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Food Stylist & Writer
Sharon Hearne Smith’s Sesame Seed Porridge Bread from Today with Maura and Dáithí.
This is an unusual bread recipe, based on porridge oats and yoghurt instead of flour and water. It is quick, easy and virtually foolproof to make.
Use any selection of seeds you prefer instead of sesame seeds, or omit them altogether for a plain bread. Alternatively, add other flavours like nuts and dried fruits or sundried tomatoes and basil or a swirl of pesto would be delicious too. This bread stays quite moist and fresh for a few days stored in an airtight container.
Makes: 1 loaf (about 12 slices)

This scone recipe can also be made into one large loaf cooked on a baking sheet. Cut a deep cross in the center and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 400ºF (200ºC), Gas mark 6 and continue to cook for another 20 minutes until the base sounds hollow when tapped.
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C), Gas mark 7. Sift the flour into a bowl with the salt and bicarbonate of soda. Stir in the sugar and then, using your fingertips, rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk and beaten egg. Using a tablespoon, gently and quickly stir the liquid into the flour. It should be soft but not sticky. Lightly flour the work surface. Turn the dough out onto it and pat into a circle about 1in (2.5cm) thick. Cut into triangles with a sharp knife or stamp out 2in (5cm) rounds with a cutter.
Arrange the scones on a non-stick baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes until well risen and golden brown. Leave to cool for at least 10 minutes on a wire rack, then serve with the butter curls and jam.
Cheddar variety
Mix ¼ cup (1oz) (25g) of Kerrygold grated Aged Cheddar in with the buttermilk. Brush the finished scones with melted Kerrygold butter and sprinkle with another ¾ cup (3oz) (75g) grated Kerrygold Aged Cheddar before baking. Mix 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard into 2 tbsp (1oz) (25g) of butter and use to spread on the split baked scones before topping with sliced cooked ham or tomatoes to serve.
Fruit variety
Add ½ cup (2oz) (50g) of sultanas or raisins or dried pitted cherries when stirring the sugar into the dry ingredients, then finish as described above.
http://kerrygoldusa.com/recipes/irish-scones-with-butter-and-jam


Smoothie
I normally use frozen berries straight out of the freezer so that you don’t have to use any ice cubes, but it can be hard on the blades of your liquidiser. However, in light of recent health scares, you might want to follow the FSAI’s advice to boil imported frozen berries for 1 minute, or even better, freeze fresh berries when there is a glut of them in the summer or buy Irish berries. Smoothies can be made up to 2 hours in advance and kept in the fridge, then just given a good stir before serving them.
MAKES ABOUT 1.2 LITRES (2 PINTS)
1 Place the berries and bananas in a liquidiser with the yogurt and juice. Process for 1 minute, until smooth. Alternatively, you can put everything into a large measuring jug and blitz with a hand-held blender, moving it up and down until smooth.
2 Half-fill tall glasses with ice cubes, if using, and pour in the red berry smoothie to serve.
MACNEAN SPECIAL PORRIDGE WITH HONEY AND CREAM
This is one of our signature breakfast dishes. It’s amazing how many people going to bed at night tell me that they can’t wait to taste the porridge! On cold winter mornings, it gets you off to a good start and takes no more than 10 minutes to prepare.
Serves 4
Place the porridge oats, milk and 150ml (1/4 pint) water in a heavy-based pan. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 8–10 minutes, until the mixture has slightly thickened, stirring all the time. It’s important that the porridge has a nice soft dropping consistency, so add a little more milk if you think it needs it.
To serve, spoon the porridge into warmed bowls. Drizzle each one with some honey and Irish Mist and serve with plenty of cream poured on top.
COOK AHEAD
One of the last things we do at night in the restaurant is steep the porridge oats in the milk and water in the fridge, as leaving them overnight makes them lovely and soft so that they cook much quicker. They can also be made the night before and reheated gently in a pan on the hob.

Food on RTÉVerified account @RTEfood 15 minutes ago
These Apricot Jam Breakfast Muffins can be prepared the night before and cooked to perfection in the morning – http://ow.ly/8e6w30fDtZV
Recipe courtesy of Folláin

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
8 large eggs
One 16-ounce bag frozen hash browns, such as Tater Tots, thawed
1 pound pork sausage
1 pound bacon
One 9-ounce package cheese and roasted garlic tortellini
10 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 1/2 cups)
1. In a large skillet, melt the butter and scramble the eggs.
2. In a separate large skillet, cook the hash browns according to package directions.
3. In a third skillet, break up the sausage with a wooden spoon and cook until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl. Cook the bacon in the same skillet until crispy, drain on paper towels, tear into pieces and set aside.
4. Cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Layer a large bowl with hash browns, sausage, bacon, tortellini, eggs and cheese, and serve!
Recipe adapted from Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood (c) Clarkson Potter 2010