Monday. #Ireland

HarperCollins Author Academy opens 8th January, a virtual, six-week, free programme for writers from underrepresented to have their manuscript considered across HarperCollins UK publishing divisions. Please share with anyone that might be interested. Find out more at harpercollinsacademy.co.uk

My #BibliocookGingerbreadHouse mould, all ready for #GingerbreadHouse2025.

Shop smart by buying local in the @irishexaminer.bsky.social with: Fzin Coffee & Compostable Capsules Sheridans Cheesemongers Tara Hill Honey Tory Top Café & Chocolate Factory Salt of Kinsale Fat Tomato Coolattin Cheddar www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/he... #buyIrish #Ireland

Chocolate cake = performance fuel. A triple layer chocolate fudge cake for two cast members of this year's Transition Year student musical. Gotta keep them singing and dancing!

🧵 As we look towards the #LateLateToyShow next week, it's time to remember that everyone - including the State - will expect us all to donate generously to the very worthy causes supported financially by the Toy Show Appeal. Let's think about this.

Read: Building sweet gingerbread memories in #IrishCountryLiving. I wrote about our family gingerbread house tradition - heading into our 15th year - for the gorgeous Christmas food magazine in this week's #IrishFarmersJournal. www.farmersjournal.ie/food/recipes... #BibliocookGingerbreadHouse

For anyone who loves Christmasy cookbooks, @nicmiller.bsky.social's post is excellent. My picks: Anja Dunk's Advent, Visions of Sugarplums by Mimi Sheraton, @nigelslater.bsky.social & @nigella.bsky.social Christmas books, Library Christmas by Kate Young.

This is what happens when you try to bake a batch of Oreo muffins for an after-school treat and don't realise that you left the oven at the grill rather than oven setting. Cue streams of smoke, and a few very, ahem, caramelised muffins. Fortunately, I saved the rest to bake properly

Me. Last week. But missing the inside out umbrella.

Wednesday. #Ireland

Cult cookies from #CookieBoyDublin. Even after travelling in my bag for two days, through rain and wind and broken umbrellas, on cars, buses, trains and taxis, these were delicious: big fat babies, with a still crisp exterior and a rich soft centre. Thanks to @katiav.bsky.social for the treat!

Writing on Irish Food Producers. Honoured and very, very proud to win this award at last Thursday's Irish Food Writing Awards. We're incredibly fortunate to have wonderful food grown, made & produced here in Ireland: I'm glad that so many of the people involved trust me with their stories. #IFWA25

Monday. #Ireland

Sunday. #Ireland

Comfort food for beginners. In her cookbook, Messy, Aoife McElwain gently and patiently brings the joy back to the kitchen with recipes like messy eggs and an easy, slow-cooked beef and harissa stew. Find the feature in the @irishexaminer.bsky.social: www.irishexaminer.com/food/arid-41...

From West Cork meals to healthy food options, delectable chocolate tarts, making the most of your larder and Sri Lankan-Mexican-Italian fusion, my third year hosting the cookery demo stage of the #CorkKerryFoodFestival was a whirlwind of flavour and fun. #CKFF2025

Wednesday. #Ireland

Thanks to Kristin Jensen of Nine Bean Rows & Blasta Books for talking to me about changing Ireland's cookbook publishing landscape, one beautifully produced book at time. Find the feature in this week's Irish Country Living / Irish Farmers Journal. www.farmersjournal.ie/life/feature...

Friday. #Ireland

When all 15 of us get together for a little celebration, there's a lot of food: I counted four dishes of stuffing going into my mother's oven last night with the first turkey of the year. A family feast to be remembered, and early leftover turkey sandwiches to savour.

For eco chef Tom Hunt, shopping locally & seasonally is key to avoiding plastics in the kitchen. Tom, who will be appearing at #FOTE2025, spoke to me about how focusing on local can help you to steer away from plastics More in @irishexaminer.bsky.social: www.irishexaminer.com/food/arid-41...

Thursday. #Ireland

Wednesday. #Ireland

Tuesday. #Ireland

Only a few swallows left... #Ireland

Seasonal recipes and stories from Scéal Bakery. Local and seasonal are the ingredients for success in Scéal: Seasonal Recipes and Stories from a Modern Irish Bakery by Charlotte Leonard-Kane and Shane Palmer. Read more in today's @irishexaminer.bsky.social: www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/he...

Junior Cert result cake. Chocolate on chocolate with chocolate is the way to go, all prepped while we wait to see how she got on... Chocolate cake always makes for a good result. Update: happy with her results. Phew... #juniorcertresults

Thanks to Lily Ramirez-Foran of Picado Mexican for talking to me about avocado's environmental & social impacts. Loved Lily's suggestion of molletes as a substitute for avocado toast. Also, no-vocado toast at Arán Bakery & Bistro with a peas/chickpeas mix. www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/he...

With thanks to Quadrille Books, we have a copy of ABUNDANCE by @markdiacono.bsky.social to give away with one of our 10” frying pans. Follow us, share this post and then find entry details here www.netherton-foundry.co.uk/competitions

Thursday. #Ireland

Spinach and ricotta lasagne is an every year birthday dinner request from the Small Girl. We don't mind: it's still the absolute best way of getting a whole stack of green leafy vegetables into kids. Recipe here: bibliocook.com/2025/02/spin...

Monday. Swallows gathering. #Ireland

Last minute marshmallow carmelisation. When you don't have a kitchen blow torch 🤷‍♀️ so Little Missy uses a whole stack of matches to toast the marshmallows on top of a s'mores birthday cake. Very good with homegrown autumn raspberries and whipped cream.

Thanks to Tim Spector for talking to me about gut health, his breakfast routine and including fermented food in the diet for the @irishexaminer.bsky.social. His latest book, Ferment (Penguin Random House), is out now. irishexaminer.com/food/arid-41...

BTS at the Barnahown x Choquera Bistro pop up. For Irish Country Living in the Irish Farmers Journal, I spoke to Ciara of #Barnahown and Cinta from #ChoqueraBistro about the hard work and planning that goes into making a one-night event look effortless. www.farmersjournal.ie/life/feature...

Library books + coffee at The Town Coffee Company. September means picking up all the book requests. #WhatTheWildSeaCanBe finally came in and looking forward to #LoveSexandFrankenstein, especially given the link with Mary Shelley's mother and Mitchelstown...

Swallows gathering. #autumn #Ireland

"The purpose of the ban is not protection but concealment: Binyamin Netanyahu’s government is intent on limiting scrutiny of the horror being inflicted every day on innocent civilians."

Thanks to Deirdre Doyle of The Cool Food School for talking to me about dealing with picky eaters at dinnertime. You'll find Deirdre and her fun, interactive workshops for kids at food festivals this autumn. Read more in @irishexaminer.bsky.social here: www.irishexaminer.com/food/arid-41...

Because everyone needs more kitten antics in their lives. #DaisyTinkles, last September

Preparing ahead for back-to-school lunchbox snacks. Thanks to Galway-based chef Lou Robbie for sharing her snack-making and freezing expertise with me for today's @irishexaminer.bsky.social. Check out her book Make & Freeze to level up your lunchbox game. www.irishexaminer.com/food/arid-41...

Seaside chips. Nothing says bank holiday weekend quite like a bag of chipper (horsebox) van chips. Crispy on the outside, steamy in the middle and salty to the last, crunchy bite. Best eaten outdoors, sitting on rocks while watching the waves. #irishsummer

Thanks to Hanna Bäckmo of #HannasBees for talking to me about the joys of beekeeping, why we should pay a fair price for honey & how we can all support these fuzzy little pollinators, even if they occasionally blunder into our kitchens www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/he... @irishexaminer.bsky.social

Thanks to Hanna Bäckmo of #HannasBees for talking to me about the joys of beekeeping, why we should pay a fair price for honey & how we can all support these fuzzy little pollinators, even if they occasionally blunder into our kitchens www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/he... @irishexaminer.bsky.social

The #OnePlateForPalestine fundraiser has 150+ venues in #Ireland serving Palestinian-inspired dishes & donating proceeds to projects in Gaza. This delicious mujadara salad bowl is from #OrganicoBantry: look at @OnePlateForPalestine on Insta for more participants. Eating is always a political act

The comments... 😂

Lebanese mezze boxes for a balanced lunch. Healthy and delicious, Lebanese mezze makes the ideal portable summertime lunch. I spoke talks to Cork-based Rabih Farah about his Bia Beirut farmers' market stall for today's Irish Examiner. Read more: www.irishexaminer.com/food/arid-41...

16 July 2025: first blackberry. 11 days earlier than last year, 2 days earlier than 2023. #westcork #firstblackberry #Ireland

Wednesday walks. #Ireland