Mince Meat

I have mentioned a time or twenty on the blog that I am not a huge fan of dried fruit.  As a child I was always repulsed at the thought of mince pies at Christmas time.  My mam would heat some up in the oven for my dad or guests and they would be served with a nice dollop of fresh cream or maybe some custard.  Cream and custard with mince?! Bleugh. 

Then one year we made them in school and I was confused to find that there was no meat mixed in with the sweet mixture.  When I tasted the fruits of my labour I was pleasantly surprised and since then I have enjoyed many a mince pie over the festive season.  They are usually a last minute thought for me that I pick up with the final grocery shop before the big day but this year I decided to make my own, completely from scratch, including the mince meat.

I looked at many recipes but didn't find any that I liked so I decided to come up with my own.  I had a good understanding of the basics from reading so many other recipes and so set about it with my pen and trusty note book in hand.  I haven't used either butter or suet in the recipe as I wanted to cut out any unnecessary fat or heaviness.  The mixture gave off the most amazing fragrance as it simmered in the hob and looks beautiful today in it's jar.  I will do another post about mince pies closer to Christmas including a pastry recipe and an assembly how to.  For now you can mix up a batch of mince meat and leave the flavours to mature for a couple of weeks.  Enjoy!

Mince Meat
(makes approximately 800ml)

60ml/2floz Port
150g/5.3oz Dark Brown Sugar
Zest & Juice of 1 Orange
Zest & Juice of 2 Lemons
75g/2.65oz Raisins

75g/2.65oz Currants

75g/2.65oz Sultanas

75g.2.65oz Dried Cranberries
75g/2.65oz Chopped Almonds
4 Apples, peeled and grated
1tsp Cinnamon
1tsp Mixed Spice
1tsp Nutmeg
1oz Brandy
2tbsp Honey
1tsp Vanilla Extract

1.  Dissolve the sugar in the ruby port in a pot over a gentle heat.

2.  Add in the orange and lemon juice and zest, dried fruit, grated apple and spices.

3.  Simmer for 20 minutes or until the fruit has plumped up and absorbed most of the liquid.

4.  Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.  Add the brandy, honey and vanilla extract.  Stir well to incorporate.
5.  Spoon into sterilised jars and seal.

This will keep for a few weeks once stored in a cool dry place in the unopened sterilised jars.  Once opened refrigerated and use within a couple of weeks.

To sterilise jars:

Wash in warm soapy water or put through a hot cycle in the dishwasher.  Place into a preheated oven at 150C/300F/Gas Mark 2 for 15 minutes and fill and seal while the jar and contents are still warm.

No Churn Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

If I were to put my house up for sale the estate agent would no doubt market my kitchen as compact, or bijoux.  That's small to me and you folks.  I could probably swing a kitten in it (note the use of the word probably, I have never attempted to), but think I would struggle with a full grown tabby.  It is a perfectly functional kitchen.  It is my favourite room in the house, filled to bursting with my very favourite things.  I spend so much time in there I like to have my favourite things around me so I can look at them each and every day.  It is full to capacity though. 

My teeny tiny baking supplies press is groaning under the weight of bags of flour and sugar and tubs of sprinkles and bottles of essence.  I always open the door with one hand blocking my face for fear of what missile will explode free from it's designated spot at the prospect of freedom from the squashed confines within.  With space being so limited I also have to show great restraint when it comes to my lust for new and sparkly kitchen machines and gadgets.  I have a food processor, a blender and a hand held electric whisk and for now I shall have to be content with my lot because there is no more room at the inn.  My longing for an ice cream maker will have to remain just that.  But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy home made ice cream.  Not since I discovered a no churn ice cream that only requires enough shelf and freezer space for a loaf tin.  Result.

Here is my version of Strawberry Ceesecake Ice Cream.  I have tried another flavour and will post more as I try them out.  I hope you enjoy this one.

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

1 tin of Condensed Milk
600ml Double Cream
1tsp Vanilla Extract
8oz of Cream Cheese
300g of Strawberries, washed, hulled and quartered
2tbsp fresh Lemon Juice

1.  Place the strawberries in a food processor and blitz until you have a smooth puree.

2.  Place all of the ingredients(including the pureed strawberries) into a large bowl and beat with an electric whisk until thick and quite stiff.

3.  Transfer the mixture into a loaf tin, cover with cling film and freeze until required.
4.  Allow to soften slightly before serving.

Double Chocolate Flower Pots

We had some people over for dinner last Sunday.  I have already posted about the tears & tantrums and the disasters but thankfully something went right on the day.  Despite the aul fellas at the table complaining that they don't eat dessert and me telling them in no uncertain terms that I didn't care just to take the thing and let it sit in front of them, this provided a very pleasant end to the meal.  These are another little gem that I found on Tasty Kitchen, the food blog on the Pioneer Woman.  When I saw a picture of them I knew instantly that my life would not be complete until I made them.

As it was a dessert for adults I decided to adapt the recipe.  The original recipe basically calls for an assembly of shop bought items.  I chose to make the various components, replacing pound cake with chocolate brownie and ice cream with white chocolate mousse.  I was slightly lazy and stuck with shop bought biscuits and given the success of Oreo Chocolate Creme's in my Mint Crisp Pie base I gave them another outing.

Feel free to stick with the original recipe and offer your guests a wow factor dessert for practically no work, or if you fancy something a little more decadent you can whip up the brownie and mousse with very little effort.

***Before you read the recipe be warned that it looks like a lot of work but the brownie and white choclate mousse recipes only take about 10 mins each to make and assembly of the finished pots take about another 10 mins, after that it is just a matter of popping them in the fridge to allow them to set.***

In addition to the recipes below you will also need:
75g/2.5oz Oreo Chocolate Creme's (crushed)
8 Drinking Straws
8 cut flowers (ensure the stems will fit into the drinking straws)
8 small terracota pots

Chocolate Brownie

(this recipe will make a tray of brownies, approx 15 depending on the size you cut.  You will have some brownies left over to enjoy later with a cup of tea)

250g/9oz Good Quality Dark Chocolate (I use 70% Cocoa Solids)
200g/7oz Unsalted Butter
200g/7oz Caster Sugar
3 Large Eggs
125g/4.5oz Plain Flour
50g/1.75oz Cocoa Powder

1.  Line a baking sheet with foil.  Preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas Mark 3.
2.  Put some water into a small saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer over a medium heat.
3.  Break up the chocolate and dice the butter and place them in a heatproof bowl and place over the pan of simmering water.  Turn off the heat and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.
4.  In a seperate bowl mix the sugar and the eggs using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
5.  Add the chocolate mixture to the egg and sugar mixture and stir to combine.
6.  Sift in the flour and the cocoa powder and again stir to combine.

7.  Pour into the lined baking sheet and smooth the top with a spatula.
8.  Place into the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.  A clean skewer inserted into the centre should come out with a little of the mixture smeared on it.  The brownie is best if still a little squishy and moist rather than completely firm.
9.  Allow to cool for approximately 5 minutes before removing from the tin and leaving to cool on a wire rack.



White Chocolate Mousse
(makes enough to serve 4 as a dessert on it's own or 8 when added to this dessert)

175g/6.2oz White Chocolate
90ml/3floz Milk
2 Egg Whites
1/4tsp Lemon Juice
225ml/7.5floz Double Cream

1.  Put some water into a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over a medium heat.
2.  Break up the chocolate and place in a heat proof bowl.  Put the bowl over the pot of simmering water and turn off the heat.
3.  Once the chocolate has melted, stir in the milk and set aside.
4.  Whip the egg whites with the lemon juice until they form stiff peaks and then gently fold into the chocolate mixture.
5.  Transfer to a pouring jug.

To assemble the pots:

1.  Once the brownie has cooled cut out rounds that will fit into the bottom of the flower pots.  You can use a round cookie cutter if you have a suitable size, cut around the bottom of the flower pot or I used a 1floz measuring glass turned upside down.  Press the brownie into the bottom of the pots.  If they break or crumble slightly don't worry, just press it all down for a nice snug fit.

2.  Take a drinking straw and push it into the centre of the brownie base.  Once in place snip the straw below the rim of the flower pot.
3.  Carefully pour the white chocolate mousse mixture in, dividing evenly between the 8 pots.

4.  Place the pots into the fridge and leave for at least 2 hours to set.
5.  When you are ready to serve place the Oreo biscuits in a resealable bag, expel all of the air and seal.  Crush the biscuits with a rolling pin.  Sprinkle over the mousse layer.
6.  Finally place the stem of a cut flower into the straw.

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Yet another #twookiparty recipe for you folks.  I know, I know.  I went a bit mental but sure you can knock up a batch of cookies in ten minutes and they go down so easy, too easy!  I have to say that I would probably add more strawberries to these next time as I found that the flavour was very weak but they were still delicious cookies.  See what you think for yourself.

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Yields approx 36
(I divided the dough in 3, baked a dozen and froze two rolls of dough to bake at a later date)

12oz Strawberries, hulled and cut into 1/4 inch dice
1tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
100g/3.5oz Granulated Sugar
240g/8.5oz Plain Flour
2tsp Baking Powder
1/2tsp Coarse Salt
90g/3oz Cold Unsalted Butter, cut into small pieces
160ml/5.5floz Double Cream
Granulated Sugar for Sprinkling

1.  Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5.
2.  Line 3 baking sheets with greaseproof paper. (If you are baking the cookies in batches line one baking sheet)
3.  In a small bowl combine the strawberries, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar.

4.  Sieve the flour and baking powder into a large bowl and add the salt and remaining sugar.
5.  Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or rub it in with your fingers, until the mixture rembles coarse crumbs. (Make sure hands are cold if you choose to rub in the butter to ensure the butter does not become too soft.)

6.  Add the cream and stir until the dough starts to come together and then add the strawberry mixture and stir to incorporate.
7.  Using a tablespoon sized measuring spoon, or a regular measuring spoon, drop balls of dough 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.  Flatten slightly with the tines of a fork and sprinkle with some granulated sugar.
8.  Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes (oven temperatures vary so times may be slightly different from oven to oven) until golden brown.
9.  Remove from the oven and allow to sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

10. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Lemon Sugar Cookies & Chocolate Orange Cookies

Last Friday I participated in a #twookieparty (a cookie bake off on Twitter) with some other Irish foodies.  I promised recipes would follow so here are the first two.  I am lumping these two together as I used the same basic dough recipe for both.

Lemon Sugar Cookies

Yields approx 36
(I divided the dough in 3, baked 1 dozen and froze 2 rolls of dough for later use)

450g/15oz Plain Flour
1tsp Baking Soda
1/4tsp Salt
395g/14oz granulated sugar
44g/1.5oz packed light-brown sugar
Grated Zest of 1 Lemon
1tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
220g/8oz Unsalted Butter, softened
2 Large Eggs
Granulated Sugar, for sprinkling

1.  Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.   Line a baking sheet with grease proof paper. (if you are baking the full quantity of dough you will need 3 lined baking sheets or you will have to bake in 3 seperate batches)
2.  Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a bowl and set aside.
3.  Put the sugars and lemon zest in a seperate bowl and mix with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the butter and mix until pale and fluffy, about 1 minute.
4.  Mix in the eggs, 1 at a time, and then the lemon juice.
5.  Reduce the speed and gradually add the flour mixture; mix until just combined.
6.  Using a tablespoon sized measuring spoon or a regular tablespoon place dough 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheet.
7.  Flatten the cookies slightly with a fork and sprinkle the tops with granulated sugar, then lightly brush with a wet pastry brush and sprinkle with more granulated sugar.
8.  Bake the cookies until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
9.  Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Chocolate Orange Cookies

Yields approx 36

(I divided the dough in 3, baked 1 dozen and froze 2 rolls of dough for later use)

450g/15oz Plain Flour
1tsp Baking Soda
1/4tsp Salt
395g/14oz granulated sugar
44g/1.5oz packed light-brown sugar
Grated Zest of 1 Orange
2tbsp Fresh Orange Juice
220g/8oz Unsalted Butter, softened
2 Large Eggs
100g Plain Chocolate, melted

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Line a baking sheet with grease proof paper. (if you are baking the full quantity of dough you will need 3 lined baking sheets or you will have to bake in 3 seperate batches)
2. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a bowl and set aside.
3. Put the sugars and orange zest in a seperate bowl and mix with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the butter and mix until pale and fluffy, about 1 minute.
4. Mix in the eggs, 1 at a time, and then the orange juice.
5. Reduce the speed and gradually add the flour mixture; mix until just combined.

6. Using a tablespoon sized measuring spoon or a regular tablespoon place dough 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheet.

7. Flatten the cookies slightly with a fork.
8. Bake the cookies until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
9.  Once they are cool melt the chocolate in a bowl in the microwave (if you do not bake all af the cookie dough simply reduce the amount of chocolate accordingly ie. if you bake 1/3 of the cookie dough melt 1/3 f the chocolate)
10. Using a teaspoon drizzle lines of chocolate across the cookies to form a pattern.  I drizzled in different directions but you can do it which ever way you prefer.

11.Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Lemon Curd (GF)

The weather has been glorious this week in Dublin and so I have been pushing heavy chocolatey recipes to the back of my mind in favour of zesty, fruity flavours perfect for the sun.  (Although I might sneak in a light chocolate something or other at the end of the week.)  Anyhoo, having enjoyed the delicious pineapple and mint concotion I made the other day I decided something similarly fresh and zesty would be very welcome while temperatures remain in the high teens.  I wanted something quick and easy to make that I can keep in the fridge to whip up simple desserts while the sun keeps us company.  This hit the spot perfectly, it was made in 15 mins and only required one pot so there was minimal washing up required.  Serve with scones, pancakes, ginger cake, meringue, mix into some icecream, smear on some brioche or biccies.  The possibilities are endless. Enjoy.

Lemon Curd
Makes 3 x 1lb/350ml Capacity Jars

Grated Zest & Juice of 4 large, juicy Lemons
4 Large Eggs
12oz/350g Caster Sugar
8oz/225g Unsalted Butter, at room temp and cut into small pieces
1 Heaped tbsp Cornflour

1.  In a medium sized saucepan whisk the eggs with a balloon whisk.
2.  Add the rest of the ingredients and place over a medium heat.
3.  Use the balloon whisk to whisk continuosly until the mixture thickens.
4.  Turn the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer for a further minute, continue to whisk.
5.  Remove from the heat and immediately pour into the hot sterilised jars.*
6.  Cover with waxed discs (you can buy these in baking supply stores but if you don't have any use some greaseproof paper), seal while still hot and allow to cool before labelling.

7.  Store in a cool place and this will keep for weeks.

* Wash the jars in hot water and then dry out in an oven at 100°C/212°F/Gas Mark 1/4 for 15 mins, fill and seal while hot to create a sterile vacuum seal.  Alternatively wash on a hot cycle in the dishwasher without detergent.

I halved the above recipe without a problem and used 1 jar, I did mean to fill the jar with water and measure it's capacity but forgot in my excitement and only remembered after I had sterilised it.  I was too lazy and impatient to sterilize the far again so didn't take the measurement, sorry.  I am going to give this jar to my dad as part of his Fathers day presents as I know he will love it, so I will make another half quantity of the above recipe to live in my fridge for a few weeks.

Bord Bia Pork Pack

I have been invited to attend a food blogger event by Donal Skehan of the Good Mood Food Blog  this coming Thursday, and as a result Klara from Bord Bia sent me an Irish pork pack in advance of the event.  I say a pork pack, it was a loin of pork to be precise.  As there are only the two of us in the house I knew we would not get through the beast in one sitting so decided to spread it out over two meals.  On friday night Mr Boo carved off two steaks and trimmed them of any excess fat.  They were cooked as follows:

Lemon, Thyme and Garlic Pork Steaks

1 handful of thyme, picked
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 clove of garlic
zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp olive oil
2 pork steaks or chops

(the marinade recipe will stretch to 4 cuts of meat)

1.  Pound the thyme in a pestle and mortar with 1tsp of salt.
2.  When the thyme is pulped add the garlic and 1tsp of black pepper and pound again.
3.  Stir in the lemon zest, juice and olive oil.
4.  Smear the mixture over the meat and leave to marinade for at least 10 minutes or longer if you have time.
5.  Heat a pan to a very high heat and fry on both sides for 4 minutes each.  They should be golden and nicely charred but be careful not to burn them.
6.  Remove from the heat and rest for 4 minutes.

I served these with Donal Skehan's Zingy Purple Potato Salad (obviously I didn't have purple potatoes) and some rocket.

Last night the remaining pork was roasted, and two very hung over people received a welcome invitation to come and help us eat it.  The recipe is as follows:

Before this we all got stuck into some popovers from my previous blog post

Rosemary, Thyme and Garlic Roast Loin of Pork

2 tbsp of Salt and some fresh black pepper
3 large cloves garlic, sliced finely
8 stalks rosemary, stripped
1 handful thyme, picked
4tbsp Olive oil
Pork loin

1.  Place the salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary, thyme and olive oil in a bowl and stir until well mixed.
2.  With a sharp knife pierce the pork all over.
3.  Pour the oil and herb mixture onto the pork and rub all over, pushing the herbs and garlic into the pierced holes.
4.  Heat some oil in a pan and brown the meat all over on a medium heat to seal.
5.  Place in a roasting dish and roast fat side down for 30 mins.
6.  Turn the meat and roast for another 20-30 mins until cooked through.
7.  Remove from the oven, cover loosely with foil and allow to rest for 10 mins before serving.

I served this with a creamy potato gratin and some roasted carrots. Yum.

I have no pictures of this as my camera had died, sorry.

I've got an ouwie!

So my poor daddy was in town last week, getting some grocery shopping and feeding his DVD addiction with yet another purchase.  He was on his way home and spotted a bus ready to leave so he did what any 71 year old would do.  No, he didn't curse his bad timing and decide to let the bus go and wait 15 minutes or so for the next one to come along.  Instead he decided with hands full with bags of shopping that he would run for said bus.  And so he broke into  a mild jog and set about his mission happy in the knowledge he would be sitting on the bus in a flash and home in a matter of minutes.

So there he was striding along, an adveritsement for clean living, years of eating oily fish and doing daily sit ups paying off in his twilight years.  Then, oops, what the ...?  He was sailing through the air, watching as the pavement grew closer and closer to his face, shopping bags gone akimbo.  You see my lovely little daddy had become a victim of badly maintained public walkways in Dublins fair city and his foot unfortunately found a sunken paving stone which menacingly tripped him and brought him crashing to the ground.

Now my daddy is a very independent little fecker and sometimes forgets that he is no longer 21 and so up he got and brushed himself down, retrieved his shopping thanks to the help of a friendly passer by, and toddled on home without a word to anyone.  Had I been the poor unfortunate I would have immediatley got on the blower to my husband, then my sister, my dad and then the national papers to ensure everyone was aware of my tumble and much sympathy was dispatched in my direction post haste, but not my daddy.  He sat at home in quite a bit of pain and uttered not a word until his phone rang and then he relayed the story to my sister who of course wanted to go straight down to check on him as did my other sister and as did I when we heard.  We were under strict instructions not to go down as he was fine and only had a bit of bruising.

Two days later at a previously scheduled doctors appointment he was informed he had a cracked rib and a sprained wrist but still banned all visits, this time conceding he would not be up to much as it was quite painful for him to move about.  We all agreed we would not bother him but I secretly planned to drop down and check on him and stock up his fridge to ensure he could remain house bound for the week without the risk of scurvy or starvation.  He got wind of my evil plan and insisted I did not come down which I had to agree to, fingers crossed behind my back naturally.  So I popped in against his wishes and lasted all of two minutes(just enough time to fill the fridge and the fruit bowl) before I was sent packing.

So if you, like my daddy, have had any little accidents lately I prescribe a large slice of Lemon Posset Cake.  It is guaranteed to put a smile on even the most bruised and battered face and heal all ouwies, well maybe not heal but it will make you forget about them for a little while at least.  If you haven't had an accident, sure have a slice anyway and pretend you need the vitamins to keep you healthy.  Everyones a winner with this little lovely.

Lemon Posset Cake

for the lemon posset:

300ml Double Cream
75g Caster Sugar
Juice of 1-2 Lemons

1.  Pour the cream into a saucepan and add the sugar.
2.  Slowly bring to the boil ensuring to stir constantly to dissolve the sugar.
3.  Once it comes to the boil allow it to bubble for a further 3 minutes while continuing to stir.
4.  After the 3 minutes remove from the heat and pour in the juice of 1 lemon while stirring.  The mixture will thicken once the juice is added.  Taste and add more lemon juice if it is not tart enough (the posset should have a sweet, tangy, creamy flavour).
5.  Leave to cool for approximately 5 minutes before transferring to a bowl.  Cover the bowl with clingfilm and refrigerate over night. (if you are short on time 3 hrs chilling should be sufficient)

for the cake:

175g/6oz Unsalted Butter (softened, plus a little extra to grease the tin)
175g/6oz Sugar
3 Eggs
1tsp Vanilla Extract
225g/8oz Plain Flour
1tsp Baking Powder
2tbsp Milk
2 lemons
100g/3&1/2oz Caster Sugar

1.  Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/Gas 3.  Line the bottom of a 18cm/7" cake tin with grease proof paper and grease the sides with butter.
2.  In a bowl cream the butter with the grated zest of 2 lemons.
3.  Add the sugar and beat for 1 minute.
4.  Add the eggs one at a time while continuing to beat, then add the vanilla.
5.  Fold in the sieved flour and baking powder, then add the milk.
6.  Transfer the mixture to the prepared tin and smooth the top.
7.  Bake in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes or until a metal skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

8.  While the cake is baking pour the juice of 2 lemons over the caster sugar and mix to dissolve.

9.  Once the cake is removed from the oven and while it is still hot pierce all over with a skewer and pour over the caster sugar mixture.  Set the cake aside to cool.

10. Serve with generous dollops of lemon possett. Yum!

* lemon posset also makes a deliciously light dessert served in individual tall shot glasses with some almond biscuits, the above recipe will serve four. Transfer from the saucepan to the shot glasses and chill. *