Virginia Park Lodge @VPLodge 3 hours ago
Meadowsweet at Lough Ramor. Or as Chef Eoin calls it, Cavan vanilla 
#wildfoods #wildfood #cavan #ireland #thisisireland #thisisirishfood #irishfood

Virginia Park Lodge @VPLodge 3 hours ago
Meadowsweet at Lough Ramor. Or as Chef Eoin calls it, Cavan vanilla 
#wildfoods #wildfood #cavan #ireland #thisisireland #thisisirishfood #irishfood

This traditional Irish peasant food gets an upgrade with the help of some pure Irish butter and decadent truffle oil. The snap of fresh chives adds a finishing touch to an old-fashioned side made new again.
Heat oven to 400° F. Cut off the top 1/2 to 1 inch off garlic bulb to expose cloves. Wrap garlic in foil, place in baking pan and bake until soft and browned, about 45 minutes. Squeeze garlic from skins. Meanwhile, in large saucepan over high heat, bring 1 quart water to boil. Add potatoes, cover and return to boil. Reduce heat to medium-high and simmer until potatoes are very tender, about 10 minutes. Drain potatoes and return to pan. Heat milk in microwave oven until steaming, about 1 minute. Pour milk over potatoes, add roasted garlic and mash with potato masher. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon onto four plates or small bowls. Make a well in the middle of each serving and fill with 1 tablespoon Kerrygold Butter. Drizzle each serving with 2 teaspoons truffle oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon chives.
Melt the butter in a large heavy saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and stir for 4 minutes over a medium heat without adding colour.
Stir in the tomato puree & the tomato quarters. Add the sugar & stock, cover with a lid, increase the heat and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and puree the soup with a stick blender or alternatively in a food processor until it is completely smooth. Pass the soup through a sieve.
Return the pureed soup to the saucepan, stir in the Avonmore cooking cream and reheat. Season the soup to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Ladle into warm serving bowls and sprinkle with the freshly chopped basil.
The easiest way to cut the red cabbage and onions is on a Japanese mandoline but of course you can do it with a sharp knife if you don’t have one or a food processor works well too. This would be delicious as a side order or serve with baked jacket potatoes with a dollop of soured cream and chives for a light supper.
Heat a very large heavy-based pan. Add the butter and once it has melted, tip in the red cabbage and onions. Sauté over a medium to high heat for about 10 minutes until just beginning to soften.
Stir the apple into the cabbage mixture and then add the pomegranate or cranberry juice, balsamic vinegar, sugar and spices. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 1 hour over a low heat, stirring every 20 minutes until the cabbage is meltingly tender. Transfer to a warmed dish and serve at once.
Melt the butter in a large heavy saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and stir for 4 minutes over a medium heat without adding colour.
Stir in the tomato puree & the tomato quarters. Add the sugar & stock, cover with a lid, increase the heat and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and puree the soup with a stick blender or alternatively in a food processor until it is completely smooth. Pass the soup through a sieve.
Return the pureed soup to the saucepan, stir in the Avonmore cooking cream and reheat. Season the soup to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Ladle into warm serving bowls and sprinkle with the freshly chopped basil.

Wild garli soup, @goatsbridge trout, potato and horseradish @craftbistro #goodtobeopenagain
Use a little water to dampen a 450g (1lb) loaf tin (the more square shaped, the better), then line with a double layer of cling film. Line 2 large baking sheets with non-stick baking paper.
Melt the plain chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Spoon half the melted chocolate onto each sheet of baking paper and spread it out to the edges in a thin layer. Put in the fridge for about 30 minutes to set.
Melt the white chocolate and 5 tablespoons of the cream in a separate heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Once melted, give it a good stir and set aside to cool.
Whip the rest of the cream in a large bowl with the vanilla seeds until the cream is just holding its shape, then fold in the cooled melted white chocolate.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white and icing sugar until stiff peaks have formed, then fold into the white chocolate mixture.
Carefully peel the plain chocolate from the baking paper and break it up into pieces.
Place a couple spoonfuls of the whipped cream mixture into the prepared loaf tin and cover with a layer of the plain chocolate pieces. Repeat the layers until the loaf tin is filled up, finishing with a layer of whipped cream. Cover the top with cling film and freeze overnight (or up to 1 month). Any remaining pieces of plain chocolate can be put into a freezer-proof container and frozen separately to use for decoration.
About 1 hour before serving, transfer the loaf tin and reserved chocolate decoration to the fridge.