Preheat oven to 150°C/300°F/Gas Mark 2. Butter and line the base of a 900ml / 1 ½ pint pudding bowl with a circle of greaseproof paper or butter wrapper.
Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat until pale and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs a little at a time (add a spoonful of flour if the mixture begins to curdle).
Sift together the flour and cocoa powder and fold into the mixture with the melted chocolate, chopped pecans and milk.
Spoon the mixture into the bowl and cover with a round of greased and pleated greaseproof paper tied securely with fine string. Cover with pleated foil.
Steam for 1 ½ hours (see directions below) until the pudding is risen and firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the sponge comes out clean.
For the chocolate sauce, place all the ingredients in a heat-proof bowl, set over a pan of simmering water and leave until melted. Remove from the heat and stir to make a smooth sauce.
Turn the pudding out on to a plate, while warm. Pour over some of the chocolate sauce and serve the remaining sauce on the side. Enjoy!
Pommes persillade might sound fancy, but the homey side dish — a staple on bistro menus — is incredibly easy to make at home. Crispy potatoes with soft, tender centers are tossed in melted butter, minced garlic, and fresh parsley to create the ultimate side dish. It’s like the classic diner home fries you know and love, only elevated.
The trick to getting these potatoes super crispy is to boil them in salted water before pan-frying them. This does two things: It cooks the potatoes all the way through so they are perfectly tender, and it helps bring some of the potatoes’ gelatinized starches to the surface so the potatoes get nice and crispy. To do this, you’ll cover diced potatoes with cold water, bring to a boil, drain them, and let them dry on a sheet tray, where they’ll cool for at least 10 minutes to allow the excess water to evaporate. Then, fry them in a hot skillet to crisp them up.
Here, we’re garnishing the crispy spuds with shredded Parmesan cheese to amp up their savoriness, but you can leave it out and still end up with a delicious side dish. Serve them immediately to maintain their crispy texture and pair with your favorite protein for the ultimate weeknight dinner.
Pommes Persillade
Yield: Serves 6 to 8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes to 30 minutes
Ingredients
4 medium russet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
1 tablespoon plus 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
Peel and cut 4 medium russet potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Place the potatoes in a large pot and add enough cold water to cover potatoes by 1 inch. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the kosher salt. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Uncover and reduce heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until potatoes are easily pierced with a knife but not falling apart, 12 to 14 minutes. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with paper towels.
Drain the potatoes, then transfer onto a baking sheet and spread into a single layer. Pat the potatoes dry with more towels and let cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, mince 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chop the leaves from 1/2 bunch fresh parsley, and finely shred 1 ounce Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup). Microwave 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large microwave-safe bowl until melted, about 30 seconds. Add the garlic, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and stir to combine. Set aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 10-inch cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in batches if needed, add the potatoes and cook, stirring and flipping them often, until golden-brown and crisp on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes total. Transfer the potatoes into the bowl of garlic butter and toss to coat. Transfer into a serving bowl and garnish with the Parmesan.
a sprig of thyme, a few flat-leaf parsley stalks and a little scrap of bay
40g (1½oz) plain flour
5 organic eggs, separated
110g (4oz) goat’s cheese (we use Ardsallagh), crumbled
75g (3oz) Gruyère cheese, finely grated
50g (2oz) mature Coolea or Parmesan cheese, finely grated
good pinch of salt, cayenne, freshly ground black pepper
and nutmeg
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
To serve
lots of thyme flowers, if available
green salad
Directions
We have several farmhouse goat’s-cheesemakers in Ireland.We use Ardsallagh goat’s cheese, St Tola from Inagh in Co.Clare is also heaven, as is Gortnamona from Cooleeneyfarm in Co. Tipperary and Corleggy from Co. Cavan.We bake this soufflé until golden and puffy in a shallow oval dish instead of the traditional soufflé bowl. It makes a perfect lunch or supper dish. Little individual bowls are also perfect as a starter. Reduce the cooking time accordingly.
Preheat the oven to 230°C/450°F/gas 8. Brush the bottom andsides of a 30cm (12in) shallow oval dish (not a soufflé dish) or six individual wide, rimmed soup bowls with melted butter.Put the cream and milk into a saucepan, add the carrot, onion,peppercorns and fresh herbs. Bring slowly to the boil, and then setaside to infuse for 10 minutes. Strain, discarding the flavourings(we rinse them off and throw them into the stockpot if there isone on the go).Melt the butter, add the flour and cook for a minute or two.Whisk in the strained cream and milk, bring to the boil and whisk
until the sauce thickens. Cool slightly. Add the egg yolks, goat’scheese, Gruyère and most of the Coolea or Parmesan (reservingsome for the topping). Season with salt, cayenne, freshly groundpepper and nutmeg. Taste and correct the seasoning.Whisk the egg whites stiffly and fold them gently into the mixtureto make a loose consistency. Spoon into the prepared dish, scatter thethyme leaves over the top and sprinkle with the reserved Coolea orParmesan.Bake in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes (or 9–11 minutesfor the individual soufflés) or until the sides and top are nicely puffedup and golden – the centre should still be creamy. Garnish withthyme flowers. Serve immediately with a good green salad.
Instead of using pre-packaged barbecue sauce, which often contains high fructose corn syrup and tends to be very high in sodium, this recipe calls for more natural sources of sugar, including honey and molasses, and no added salt. With plenty of flavor in healthy ingredients, garlic is also good for your heart, while cayenne pepper and ginger provide anti-inflammatory protection.
Dubliner® Cheese½ cup mozzarella, gratedTorn basil leavesBlack olivesRed onion, thinly slicedYellow bell pepper, thinly sliced1 teaspoon chili flakes, optional
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, dry active yeast, and the granulated sugar. Use a whisk to mix, and begin dissolving the yeast. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, and let the mixture rest at room temperature for 5 minutes to activate the yeast.
Add the olive oil, all purpose flour, and kosher salt to the bowl. Use a wooden spoon, or a Danish dough whisk to mix until a shaggy dough forms, and there are no dry patches of flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rest for 10 minutes on the counter at room temperature.
With clean, damp hands, reach into the bowl and gently lift one side of the dough up, stretching it as far as it will go without tearing. Fold the side of dough over the ball, and work your way around the dough, lifting up, stretching, and folding the dough back over itself. Cover the bowl with the kitchen towel, and let rest for another 15 minutes.
Stretch and fold the dough once more, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let the dough rise in a warm place at room temperature for about an hour, until doubled in size.
Meanwhile make the pizza: in a small mixing bowl, combine the crushed tomatoes, kosher salt, minced garlic, and dried oregano. Stir to combine, and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a rectangular 9×13 inch baking pan, making sure to coat the sides of the pan.
Pour the risen dough out into the prepared baking pan, lightly oil your hands, and use them to stretch the dough out into the corners of the pan until it covers the bottom of the pan. Cover the pan with a kitchen towel, and let the dough rest for another 40-45 minutes while the oven preheats.
After the second rise, make sure the dough is evenly stretched to the corners of the baking pan. Spoon 1 ½ cups of the sauce over the top of the dough. Use your fingertips to dimple the sauce down into the dough. Don’t be afraid to get your hands a bit messy.
Bake the pizza for 10-12 minutes. Remove the pizza from the oven, and spoon on the remaining ½ cup of sauce, and layer on all of the toppings. Bake for another 12-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbling.
Use a spatula to remove the pizza from the pan. Top the pan pizza with torn basil leaves, and serve immediately. Kitchen shears are useful for slicing up the pizza.
800ml (1pt 9fl oz) good-quality chicken or vegetable stock
50g (2oz) butter
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
400g (14oz) risotto rice, such as carnaroli or arborio
200ml (7fl oz) white wine
8 tablespoons grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
100g (3oz) butter, soft, cut into cubes
4 tablespoons marjoram or parsley, chopped
Good squeeze of lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons mascarpone (optional)
Directions
In a heatproof bowl, combine the dried porcini mushrooms and boiling water. Soak for 20 minutes or until soft.
Preheat the oven to 180°C, 350°F, Gas 3. Place the chicken or vegetable stock, whichever you are using, in a saucepan over a medium-low heat and bring to just under a simmer.
Add the butter to a large saucepan or casserole dish with a lid, and place on a medium heat. Add the chopped onion and the chopped garlic and cook for 6-8 minutes until soft.
As the onion is cooking, drain the porcinis but reserve the soaking liquid. Roughly chop the porcinis and set aside, then strain the soaking liquid and add to the simmering stock. Season this liquid with salt and pepper.
Add the chopped porcinis to the onion and cook, stirring frequently, for 1-2 minutes. Next, stir in the risotto rice and cook for two minutes, stirring gently. Add in the white wine, stir and cook for 2-3 minutes until it has evaporated. Pour in the simmering stock, stir to combine, place a lid on top and put it into the oven. Cook for 10-12 minutes until just al dente.
Remove the risotto from the oven, add the grated Parmesan and cubes of butter, then use a wooden spoon to beat everything together. Stir in the marjoram or parsley, whichever you are using, lemon juice and mascarpone, if using.
Foodaware 
Serves 2-4.
You will need:
50g (2oz) dried porcini mushrooms
400ml (14fl oz) boiling water
800ml (1pt 9fl oz) good-quality chicken or vegetable stock
50g (2oz) butter
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
400g (14oz) risotto rice, such as carnaroli or arborio
200ml (7fl oz) white wine
8 tablespoons grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
100g (3oz) butter, soft, cut into cubes
4 tablespoons marjoram or parsley, chopped
Good squeeze of lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons mascarpone (optional)