Irish Foodies Cookie Bakealong Winner(Yes, ME!)

Ahem ahem Very important news on LMUTB this morning.  If you are a regular reader you will no doubt have noticed a monthly post entitled "Irish Foodies Cookalong".  On the first Friday of every month food bloggers the length and breadth of Ireland cook up a storm in their kitchen and then post photos on Twitter and Facebook.  We all admire each others efforts and then share recipes on our blogs.  The lovely Kristin of Dinner du Jour and Sarah of Cake in the Country(formerly Musings of a Med Student) keep us all in check and even organise an esteemed judge and prizes. 

The theme for the July Cookalong was cookies so as you can imagine I went a bit crazy and baked up 5 different offerings.  Theresa from the Green Apron was tasked with judging and sat down with her family to look through all of the entries.  You can imagine how delighted I was to hear that Theresa and her children liked my Peanut Butter Button Cookies enough to award me 1st place.  Can you believe it, little old me baked up a batch of Blue Ribbon cookies?  I couldn't either!

The Friday before last I was holed up at home, keeping in out of the mucky winter weather outside.  The post man pulled up in his little green van and out he came carrying a brown paper parcel.  My curiosity was peaked by now, I hadn't ordered anything online so wasn't expecting anything to be delivered.  It must be a gift so, I thought to myself.  A gift for me, now who would be sending me something nice.  I opened up the paper to reveal a beautiful box inside full to bursting with jars of preserves, chutneys and herb mixes.  The cloves and star anise sprinkled in the box instantly filled the room with a wonderful aroma.  My beautiful prize included:

• Mixed Berry Preserve
• Jostaberry Jam
• Wild Hawthorn Jelly
• Chocolate Raspberry Conserve
• Raspberry Preserve
• Sugar Plum Fairy Chutney
• Prizewinning Spicy Tomato & Charred Pepper Chutney
• Crunchy Honey Mustard
• Italian Butter Mix

Mr. Boo has made a rather large dent in the Mixed Berry Preserve and I almost have to wrestle it from his hands if I fancy a little of it on a scone in the evening time.  The beautiful aroma of berries as I open the jar is nearly enough to make me drool and then the intense flavour topping my scones, well that will give you an idea as to why we are fighting over it.  The Italian Butter Mix is delicious mixed with some oil for dipping bread as suggested on the label.  I am going to hide the Chocolate Raspberry Conserve so that I can enjoy it before Mr. Boo devours it in a couple of sittings.  Last night I baked a loaf of soda bread so I think it would be rude not to toast a little and pile it high with some cheese and Prizewinning Chutney.

Thank you so much for the wonderful prize Theresa.

If you would like to try some of The Green Aprons products they are available for purchase every Saturday at the Limerick Milk Market.