Rachel Allen’s Strawberry Muesli

rachel strawberry muesli

This recipe comes from the original Swiss Bircher muesli, where porridge oats are soaked in a little water, then sweetened with delicious seasonal or dried fruit, and sometimes nuts and seeds too. Strawberries and raspberries work particularly well in this muesli recipe, as does grated apple, to which you could also add a smidgen of ground cinnamon.

The recipe was created in the early 1900s by the Swiss physician Dr Maximillian Bircher-Benner, who knew that a diet rich in nutrients was essential for the recuperation of the patients in his hospital.

Place the porridge oats in a bowl with the water. Allow the oats to sit for 10 minutes, then add in the strawberries. Mash with a fork before adding enough light agave syrup or honey, whichever you’re using, to sweeten the mixture.

Serve the muesli on its own, or with cream and brown sugar; or topped with natural yoghurt and toasted, chopped hazelnuts or almonds.

Rachel’s warm winter green salad with Caesar dressing, smoked bacon and a poached egg #ballymaloe 🥰🇮🇪

 

.@rorysfood blackberry and sweet geranium posset #Ballymaloe

Watch How to Cook Well with Rory O’Connell at 8:30pm on Tuesday evenings on RTÉ One.

By Rory O’Connell Celebrity Chef
More from
How to Cook Well, with Rory O’Connell


Watch How to Cook Well with Rory O’Connell at 8:30pm on Tuesday evenings on RTÉ One.
Ingredients
A classic lemon posset or set cream is a simple and lovely thing and my version here with blackberries and sweet geranium leaves is I believe a good and delicious variation on the theme. It is remarkable how easy this is and how without the aid of egg or gelatine, the mixture sets into a tender chilled pudding. I like the possets served straight from the fridge, so nice and chilly. 
I often make this during the winter months using wild blackberries that I have frozen in the late summer or early autumn. If you are using frozen berries, use them straight from the freezer. I never cease to be amazed by the value one gets from a few bags of frozen fruit when fresh local fruit is simply not an option due to the seasons.  
A little softly whipped cream is the perfect accompaniment along with a fresh organic or crystallised rose petal. The combination of rose and blackberry is a marriage made in heaven and I might be tempted to add a few drops of rose water to the cream when whipping. Be careful though as too much rose water will yield a flavour that is too strong and overpowering. The flavour of the rosewater cream should be akin to catching the scent of a rose while walking about the garden – there but almost illusive.
If you do not have the lemon or rose-scented geranium, you can just leave it out. The fragrant leaves do however bring a magical element to the dish. The plants are easily found at good garden centres and can be treated as a house plant living on a bright window-sill or if the weather is mild where you live, they can spend spring, summer and autumn out of doors in a sheltered sunny spot. I can’t imagine not having one of these plants for the ravishing flavour to bring to certain dishes. In fact, it is the sort of magic that one receives from this rather innocuous looking leaf that humbles and mesmerises me and reminds me every time I use it, how astonishing nature is and how fortunate that my career has brought me down this path where I handle these treasures all of the time. Oh, joy.
The possets can be served in little cups or glasses or the prettiest receptacle you like to use. The portions are quite small as this is quite a rich little dish but I always think it is better to be longing for one more spoonful rather than being faced with too much food.
 A thin lacy biscuit such as the Nougatine biscuits would also be good here and I might be tempted to add a few drops of rose water to the cream when whipping. 
Serves
400ml cream
90g caster sugar
5 leaves of rose or lemon scented geranium
100g blackberries
50ml lemon juice.
Method
Place the cream, sugar, geranium leaves and blackberries in a small saucepan and bring to a bare simmer.
Stir the saucepan occasionally to encourage the sugar to dissolve. Maintain that bare simmer for 5 minutes. If the cream boils hard the texture and consistency of the posset will be spoiled. 
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. You will notice the colour of the cream improving dramatically as soon as the lemon juice goes in.
Now strain the cream through a sieve to remove the geranium leaves and at the same time push as much of the blackberries through as possible. 
Pour the strained cream into 8 little cups or glasses and allow to cool before placing in the fridge for 3 hours to set.
The posset will keep perfectly in your fridge for several days. I like to cover them to protect the delicate flavour.
Serve with a little softly whipped cream and if you have them, a fresh or crystallised rose petal and a nougatine biscuit. 

Mexican Chicken Salad with Clonakilty Avocado Yogurt Dressing by @eunice_power_ brought to you by @irishyogurts

  • Mexican Chicken Salad with Clonakilty Avocado Yogurt Dressing by @eunice_power_ brought to you by @irishyogurts

    Recipe, Method & Chef’s Top Tip below 👇
    For all of the Today Show recipes and hundreds more please visit RTE.ie/Food

    Loaded with juicy roast chicken, crunchy lettuce, smoky sweet corn and a creamy avocado yogurt dressing, this colourful salad is perfect for sunny days, easy entertaining or meal prep 🌞 Swipe to see all the delicious textures!

    Ingredients (Serves 6) 🥗

    Salad
    • 1 small roast chicken, pulled apart
    • 1 cos lettuce, sliced
    • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
    • Juice of 1 lime
    • 1 x 400g tin black beans, drained and rinsed
    • 1 x 200g tin sweet corn, drained
    • 150g cherry tomatoes, halved
    • Handful crushed tortilla chips

    Clonakilty Avocado Yogurt Dressing 🥑
    • 1 ripe avocado
    • 170g Clonakilty Greek Style Yogurt
    • Juice of 1 lime
    • Small handful fresh coriander
    • 1 tbsp diced pickled jalapeños
    • Pinch of salt
    • Drizzle of sweet chilli sauce
    • 1–2 tbsp water, if needed

    Method 👩‍🍳

    Place the sliced onion in a bowl with the lime juice and a pinch of salt. Leave for 10 minutes.
    Blend the avocado, yogurt, lime juice, coriander, jalapeños and salt until smooth. Add water if needed and season with sweet chilli sauce.
    Heat a little oil in a frying pan. Add the sweet corn and cook for 4–5 minutes until lightly golden. Season with salt.
    Combine the lettuce, chicken, black beans, sweet corn, tomatoes and pickled onion in a large bowl.
    Spoon over the dressing, toss gently and finish with crushed tortilla chips 🌮

    Chef’s Top Tip ✨
    For extra flavour, char the chicken lightly in a hot pan before adding it to the salad for a smoky finish.

    Save this recipe for your next BBQ, picnic or easy midweek dinner ☀️

    #TodayShow #RTEFood #MexicanSalad #HealthyRecipes #IrishFood #ChickenSalad #SummerRecipes #EasyDinner #HomeCooking #FoodInspo #LunchIdeas #Clonakilty #SaladRecipe #QuickMeals14h

Chocolate Mousse & Strawberry Coulis by Scarlett & Tamsin Allen @ballymaloecookeryschool @rtetoday

  • This 3-ingredient chocolate mousse looks fancy but is unbelievably easy 🍫✨ Rich, airy, indulgent and perfect when you need a last-minute dessert that still feels special. Swipe for that dreamy spoonful 😍

    Chocolate Mousse & Strawberry Coulis by Scarlett & Tamsin Allen @ballymaloecookeryschool
    @ballymaloecookeryschool

    Recipe, Method & Chef’s Top Tip below 👇

    For all of the Today Show recipes and hundreds more please visit RTE.ie/Food

    Light-as-air chocolate mousse with deep cocoa flavour, paired with a bright fresh strawberry coulis for the ultimate sweet finish 🍓 Perfect for date night, dinner parties or an easy weekend treat.

    Ingredients 🛒
    Chocolate mousse:
    2 egg whites
    50g dark chocolate (55%)
    1 tbsp caster sugar

    Strawberry coulis:
    150g fresh strawberries, hulled
    1 tsp caster sugar
    1 tsp lemon juice

    Method 👩‍🍳
    1. Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Leave to cool slightly.
    2. In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites to soft peaks. Add the sugar and whisk again until stiff and glossy.
    3. Gently fold the melted chocolate into the egg whites using a spatula, keeping as much air in the mixture as possible.
    4. Spoon into serving glasses and chill for 1–2 hours until set.
    5. For the coulis, blend the strawberries with sugar and lemon juice until smooth.
    6. Spoon or drizzle the strawberry coulis over the mousse just before serving.

    #TodayShow #RTEFood #IrishFood #EasyDesserts #ChocolateMousse14h

Darina Allen’s Carrot and Mint Soup

Carrot-Mint-Soup-(Carrot-Lovage-Soup)-(Carrot,-Chive

Carrot and Mint Soup

Most people will have carrots, onions and potatoes in their pantry – I’m using the first little shoots of fresh mint to flavour my batch of carrot soup today.

 

This soup may be served either hot or cold, don’t hesitate to put in a good pinch of sugar, it brings up the flavour.

560g(1 1/4lb/3 cups) carrots, preferably organic, chopped

45g(1 1/2oz/scant 1/2 stick) butter

110g(4oz) onion, chopped

150g(5oz) potatoes, chopped

salt,freshly ground pepper and sugar

sprig of spearmint

1.2litres (2 pints/5 cups) homemade light chicken or vegetable stock

62ml(2 1/2fl oz/generous 1/4 cup) creamy milk, (optional)

3 teaspoons freshly chopped spearmint

Garnish

a little lightly whipped cream or crème fraiche

sprigs of spearmint

Melt the butter and when it foams add the chopped vegetables, season with salt and freshly ground pepper and sugar. Add a sprig of mint, cover with a butter paper (to retain the steam) and a tight fitting lid.Leave to sweat gently on a low heat for about 10 minutes approx.Remove the lid, add the boiling stock and cook until the vegetables are soft. Pour into the liquidiser, add 3 teaspoons of freshly chopped mint and puree until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning. Adda little creamy milk if necessary.

Garnish with a swirl of lightly whipped cream or crème frâiche and a sprig of fresh mint.

Variation

Carrot and Lovage Soup

Substitute lovage for mint in the above recipe.

Carrot,Garlic Chive Flowers and Seeds

Add finely chopped garlic chives instead of mint in the master recipe. Garnish with a swirl of lightly whipped cream or crème fraiche,garlic chive flowers and seeds.  Society garlic flowers are also great.

Rachel’s Banana Butterscotch Pudding @kerrygoldusa

ban butterscotch pudding 15816

I absolutely adore this pudding from Bill’s book, Simply Bill. He made this when I appeared with him on Great Food Live, and as soon as I tasted it I was hooked. I have adapted the recipe slightly to fit the pie dish that I have. To make this for 12 people, double this recipe and cook in a 10-inch square gratin dish for 55 minutes.

Ingredients:

FOR THE PUDDING:

1 cup (4 oz) all-purpose flour

3 tbsp baking powder

1/2 cup (4 oz) superfine sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 banana, mashed

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

6 tbsp (3/4 stick) Kerrygold Butter, melted

FOR THE TOPPING:

1/2 cup (4 oz) light brown sugar

2 tbsp corn syrup

2/3 cup boiling water

Softly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

Directions:

TO SERVE:

Preheat the oven 350°F (180°C). Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add the sugar. Mix together the beaten egg, mashed banana, milk, vanilla extract and melted butter. Pour mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Pour this wet dough into a 9-inch pie dish and place the dish on a baking sheet.

To make the topping, put the brown sugar, corn syrup and boiling water in a saucepan. Bring to the boil and then drizzle over the pudding. Bake for 30–40 minutes, or until it feels slightly firm in the center. Serve with softly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. If you’re not going to serve the pudding immediately, keep it somewhere warm until you are ready—it sits quite happily.