthwatering sights of food and smells. We were regulars, often found guilty for spending hours upon hours here chatting when college deadlines were approaching. It often led to last minute decisions to hit the town dancing for the night. The funny thing is about this cafe is we never sat inside for a meal in the three years we were going there. We always sat outside where the waiters would turn on the heaters if needed. Even in Winter, we ate outside. It was our 'thing' , nevertheless  the inside has a beautiful decor full of mirrors everywhere. The menu is full of carefully put together dishes which include gluten free and dairy free etc to suit various different diets. 14A is a gem in the heart of cork city which is definitely worth a visit.

I thought this quote would be very fitting here and I'm sure nearly every tight knit college gang would understand...

" Life's too short to drink crappy coffee and cry about boys who don't care"- 

Matty Healy (The 1975)

Some of the amazing food...

Starters:

House baked breads with dips

Main course:

Tiger prawns and sliced chorizo cooked in Cajun spices and garlic on mixed leaf salad.

Bread and dips is a very simple but palatable entree which is rich in flavours including balsamic, sun dried tomato pesto and green basil pesto. They were accompanied by a wide variety of freshly baked breads. This dish is suitable for sharing and is extra yummy with a glass of wine!

The prawn and chorizo salad is a must have here! It will always be a favourite for me to order . It is a light but filling dish which is suitable for people who get really tired (aka food coma!) after too much carbs like myself. I'm usually very skeptical about ordering chorizo and prawn when dining out as they can often be poor quality. 14A sets a good standard to meet this quality and freshness. Being a big fan of spicy food, this little bit of heat can be found in the salad dressing which is made of Cajun spices and garlic.

This blog post wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention the lovely desserts found in this restaurant.The girls and I would often come here for a coffee and a sweet treat. Good day or bad day, it always made us feel a bit better eating warm chocolate fudge cake in each others company.

A little personal message to 14A...

14A, Thank you for the long night memories with such amazing people. But most importantly, Thank you for such the incredible food which got us through the college years. 

Visit there FB page or website to find out more! :)