Neven’s Recipes, Irish Stew and Mary Flahavan’s oatmeal cookies – Marty in the Morning @rte lyricfm

I never tire of a bowl of steaming hot stew. It’s the attention to detail that makes this dish one of the world’s great classics. This is my version that I have developed over the years. It’s a meal in itself, but for a special celebration, try serving it buffet style with bowls of turnip mash, colcannon and maybe even some glazed parsnips and carrots and watch your guests’ faces light up!

SERVES 6–8

  • 900g (2lb) boneless lamb neck or shoulder, trimmed and cut into cubes
  • 900ml (1½ pints) lamb or chicken stock
  • 50g (2oz) pearl barley, washed
  • 225g (8oz) potatoes, cut into chunks
  • 225g (8oz) carrots, thickly sliced
  • 225g (8oz) leeks, well trimmed and
  • thickly sliced
  • 225g (8oz) pearl onions, peeled
  • 100g (4oz) rindless piece of smoked
  • bacon, diced
  • 2 fresh thyme sprigs
  • sea salt and freshly ground
  • black pepper
  • chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley,
  • to garnish
  • turnip mash with crispy bacon and onion, to serve (optional)
  • colcannon, to serve

1 Place the boneless lamb pieces in a large heavy-based pan or flameproof casserole and pour over the stock. Bring to the boil, then skim off any scum from the surface and then stir in

the barley. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 50 minutes, until slightly reduced and the lamb is almost tender.

2 Add the potatoes to the lamb with the carrots, leeks, pearl onions, smoked bacon and thyme and simmer for 30 minutes, until the lamb and vegetables are completely tender but still holding their shape. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

3 Put the stew straight onto the table and scatter over the parsley. Serve dishes of the turnip mash with crispy bacon and onion and colcannon alongside and allow everyone to help themselves.

Oatmeal, Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies

This recipe was given to me by Mary Flahavan. I like it so much that we now make it up in batches and keep them in Kilner jars in our rooms for guests in case they’re feeling a bit peckish after a long journey but don’t want to ruin their dinner.

  • 275g (10oz) Flahavan’s
  • Progress Oatlets
  • 225g (8oz) butter, at room
  • temperature
  • 150g (5oz) caster sugar
  • 100g (4oz) plain flour, plus a little
  • extra for dusting
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 100g (4oz) dried cranberries,
  • roughly chopped
  • 100g (4oz) white chocolate,
  • finely chopped

Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/gas mark 6). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Blend the oatlets in a food processor until quite fine. Add the butter, sugar, flour and baking soda and blend again until the dough just comes together.

Tip into a bowl and beat in the cranberries and white chocolate. Shape into 12 even-sized balls and arrange on the lined baking sheets well spaced apart, then squash them down with the palm of your hand to about a 4cm (1 ½in) thickness. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until they are a pale golden colour and soft to the touch. Remove from the oven and leave to cool and harden on the sheets for a minute, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool for a few minutes before tucking in with a nice cup of tea.

.@nevenmaguire makes Spaghetti Carbonara @dunnesstores Italian ♥️ cooking

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3DxXB-KVno/?igsh=MWZkMHBxZTduaTN1Yg==

  • dunnesstores's profile picturedunnesstores#Ad |
  • This Spaghetti Carbonara uses just four simple ingredients along with some salt and pepper and is ready in less than 15 minutes. Find the full recipe from our @simplybetterds brand ambassador @nevenmaguire below:

    Ingredients
    1 Pack Simply Better Italian Bronze Spaghetti
    2 Packs Simply Better Guanciale Pepato, cut into strips
    4 Simply Irish Better Free Range Corn Fed Large Eggs and 2 Yolks
    1 Pack Pecorino Romano PDO, finely grated
    Simply Better Oriel Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

    Method
    1. Bring a large saucepan of water to a rolling boil. Season with salt and cook the spaghetti for 10 minutes until al dente.
    2. Meanwhile, heat a non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Sauté the Guanciale for 2-3 minutes until crisp. Drain off the excess fat and tip on to a plate to cool.
    3. Beat the eggs and yolks in a mixing bowl until lightly and fluffy. Season generously with pepper and fold in most of the pecorino, reserving some to garnish.
    4. Drain the spaghetti, reserving a small cupful of the cooking water and immediately tip into the bowl with the egg mixture. Add most of the Guanciale, reserving some for garnishing, and toss with a tongs until evenly combined. The heat of the spaghetti will be enough to create a smooth silky sauce – you can add a little of the reserved cooking water if you think it needs it. Divide among bowls and garnish with the rest of the Guanciale and Pecorino to serve.

    Neven’s Top Tip: Reserving a small cupful of the pasta cooking water when draining can be used to enhance the silkiness of the cooking sauce before serving3d