Author: Padraic Guilfoyle

Alcohol is a toxic, addictive drug that can be very damaging to health. Alcohol products, mainly beer, spirits and wine can be marketed without reference to alcohol in the advertising. Alcohol is consumed without restraint or regard for its health consequences.
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Darina Allen and Rory O’Connell’s Christmas Mincemeat recipe passed down in Myrtle Allen’s family for generations #Ballymaloe

Here are three delicious options, the first is the classic Mincemeat recipe passed down in Myrtle Allen’s family for several generations. Of course, it contains suet so it’s moist and juicy and best eaten hot. The second, Emer Fitzgerald’s Mincemeat is vegetarian, it doesn’t include suet or butter and is also gluten free. The third, Brandy Mincemeat, does not include suet either, but does have butter.

Ingredients

  • 2 cooking apples, e.g. Bramley Seedling
  • 2 organic lemons
  • 450g (1lb) beef suet (see P.00)
  • pinch of salt
  • 110g (4oz) candied citrus peel (preferably homemade)
  • 2 tablespoons Seville orange marmalade
  • 225g (8oz) currants
  • 450g (1lb) sultanas
  • 900g (2lbs) Barbados sugar (moist, soft, dark-brown)
  • 62ml (2 1/2fl oz) Irish whiskey

Method

Makes 3.2 kilos approx. Makes 8-9 pots.

  1. Core and bake the whole apples in a moderate oven, 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4, for 30 minutes approx. Allow to cool. When they are soft, remove the skin and pips and mash the flesh into pulp.
  2. Grate the rind from the lemons on the finest part of a stainless steel grater and squeeze out the juice and stir into the pulp. Add the other ingredients one by one, and as they are added, mix everything thoroughly.
  3. Put into sterilized jars, cover and leave to mature for 2 weeks before using. This mincemeat will keep for a year in a cool, airy place.

A Simply Delicious Christmas with Darina Allen and Rory O’Connell is on RTÉ Player now. Recipe taken from ‘A Simply Delicious Christmas’ published by Gill Books.

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Rachel Allen’s Irish Gingerbread @RTEfood

 
 
 
 

There’s no better accompaniment for a hot pot of tea than this gingerbread from Rachel Allen.

Ingredients

  • 60 g (2½oz) butter
  • 75 g (3oz) treacle
  • 50 g (2oz) golden syrup
  • 140 g (4¾oz) plain flour
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 0.5 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • 100 g (3½oz) caster sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 egg
  • 125 ml (4½fl oz) milk
  • for the syrup
  • 75 g (3oz) caster sugar
  • 2 tsp finely grated root ginger, or finely chopped crystallised ginger

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F), Gas mark 3. Line the base and sides of a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with baking parchment.
  2. Melt the butter, treacle and golden syrup in a small saucepan on a low heat, then set aside.
  3. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder into a bowl and stir in the spices, sugar and salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg, then add the milk and the melted butter mixture and pour into the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth – it will have a wet sloppy consistency.
  4. Pour into the prepared loaf tin and bake in the oven for 50–55 minutes until risen and firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. (Wait for at least 45 minutes before opening the oven to check whether the gingerbread has cooked, otherwise it can collapse in the centre.)
  5. While the gingerbread is cooking, make the syrup. Place the sugar and ginger in a small saucepan with 75ml (3fl oz) water, bring to the boil over a medium heat and boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened and syrupy.
  6. Once the gingerbread is cooked, take it out of the oven and, leaving it in the tin, pierce it all over the top with a fine skewer, then pour the syrup over and leave to cool completely.
  7. When the gingerbread is cold, take it out of the tin and serve.
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Bruschetta Pizza with Irish Cheese @KerrygoldUSA

bruschetta_pizza_with_kerrygold_dubliner_cheese

The Tuscan flavors of warm bruschetta topped with bubbling Irish cheese – truly a taste to behold. This pizza is a wonderful oven-baked twist on the traditional appetizer, making a perfect shared starter or a meal of its own.

Prep:  20 minutes
Cook:  12 to 15 minutes
Serves:  6 main dishes or 12 appetizer servings

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups seeded, diced fresh tomato
  • 2 tablespoons snipped fresh basil
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
  • 1 pound pizza dough
  • Flour
  • 1 (7-oz.) package Kerrygold Dubliner Cheese, shredded
  • 3 tablespoons shredded Kerrygold Reserve Cheddar Cheese
Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°F and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a small bowl, stir together tomato, basil, olive oil, vinegar and garlic; set aside. Divide dough into 3 equal pieces. Roll each into a 9-inch circle or 10 x 8-inch rectangle on a lightly floured board. Transfer to prepared baking sheets and sprinkle with Kerrygold Dubliner Cheese. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned on the edges. Using a slotted spoon, place equal amounts of tomato mixture on each pizza and sprinkle with shredded Kerrygold Reserve Cheddar Cheese.

 

http://kerrygoldusa.com/recipes/bruschetta-pizza-with-irish-cheese/