RTÉ Television is searching for all amateur cooks who think they have what it takes to be the next MasterChef Ireland 2012 and take home a prize of €25,000.
Speaking about the new series, executive producer, Larry Bass said, “We want to hear from everyone in Ireland who thinks they have what it takes to be the next MasterChef champion. Last year’s series was a huge hit and really captured the public imagination. This year we expect it to be even bigger and better! We are looking for brilliant amateur cooks who will be available to take part in a busy filming schedule over this summer. You need to be obsessed with food and cooking and up for a challenge.”
Sixteen final contestants will undertake a series of intense tasks and challenges each week in an attempt to impress Michelin-starred chef Dylan McGrath and top restaurateur Nick Munier.
Judge, Nick Munier commented, “I’m hoping to see exceptional cooks that operate by instinct and have a natural flair for taste and flavour. This could be a life-changing opportunity for the winner and I want to find someone with the determination and drive to succeed, regardless of their background.
The closing date for all applications is the 28th May 2012.
At Simple Speedy Snacks we like good food stories! As we know Ireland is in a terrible recession so it is important that we support local Irish food producers! Taste Kerry is a good time to have a look at what Kerry food producers have on offer!
If you are a foodie in or near Tralee, Co. Kerry on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th of April, then go and sample all of the wonderful products from Kerry’s food producers at Manor West Retail Park.
The event is in association with Taste Kerry, which wishes to celebrate Kerry’s wealth of culinary talent and resources. Kerry food producers will display their products in the main hall.
“Taste Kerry brings together the talented hands, creative minds and skills of the many artisan food producers in the county. Small producers need all the support they can get and all of our members are delighted with this opportunity to meet their customers on a one to one basis and introduce their produce to many new customers in one of the busiest Shopping Centres in the Country,” said Mary Beary, coordinator for Taste Kerry.
The event will run from 12 noon to 6pm on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April.
Colcannon is a side dish that is usually served with a Sunday roast. Colcannon consists of mashed potato, butter, scallions, and kale. I also like to add parmesan and a very small amount of garlic granules. Some people also add a little bit of cream.
Method:
Peel the potatoes. Rinse them under water. Place the potatoes in cold water and bring it to the boil. Turn it down and simmer for 20 minutes. Then drain the potatoes. Add some butter. Then mash the potatoes. Tear the kale into little pieces, getting rid of the stem. Blanch the kale. Chop up the scallions. Add the kale and the scallions to the mash and stir.
I add some parmesan and black pepper for extra taste!
Colcannon covered in Parmesan!
There is a famous song written about Colcannon, it has two titles: “Colcannon” and “The Skillet Pot”
“Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?
With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.
Did you ever make a hole on top to hold the melting flake
Of the creamy, flavoured butter that your mother used to make?”
The chorus:
“Yes you did, so you did, so did he and so did I.
And the more I think about it sure the nearer I’m to cry.
Oh, wasn’t it the happy days when troubles we had not,
And our mothers made Colcannon in the little skillet pot.”
If you are looking for a green healthy snack for St. Paddy’s day, then look no further..here it is! Kale is a form of cabbage, it can be green or purple. Kale is very high in carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, and also contains calcium. Kale chips are not very popular in Ireland, but kale is grown in Ireland and used in traditional Irish dishes like colcannon, which will be on the menu tomorrow!
Kale chips make a good St Paddy’s day snack as they are healthy, simple, speedy and of course green!
Method:
All you need is a bag of curly kale and some olive oil and some salt. Simple wash and drain the kale.
Tear the kale into pieces, getting rid of the stem. Drizzle olive oil over the kale. Sprinkle some salt. Place in a preheated oven for 10-15 minutes at 180C (356F).
FYI- Kale chips may not be for everyone’s taste…you either like them or you don’t…after all it is cabbage, however, the following can enhance the taste of the chips! Sweet chili sauce makes a great dip for kale chips. You can also grate fresh parmesan over the chips or melt cheddar cheese to give them some flavour!
Tis the season to be Irish! St. Patrick’s day is celebrated across the globe with people drinking lots of alcohol! So let’s begin the St Paddy’s day preparations with a look at Irish beverages!
But before we do..just to clarify..it is Paddy’s day and not Patty’s day, which is a common mistake! Paddy is the diminutive form of Patrick. Padraig is the Irish translation of Patrick, hence Paddy! Irish people are generally referred to across the world as Paddies! Plastic Paddy is a slang term, which is used to describe people whose ancestors came from Ireland or those who adopt Irish customs!
Guinness
Guinness is a heavy Irish dry stout that is loved across the globe! It originated in the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. Arthur Guinness started brewing ales from 1759.
The top markets for Guinness include, the UK, Ireland, Nigeria, United States and Cameroon. There are two main Guinness variants: Guinness Draught and Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Guinness Draught is sold predominantly in Europe, North America, Japan and Australia. It is available as Guinness Original, Extra Cold, Extra Smooth and as Guinness Red. Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is the original export stout and is the key Guinness variant in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.
The poster above reads Sefearr de thú Guinness, which means Guinness is better for you!!! There was a time when pregnant and nursing mothers were advised to drink Guinness. (Please note this is no longer the case!!!) A relative who is a nun brought my mother a bottle of Guinness just after the birth of my brother in1980.
Studies claim that Guinness can be beneficial to the heart. Researchers discovered that “‘antioxidant compounds’ in the Guinness, similar to those found in certain fruits and vegetables, are responsible for health benefits because they slow down the deposit of harmful cholesterol on the artery walls.”
Guinness is probably the most popular Irish drink to have on St. Paddy’s Day! I brought a friend from Brooklyn to the Guinness museum for a tour and a free pint of Guinness at the top of the tower. She was super excited to try Guinness, when we got to the top of the tower she took one tiny sip and spat it out! That was her first and only experience with Guinness. It is a heavy drink, drinking a Guinness is like having a meal!
My friend with the Guinness (she did not drink) at The Guinness Brewery in Dublin. It has a wonderful view of Dublin city.
Murphy’s Stout
If Guinness is a little too heavy for you, then try this lighter and sweeter dry stout, which has been brewed in Cork since 1856.
The Irish Flag
In a shot glass, carefully pour green creme de menthe, Baileys and then cointreau orange liqueur in the order, so that each ingredient floats on the preceding one.
The Irish Car Bomb
The first time I heard about this shot, I was in the US. It is not a drink that would be on a menu in Ireland…it’s just not appropriate! It consists of Guinness, Bailey’s and whiskey. The whiskey is floated on top of the Irish Cream in a shot glass, and the shot glass is then dropped into the stout. You must drink it quickly before it curdles!
Mozzy’s Maynooth Madness
This special cocktail was created by a very good friend…who is also the creator of the valentine’s cocktail. It is extremely sweet and dessert like. My friend Mozzy (nickname) and I met at a dinner party when we were in college in Maynooth…hence the name!
1 measure butterscotch Mickey Finns
1 measure Bailey’s
1 measure Tia Maria
1 measure Kahlúa
Milk
Blend with Ice, cream and crème de cacao optional. Yummm..thanks Mozzy!
Baby Guinness
This is a very popular shooter in Ireland. Two and a half oz of Tia Maria or Kahlua is topped by a layer of Bailey’s (half oz), which is poured over the back of a spoon.
Hot Whiskey
New York on St. Patrick’s day can be very cold! I remember slipping on ice a few years ago..on St. Paddy’s evening. NYC was covered in snow. Also known as a hot toddy, hot whiskey is a quick solution to warm your bones! It can also make you a little sleepy! Hot whiskey is traditionally served in Ireland with cloves, a slice of lemon and a teaspoon of sugar.
Bailey’s Coffee or Irish Coffee (whiskey)
Bailey’s coffee and Irish coffee are very popular after dinner drinks in Ireland.
Simply pour one ounce of Bailey’s into a cup. Then add one cup of coffee. Top with whipped cream and serve. A traditional Irish coffee is with whiskey instead of the Bailey’s! A chocolate flake bar broken up (or chocolate sprinkles) and sprinkled on-top of the cream makes the coffee even more delicious!
Smithwick’s
Smithwick’s is an Irish red ale beer from Kilkenny. It was originally brewed in the medieval St. Francis Abbey Brewery in Kilkenny, known as ‘Smithwick’s Brewery’ until c.2000. The brewery is situated on the site of a Franciscan Abbey where monks had brewed ale since the 14th century. The brewery was founded by John Smithwick and Richard Cole in 1710. It was purchased from Walter Smithwick in 1965 by Guinness and is now, along with Guinness, part of Diageo.
Fat Frog
This green drink is a very popular alcho pop for people in their early drinking years in Ireland. At my debs (prom), this is what we drank ALL night….pints of it. In Ireland, you usually get two pints of it when you order a fat frog, as it consists of Smirnoff Ice, Bacardi Breezer Orange and WKD Original Vodka Blue. You can also buy it in the shop ready-made in a bottle like the image above.
Bailey’s Smoothie
Bailey’s is my one of my favourite drinks! I like it with ice. A Bailey’s smoothie can be really refreshing on a hot day. Simply blend some Bailey’s with ice in a blender!
Mickey Finns- Sour Apple
Mickey Finn’s sour apple makes a great green shot for Paddy’s day. It tastes like sour apple sweets. Mickey Finn’s is currently number 2 liqueur to Bailey’s. If you would like a glamorous cocktail on St. Paddy’s day..then maybe Mickey Finns appletini is for you! Pour some sour apple and some vodka into a shaker..shake, shake, shake…and then strain into a martini glass!
Harp
Harp Lager was first produced by the Guinness company in 1960 as a bottled beer due to the trend among drinkers in Ireland and the UK towards continental lager. Harp is made with pure water from the Cooley Mountains, Dundalk, Ireland.
Bulmers
Bulmers is a very popular Irish cider! It started in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary in 1935 by William Magner.
Non alcoholic Irish beverages
Cidona (non alcoholic cider), Club Orange, Finches Orange and Tanora (tangerine flavour) are Irish-made fizzy drinks that we love to drink!
Tea
And don’t forget…we LOVE drinking tea! Barry’s or Lyons!
Any Irish visitors we had in NYC brought lots of Barry’s Tea with them in their suitcases! Wherever in the world my family go they always bring some teabags with them!
“Let them eat cake”, Marie Antoinette announced when she was told the public has no money to buy bread.
In a terrible recession, who thought there would be a market for caviar in Ireland?! Well, Goatsbridge Trout Farm in Co Kilkenny has developed the new trout caviar.
Caviar can make a great luxurious snack to have with a glass of champagne to celebrate a special occasion.
Caviar is processed, salted fish roe or eggs. It is regarded as an ancient gourmet treat. There are several types with the best-known form of caviar coming from sturgeon. In recent years, Trout caviar has grown in popularity across the globe.
“Trout caviar is good enough to eat off the spoon. It has large, golden-orange beads and a subtle flavour with a nice ‘pop’ when you bite into it. We are thrilled to be the first making it in Ireland and believe it represents the sort of innovation required in the food industry here,” said Mags Kirwan of Goatsbridge.
Russian buyers gave good feedback after sampling the caviar at a recent Bord Bia food showcase in Dublin. “That is the ultimate accolade for us. We weren’t sure how the Russian visitors would respond to the Irish-made caviar but the samples went down a treat with them and this has given us confidence that we can achieve strong export sales as well,” she said.
The owners, Mags and Ger Kirwan were inspired by the success of Sunburst Trout farm’s production of caviar in North Carolina in the USA in 2010. Goatsbridge which was started 50 years ago by Ger Kirwan’s parents, Rita and Padraig Kirwan, is one of the few commercial, independent trout farms in Ireland.
“We had been planning to launch a range of trout products on the Irish market and were very taken with the story of Sunburst which was making its name in the United States using their delicious trout caviar to highlight the fantastic high quality products they were producing” said Mags Kirwan. “We had a lot of similarities with Sunburst in terms of our business structure and the fact that the water flow through our farm was just like their farm in North Carolina.”
Ten months later, the chef from the Sunburst Trout Farm development came to Ireland to help Goatsbridge harvest their trout roe.
It will be available in restaurants in Ireland over the next few weeks for tasting and feedback. The caviar will be available in shops in Ireland at the end of the year.
The Kirwans are hoping that Irish people will acquire a taste for eating caviar as it is not an Irish tradition.
This caviar story shared the news today with the Working Abroad Expo in Cork city yesterday, where thousands of desperate job hunters queued from 5.30am in freezing temperatures to attend the international jobs fair. So let’s keep our fingers crossed that the Russians (and other countries) buy lots and lots of Irish caviar to help us escape this recession!!!
What are your favorite snacks to nibble on while watching a movie?! When I lived in NYC, I was addicted to Twizzlers. I am not a massive popcorn fan, but for many people buying popcorn at the cinema is a must! There is a tradition of stuffing our faces with snacks, while watching skinny Angelina and other Hollywood skeletons on screen!
Snacking is all part of the movie experience, however, it is not fair that movie theaters can charge extortionate prices for snacks. One man in Michigan has decided to try fight this by suing his local AMC theater.
Joshua Thompson, a security technician, filed a class action lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court with the hope of lowering snack prices.
According to Detroit Free Press, Thompson paid $8 for a Coke and a package of Goobers chocolate-covered peanuts at the Livonia theater on Dec. 26. He said in the suit that the price he paid for the snacks in the theater is nearly three times the $2.73 he paid for the same items at a local fast-food restaurant and drug store.
“He got tired of being taken advantage of,” Thompson’s lawyer, Kerry Morgan of Wyandotte, told the Free Press. “It’s hard to justify prices that are three- and four-times higher than anywhere else.”
I guess he could just buy snacks in the local store, put them in his pocket or bag and sneak them in like most of us do!!!
Red onion marmalade is very handy to have in your fridge as it makes a fantastic snack. You can have it on a cracker with some cheese, on toast, in a sandwich, on mushrooms, on a tartlet, stuffed in a fillet of chicken, on a burger, or as a side with steak.
Since Christmas, I have made a few jars of this wonderful red onion marmalade with cranberries. This marmalade is amazing with cranberries but is also good without, so either way it works well, however, the cranberries give it something extra special! The red onions and the red wine well together and is simply delicious with cheese. You can use fresh cranberries or dried. I washed out empty jam jars and used them to store the savory marmalade. It is simple, relatively speedy and most of all…a very tasty snack!
Method:
Chop two or more red onions. Heat a small amount of oil in the pot. Add the onions. As the onions are cooking, pour half a bottle of red wine into the pot. Add the cranberries. If adding fresh cranberries, then add a little sugar. Dried cranberries are sweet enough on its own. Gently bring to the boil and leave it to simmer. Cook until fresh cranberries are popped, and the marmalade has thickened.
Portobello Mushrooms with red onions and melted cheese
Preheat the oven to 200C. Place mushroom caps, gill side up, on baking tray with some olive oil drizzled over them for 25 minutes. When the mushrooms are ready, add the red onion marmalade and then place some swiss cheese, goats cheese, brie, or grated cheddar over the mushrooms and leave for 5-10 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Ham and cheese sandwiches with red onion marmalade
This is one of the best simple, speedy and healthy snacks out there. I always order a bowl of edamame when having Japanese food.
Edamame beans is a preparation of immature soybeans in the pod. Edamame can be commonly found in Japan, China and Hawaii.
I took a trip to some Japanese grocery stores in Dublin to see what snacks they have on offer! Japanese food is extremely limited in Ireland, but luckily enough, the capital has a few Japanese restaurants and some grocery stores where you can purchase some nice Japanese snacks.
Method:
Simply put some edamame in a pot full of hot water, bring it to the boil for approximately 6-8 minutes. Add a small amount of salt to the boiling water. Drain and rinse in cold water to cool the edamame or if you like them served nice and warm, then don’t rinse them! Serve in a little cute bowl and sprinkle a tiny bit of salt over before serving these tasty snacks! Use an empty bowl, to place the skin of the pods…for anyone who has not tasted these before (most Irish will be new to this snack)..do not eat the skin!
Healthy Snack
Edamame are rich in carbohydrates, protein, folic acid, dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty and acids, micro-nutrients, manganese, and vitamin K.
Sake
Why not enjoy edamame with some delicious sake?! Sake is a Japanese rice-based alcoholic beverage. If you are in NYC, and are a sake lover who has never entered the wonderful world of Decibel sake bar…then mark it in your diary this weekend! It is definitely worth a visit.
My friend bought me this set and bottle of sake for Christmas, such a thoughtful present as she knows how much I love sake.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Why not celebrate with this wonderful Valentine’s cocktail?!
My friend made this drink for her leaving party when she was going to Australia. It is a great drink for parties and I thought it would be perfect for valentines!
Method:
Soak some strawberries and blueberries over night in vodka or for a few hours if you are stuck for time! Then add to champagne or prosecco when serving…it is divine!
RTÉ Television is searching for all amateur cooks who think they have what it takes to be the next MasterChef Ireland 2012 and take home a prize of €25,000.
