Recipe: Woman Crush Wednesday

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After last week’s fun in L.A., I am back home in London for another edition of Woman Crush Wednesday.  And since I’m in the U.K. now,  it felt appropriate to show the love for one of England’s most beloved chefs.  Though Skye Gyngell is originally from Australia, she has made her mark in the culinary world here.  She took Petersham Nurseries to Michelin Star status.  And as I shared on here with a Foodie Fieldtrip Friday post, Skye’s latest creation, Spring, is not only delicious but also in a stunning location.

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Today’s #WCW is of course beautiful inside and out, but she is also a major player in the gastronomic game.  As a successful restauranteur and cookery book writer (all while being a mum) she has classic French culinary training on her resume. Yet her recipes are not fussy at all, using the amalgam of ingredients to create the complexity of flavors.  Her reverence for seasonality is her trademark and the changing menu at Petersham Nurseries and now Spring reflect that. Today’s recipe re-creation is a quick and satisfying chicken salad, which judging by the ingredients should be delectable.

Poached Chicken Salad with Nuts and Nam Jim

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For the nam jim

1 bunch of coriander
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
A pinch of salt
2 green bird’s-eye chillies, chopped
2 tbsp palm sugar or caster sugar
2 tbsp fish sauce
3 tbsp lime juice
2 red shallots, peeled and finely chopped
1 small chicken
1 small knob of ginger
3 kaffir lime leaves

For the salad

2 small carrots
2 small cucumbers (or half a large one)
8-10 candlenuts or cashew nuts
A handful of coriander leaves
10 or 12 basil leaves

To make the nam jim, pound the coriander stalks (the roots and stalks of coriander are used in cooking; the leaves are reserved for garnishes and salads), with the garlic and salt using a pestle and mortar until well crushed. Add the chillies and continue to pound. Mix in the sugar, fish sauce and lime juice, then the chopped shallots. Set aside.

Wash and pat dry the chicken, then place in a large pot. Add the ginger, coriander and lime leaves, and cover with cold water. Place over a medium heat, bring to the boil then turn to a simmer – you want the chicken to cook gently. Poach for 40 minutes.

Take the pot off the heat and allow it to cool for a while, before removing the chicken from the cooking broth. Poaching is a lovely way to cook  chicken that’s to be served at room temperature – it remains deliciously soft and moist.

For the salad, peel the carrots and cut into fine matchsticks. Slice the cucumbers in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with a teaspoon then cut into fine matchsticks. Gently roast the nuts until golden-brown. Remove and allow to cool, then chop roughly.

When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the flesh from the bones and shred with your fingers. Place in a bowl alongside the carrots, cucumber, coriander, basil and toasted nuts. Dress with the nam jim and serve immediately

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Not only is this salad easy to prepare, it is vibrant and fresh tasting. It feels clean and healthy, and has loads of different textures and flavors.  There is crunch with the carrots and cashews, and the chicken is so moist and tender you barely need to chew it.  The heat from the peppers is balanced with the sweetness from the sugar and the tartness of the lime juice. And the fresh herbs along with the cucumber really make it seem like you are eating in the middle of a garden of paradise.  I will definitely be making this dish again.  As well, if you don’t dress all the ingredients, you can make this salad last for days once all the bits an pieces are prepped.  So being on point with an eating plan is more simple to adhere to that’s for sure!

This dish is the epitome of Skye Gyngell’s ethos.  Even though she is a highly trained and regarded chef, she lets the ingredients do the talking.  When paired in the right combination, magic happens.  While she may be an alchemists, thank goodness she doesn’t keep her secrets hidden away.  She shares them for all of us to enjoy as she leads the change towards a better appreciation for delicious and elegant, yet simple food.

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Thank you Skye for all of your inspiration for us female foodies, and for anyone in the culinary world. Your achievements and humility make you such an incredible person!  May all good things continue to come your way!

Simply love and admiration,

YDP

The Graduate

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A Flash Back Friday picture of us “Three Musketeers” taken at a U.S.C. football game back in the late 80s.

Today is Friday the 13th!  I love this day, though some are actually freaked out by it.  I even posted a story about the Triskaidekaphobia with this calendar date which you can read here.  But today is a very special day for our family. My daughter will be graduating with a masters degree in social work from U.S.C.  Though she isn’t the first in the family to attend this prestigious university in Los Angeles, she is the first one of us to achieve a post grad degree. It hasn’t been easy as she is also a mommy to two precious little girls.  But as I have experienced, many things in life that are worth striving for are indeed challenging.

I too attended U.S.C as a “mature student” and though I graduated two years before he did, my son and I were on campus at the same time.  I even shared a funny Facebook related story on here about my son and I going to the same college.  But what I haven’t shared on here is how I got to the place where I became a student at the age of 40!  I’m sure this day will bring up a lot of feelings for me, but good ones.  Knowing that I was the first one in my family to attend university and ultimately graduate with honors is a big accomplishment.

What follows is my U.S.C. entrance application essay. It is amazing to go back and think of how far my journey has brought me and how grateful I am for my blessings!

USC Application Personal Essay: Describe a book, play, composition or work of art that has inspired or intrigued you and tell us what it means for you personally.

Bovard Auditorium is an unlikely place for a life altering transformation, but on April 24, 1997 that is exactly what took place. I have been a lover of classical music my entire life, and, in fact, my daughter and son were born to the music of Mozart and Beethoven respectively. On that Thursday evening in April, however, I had the pleasure to experience for the first time Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto in C Minor. The USC Symphony powerfully performed it, along with soloist Robert Thies. I had no idea, when I took my seat in the packed auditorium, that I would be inspired to such depths that I would ultimately have the courage to dramatically change my destiny.

At that point in my life I had been married for sixteen years to a man who thought they gave out prizes for philandering. However, because of my commitment to our family I felt the need to stay in the relationship; not to mention the fact that he cruelly reminded me on a regular basis that I couldn’t survive without him. From the first eight lonely and haunting bars, to the final triumphant note, I felt a connection to the Concerto that was overwhelming. During the thirty-four minutes of the performance, I was both weeping and cheering. I related to the tension and anxiety in the first movement’s quick rhythms. It seemed as though there was a sense of urgency. When the first movement ended abruptly, it conveyed to me a feeling of questioning and a need for action. I was thoroughly surprised during the second movement when I heard a familiar melody. I realized Eric Carmen used that same melody in his 1976 hit record. Reflecting on his lyrics, “All by myself, don’t wanna be, all by myself, anymore. All by myself, don’t wanna live all by myself, anymore,” I realized that was how I felt. I was with someone, but I was really alone, and that was not how I wanted to live. The second movement also contained a sense of hope, particularly identified for me in the woodwind instruments. The emotional interplay between the piano and strings spoke of love and forgiveness. It ended very quietly and serenely and the third movement began with a mood of wonder. The rousing finale heralded energy and redemption. It is beyond comprehension that this beautiful piece of art is complex and yet simply understood. What is especially intriguing is how it can be interpreted so differently depending on each listener’s frame of reference.

For days following the concert, the music resonated in my head. I purchased a recording and listened to it so often I could anticipate each phrase, each note. I then began researching the history behind the composition. It struck me that Rachmaninoff wrote it after he suffered a three year depression. The music took on an even greater significance for me when I learned that what led to his depression were the scathing reviews from critics of his first piano concerto which debuted in 1897. One reviewer suggested that it would have better if the composer had never even been born. My admiration and awe for this man swelled each time I listen to his masterpiece that was not only courageous and cathartic, but also victorious.

Shortly thereafter I filed for divorce. I learned from a one hundred year old composition that even if someone tries to destroy you, you must have the courage to rise up and succeed. To my ex-husband’s chagrin, I have not only survived, but I have thrived. Not until this moment have I shared with anyone what Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto means for me personally. I continue to be a fan, and have seen many performances at such venues as the Hollywood Bowl and Music Center. I suppose I’m a “Rach Groupie.” Like the culmination of a composition, this story will come full circle if I’m fortunate enough to be accepted to USC as a transfer student for the Fall 2004 semester. I will certainly have a richer appreciation when passing Bovard Auditorium than the average student.

Yes indeed I felt appreciation, in fact on the day of the new student orientation, I remember bursting into tears when we passed the Bovard Auditorium on the tour of the campus.  Cathartic and happy tears, which were present again on the day of my graduation.  I was so excited to be wearing a cap and gown that I went to sleep wearing them!  And I am sure a tear will be shed today as well being back at my alma mater cheering on my daughter.  But it’s okay because emotions are a beautiful reminder of our humanness.  And being a graduate is actually a lifelong process as we are constantly learning.  Once we think we have the knowledge under our belts, new information or situations arise.  That is what keeps us moving forward.  Good thing our eyes are on the front of our heads!

Love and Fight on! (while making the “V” sign with your fingers, which is the U.S.C. trademark symbol)

YDP

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It was so amazing to share my day with my kids. I wore my honors cords proudly, but am most proud of being their mom!

 

 

Recipe: Woman Crush Wednesday

How fun to be able to spend my favorite day of the week with one of my favorite people on this planet!  I am currently in L.A. attending some major milestone events in our family.  Besides being with my loved ones, I get to soak up the joys of my former home town and top of the list is getting time with friends.  So how perfect that for Woman Crush Wednesday I get to share the love for a fabulous female chef and also one of my besties at the same time?

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And my choice for this week is actually inspired by my friend Jane.  She herself is a phenomenal cook (she has alot of mouths to feed as she is the mom to 6 kids and 6 grandkids) and an avid cookbook collector.  But if you have a look at her bookshelf, one name dominates all the others and that is Ina Garten also known as the Barefoot Contessa.  Jane loves the simplicity of the recipes, yet the complexity of flavors.  Whether sweet or savory you can’t go wrong with any Ina Garten dish!  And I have been converted too!  Ina is an amazing choice for #WCW and I am so excited to make one of her recipes for my snapchat cooking tutorial (my username is:  blissbakery) and of course on here too!

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Ina Garten is one of the most recognizable foodies in America.  With numerous successful cookbooks and Food Network television shows for which she has been nominated and won an emmy award.  Therefore,  since I am in the U.S.A , why not recreate one of the most recognizable American treats (a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) with the Barefoot Contessa at Home’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars.

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Ingredients

1/2 pound, 8 ounces or 227 grams (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (312 g) sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups (18 ounces) or 500 g creamy peanut butter
3 cups (500g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 cups (18 ounces) or 500 g jam/jelly/preserves of your choice
2/3 cups  (85 g) salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350f/180c degrees .
Grease a 9 by 13 by 2-inch cake pan. Line it with parchment paper, then grease and flour the pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light yellow, about 2 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter and mix until all ingredients are combined.
In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture. Mix just until combined.
Spread 2/3 of the dough into the prepared cake pan and spread over the bottom with a knife or offset spatula. Spread the jam evenly over the dough. Drop small globs of the remaining dough evenly over the jam. Don’t worry if all the jam isn’t covered; it will spread in the oven. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and bake for 45 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and cut into squares.

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These peanut butter and jelly bars turned out so amazing.  I can honestly say they will be on weekly rotation in my house.  Melt in your mouth good!  They are the perfect combo of a “PBJ” sambo minus the bread.  Almost like a peanut butter cookie, but in bar form, with the lovely jam center.  I can hardly wait to get back to London to make a batch for my hubby!  But I am ever so grateful to my friends Jane and Oliver for letting me use their home to host this week’s Woman Crush Wednesday.  And it wasn’t such a bad trade for them as they seemed to enjoy these treats too!

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While the world knows Ina Garten as a culinary queen, she never went to culinary school. She is in fact self taught.  Ina worked in Washington D.C with the White House and earned an MBA (masters in business) from George Washington University.  But she put the business acumen to good use when she opened her wildly successful Barefoot Contessa specialty food store in New York.  The “elegant but earthy” ethos has stayed with her and she continues to inspire so many professional chefs and indeed home cooks.

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I supposed because my hubby is my best friend, one of the things I have always admired about Ina Garten is the fact that her husband plays such an integral role in her culinary journey.  He makes appearances  in her Food Network show, and even when he is away at work, she still speaks fondly of him as if he is right there with her.  She even wrote a cookbook titled “Cooking for Jeffrey” which I like to think of as a gastronomic love letter to her partner.  Not only is she inspiring chefs, but also couples on how to keep the love and appreciation alive in a long term relationship.

A massive thank you Ina for being you and sharing yourself with the world.  You make it look so easy and I supposed that is because you love what you do.  You embody that Barefoot Contessa way of life, elegant and earthy, that so many others are striving towards.  And your courage to change your professional path towards the foodie world is an example of how we all need to reach for our dreams! God bless you!

PBJ Love!

YDP

 

There’s a First for Everything: IBA16

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As I have mentioned before, this isn’t my first blog.  I did a blog while I attended the Ballymaloe Cookery School for three months back in 2007.  I called it www.karenincork.blogspot.com.  It is actually still accessible in cyber space and is really like a wonderful travel diary for me.  And I enjoy going back for the odd trip down memory lane. That was early days for blogging.  Now everyone and their dog has a blog.  Literally!  Though I think if a dog has a blog it should be called a Dlog!

However, what IS a first for me is the amazing opportunity I had to attend the IBA16 Conference and Awards in Dublin on April 30th.  It was a mix of emotions.  I was excited, scared, happy, you name it.  Having never been to a blogging  conference before that was understandable.  I’ve only had my blog up and running now since the end of August 2015 so it was such a blessing to be able to attend this prestigious event.  As well it was in my home town of Dublin and any chance to come back is a plus!  Obviously, the highlight for me and many others was the chance to meet people in person that you might be connected with through social media, but to be in the physical presence  is all together a different thing.  I mean, you actually get to see that people have legs!

It was a jam packed conference day at the Radisson Blu Hotel, starting at 10 am and finishing just after 5:30.  With 23 speakers in rapid fire succession, my brain was melting near the end. But I haven’t felt that invigorated in a long time.  The wealth, depth and breadth of information was astounding.  I learned about the legalities of sponsorships on blogs, how to monetize your blog, the ins and outs of branding,  as well as how to optimize visibility.  As if that wasn’t enough there were touching, heartfelt and poignant stories of triumph of spirit over adversity which only made the theme of INSPIRATION resonate more fully.  I cried, I laughed, I even got embarrassed. Yep, Ciamhie Mc Digital called me out for not MFE (measuring feckin everything). Oops!

Since I am so new to social media, and am doing so at 51 years old, it can be daunting and overwhelming.  On top of that, I have a tech-disability.  As a chef, give me pots and pans and I can whip up anything.  But with a computer or mobile device, I am still finding my way around.  Yet I still felt I belonged in that room.  I felt I was part of the blogging community. Everyone was kind, friendly, open, helpful and supportive.  I give all the credit to Fiona Ried. The IBA is under her nurturing wing and she sets the standard of excellence and also of respect.  Even the awards dinner felt more like a birthday celebration than a competition.  All the nominees were encouraging one another prior to their category announcement.  And then afterwards they were congratulating the winners.

So that is the main take away for me from the IBA16.  Yes I learned pointers about how to hone my skills and network better etc.  But what will stay with me is how I was made to feel. Blogging is a funny aul hobby, and yes a profession for some. Yet it is a legitimate community made up of some incredible people that are smart, funny and opinionated.  All of that diversity of thought comes together as a family and it is wonderful.  So I will savour this feeling of belonging to a family that is as rich and colorful as a beautifully woven and precious keepsake quilt.  Bring on IBA17 I can hardly wait!

Love,

Karen Geraghty

www.YankeeDoodlePaddy.com

P.S. I am reminded of the great Maya Angelou quote, “people will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”  Thanks IBA and everyone involved,  from speakers to vendors, and of course to my fellow bloggers.  I am utterly grateful to you for making me feel like I belong in this awesome family!

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Not only was it my first time at a Blogging Event, but it was also #snappy’s first time too!

Brother’s Day

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This is the last known family photo. From left to right:  my eldest brother who is 6 years older, me (rocking the squinty look), my mom, and my brother who is two years older than I. This was taken at a cemetery in Chicago in 1979 at my Grandpa O’Neill’s funeral.

The last time I saw my mom was on Mother’s Day in 1988.  I was married with two kids living in Los Angeles.  My mom was living in Orange County about an hour away.  We met half way in Long Beach at a Mexican restaurant.  She arrived with my brothers, I treated everyone to dinner, and gave her a Mother’s Day card and a really nice bathrobe.  That is what we call it in America. Over in the part of the world where I live now, they call it a housecoat.  Since my mom would often wear her bathrobe all day and night, housecoat is actually more apropos.

Cut to the following year, Mother’s Day 1989.  We had arranged to meet for brunch at a well known restaurant called Cattleman’s Wharf in Orange County.  It is quite near Disneyland, which is called “The Happiest Place on Earth”.  I went to church in the early morning and spent time with my own kids before driving down to meet my mom and brothers.  I was the first to arrive (I like to be on time or early, but I don’t like to be late). Time passed and I just sat and waited.  I wasn’t worried as my mom was notorious for being late.  She was living with my bothers at the time so they were all coming together.  I enjoy people watching so I sat there and distracted myself with all the happy faces arriving.  Folks were streaming in with armfuls of presents for their moms.

I had a present as well, a huge basket of bath goodies:  bubble bath, lotions and potions galore. My mom used to love to take baths and in fact would fall asleep in the tub only to awaken when the water had gone cold. Then she’d fill it back up with hot water and fall asleep again. This would go on the entire night.  So I figured this bath themed Mother’s Day present would go down a treat!

I was still sitting there waiting for my mom and brothers to arrive at the restaurant.  More time passed and then I started to worry.  And I was darn hungry too.  I could smell all the gorgeous food.  Sunday brunch is my favorite meal of the week!  And there was a made to order omlette bar, belgian waffles with trimmings such as fresh strawberries and cream.  Oh and there was a giant carvery station with beautiful roast beef, turkey and ham.  I think you get the point.

Remember, these were the days before smart phones, pagers, internet, snapchat etc.  I couldn’t even call from a phone booth.  Yes my friends, people used to go into a small closet like space, put money into a machine called a telephone and pay to talk to someone (on the receiving end) on their land line phone.  The reason I couldn’t call was that my mom and brothers had moved to a new house and they didn’t have a telephone hooked up yet.  So finally after more than two hours, my eldest brother walked into the restaurant.  He looked like he had just been mowing the grass, and indeed he had.  He was wearing shorts and a tank top, clearly not in compliance with this restaurant’s strict dress code.

My brother asked me to go outside so he could talk to me.  He had gotten a ride to the restaurant from a friend, and he came to tell me that our brunch date was not happening. Duh!  Okay so what was the deal?  Apparently our mom had gone out that morning without saying where she was going and hadn’t returned.  And he and my other brother were at the house cleaning and gardening and they realized that I would be waiting for nothing.  So I gave him the giant gift basket for my mom and we said goodbye.

I drove back to Los Angeles, and the first thing I did when I walked in the door was make myself a tuna melt sandwich.  I’ve shared the recipe on here before.  My ex and the kids were napping so I tried to be as quiet as possible.  Just as I was finishing the last bite of food he came down stairs.  He looked at me perplexed and said, “why are you eating if you just got home from brunch?”

So from that day on, our family has referred to Mother’s Day as Brother’s Day.  I guess my siblings made the most of their guy day together cleaning the house, doing yard work, watching sports on television and getting take out food.  Apparently my mom finally arrived back late that night.  She never called, of course they didn’t have a phone, so I don’t know if she liked her basket of goodies or not.

But here’s the good news.  This year I am spending Mother’s Day with my daughter and son in law and my two precious granddaughters in California.  We will also be with my aunt and uncle.  We will all go to church together and then go for a meal together.  Not Cattleman’s Wharf though!  I feel so grateful to my husband for organizing this trip from London so that I can be with my family.  He isn’t able to join us because of work commitments.  And while I would love for my brothers to be there as well, sadly that isn’t possible for other reasons. Yes I will think of my mom, wherever she is.  She brought me into this world.  I will always love her for that no matter what.  I’ve shared some of my feelings on here before, when it was her birthday.  When you don’t know if a person is alive or not it is hard to know how to deal with milestones and celebrations such as this.

However since life is for the living, and when I say living, I mean it in the sense of those participating in life (engaging, connecting and loving) then I am so happy to be able to be with my loved ones on this special day.  I feel the most honored title I will ever have is that of being a mother.  And now as a grandmother too.  Plus, it is a pure joy to see my daughter as a mommy herself.  Though my son is currently on a military deployment, and of course I will miss him, I had special time with him in Tennessee a couple of weeks ago.  So all in all I feel very blessed!

I know Mother’s Day in Ireland and the U.K. was celebrated in March.  And while I am an Irish citizen, our family still celebrates the U.S. Mother’s Day as our special day.  So I’d like to wish all the moms, moms to be, and grandmas a very wonderful and happy day!

Maternal Love,

YDP

Foodie Fieldtrip Friday: Spring

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On the prettiest day of the year in London I had a special guest join me for Foodie Fieldtrip Friday!  My Hubby and I met for an early dinner at Spring.  This stunningly beautiful restaurant from chef Skye Gyngell on the Somerset House Museum property is a designer’s dream. It is light, bright, airy, and every aspect of the experience appears effortless, though surely must be thought out to a tee.  You just feel transported to inner calmness the minute you walk through the doors and allow the draping of pastel colors onto your soul.

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It actually took my breath away when I walked into the lobby as the reception area is so large and the restaurant has such high ceilings.  However, we came for a “Foodie Fieldtrip” not an architectural one.  Because we arrived so early, Spring wasn’t that crowded, but by the time we left there wasn’t an empty seat.  And since we were there before 6:30 we were able to avail of the pre-theater set menu, even though we weren’t going to the theater. Not only price wise, but portion size, this worked better for us.

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The pre-theater menu is broken down into a two course or a three course choice, with two options in each category of starter, main and dessert.  While we perused the regular food menu (just in case we changed our minds and went a la carte), we had a lovely refreshing Nespole and Mint Bellini (nespole is like a kumquat).  As well we thoroughly enjoyed the basket of breads.  My  Hubby is of Swedish ancestry so he really enjoyed the brown bread made with added rye flour and a generous sprinkling of seeds.  Of course being the butter fan in the family, I loved the beautiful hand churned butter.

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For the first course Hubby got the Nettle Risotto which was the most vibrant color I have ever seen.  I had a taste and it was perfectly cooked and the taste was bursting with flavor!  I loved my Goat’s Cheese Curd as well, it was very mild and the olive and fresh salad were the perfect accompaniment. The starters weren’t too heavy, but of course we kept at the bread so we didn’t do ourselves any favors by filling up! Carb lovers confessional!

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Since I am not the biggest game meat fan (unlike Hubby) I chose the Lamb Meatballs as the second course. When our main meals were brought to the table, I must admit the quail looked very appetizing.  They even served a bowl of warm lemon water on the side in case Hubby chose to eat the bird with his fingers.  Very elegant.  There was just one little problem.  When I cut into my meatballs they were nearly raw they were so undercooked.  I have had a bad experience with undercooked meat before and didn’t want to risk it.  So I politely asked the waiter if he could have the chefs just cook them a bit more.  When he saw the meat I think he was a bit shocked too.  He said he would sort it out with the kitchen straight away.

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The only thing is, the waiter wanted to take away Hubby’s dinner too as this is the restaurant’s policy.  I didn’t want them to make two new plates of food but that is what was about to happen.  I tried insisting as I didn’t mind waiting while Hubby ate his meal.  But alas the food was gone before I could blink.  Oh well, we ordered some nice red wine and continued to admire the decor and the staff uniforms. After a long wait the dinners were served again and they were perfect. I really enjoyed my dinner, the lamb was perfectly cooked and the sauce quite fragrant and delicious.  Loads of different herbs and spices to make your mouth jump with delight.  And the quail was equally tasty and quite moist as well.

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We were so full after eating the main we almost passed on dessert.  But I am such a fan of sweets, I decided to order the rhubarb tart made with rye flour in the crust.  It was served with candied rose petals and rose ice cream.  This is from the main menu’s dessert options so we paid a bit more.  But the waiter also brought a trio of ice cream on the house.  He said they felt badly about what happened with the meatballs.  It was a lovely gesture on their part.  Hubby loved the mint ice cream, the strawberry was also delicious, but of course the chocolate one was my fav.

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And just when we thought we were in full blown food coma mode, they brought us two delectable handmade chocolate truffles with a dusting of cocoa powder on top.  What a way to end the meal!

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I really hope to go back to Spring again some day.  Not only because we had such a great experience, but because their menu changes all the time.  They are known for using seasonal ingredients with an emphasis on produce.  And our menu was a perfect example of that, using what is available right now in the markets.  Their unforced elegance and their attention to detail is impeccable.  And though nothing is perfect, if there is a glitch (like what happened with my lamb meatballs) they rectify the situation and move on from that.

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Skye Gyngell the acclaimed executive chef has outdone herself with this venture.  In a couple of weeks she will be a guest chef at the Ballymaloe Lit Fest in County Cork, Ireland.  Though I am going to the event, tickets for her session have been sold out for ages.  I hope I do get to meet her down there though and let her know first hand how much we enjoyed our dinner at her wonderful creation, Spring.

Blossoming Love,

YDP

P.S. Unbeknownst to either of us at the time, Hubby and I took quirky photos of one another while at Spring. He took one of a mirror which shows my reflection, and I took one of a flower arrangement.  Only it looks like its coming out of his head!  Inspiration and creativity was clearly flowing, lol!

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Foodie Fieldtrip Friday: Foodie Cafe with Friends

Each Friday I take my Snapchat friends (my username is blissbakery) on an adventure in search of new foodie destinations.  Last Friday I was able to go to a place I’ve been dreaming about for ages!  It is owned and operated by a fellow “Snap Sista” (as I call the Snapchat family) and is located in my soul home! Yipee that meant a trip to the Emerald Isle was in order! It was actually a perfect scenario because I was going anyway to attend the IBA Bloggers Conference and Awards. I’ll write more about that in another post, because I have so much to share about this specific and oh so scrumptious sojourn!

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The Foodie Cafe, located on Major Square at the IFSC in Dublin 1, was started by the amazing Chloe Harris. While I didn’t get to meet her because she had another commitment that day, I did get to meet another Snap Sista (@jenser01) who is also a massive lover of food. While food experiences can be personal, it is also fun to share with a like minded person. Jennifer Byrne is a health and fitness nut living in Ireland.  Her blog Jen’s Gym Life is a great inspiration!  It was she who actually turned me on to Foodie Cafe several months ago.  I have really enjoyed watching Chloe’s food snaps so it was very exciting to be going there and tasting it in person! And sharing it with the lovely Jen.

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We met up at lunchtime and no joke the place was teeming with people.  It is situated right between the Luas and the River Liffey in a very convenient and open spot with outdoor tables and chairs. As well there is a long bar with stools by the big window which is where we sat.  There was so much to take in what with meeting Jennifer and perusing all the eye catching foodie pics on the walls.  And of course the incredible display of food.  Wow!  The colors and variety of the salads, desserts and breads looked amazing.  And the extensive menu ticked all the right boxes without being overwhelming.

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Chloe had given me the heads up that the Hipster Veggie Burger was super popular, so I opted for that even though I don’t usually get veggie burgers.  I love all things vegetables, but I find them to be quite dry and also I am left feeling hungry like I need some actual protein. Well, I took her suggestion and no joke, I have been craving it ever since.  It was the best veggie burger I have ever tasted.  And I ate every single bit down to the last crumb!  It was moist and flavorful with a beautiful piece of grilled pineapple and avocado on top as garnish.  It was served on this incredibly soft and slightly sweet brioche bun.  As I write this, I am having a Pavlovian response, my mouth is watering!  YUM!

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Jennifer ordered the Sunshine Superfood Salad with cous cous and chicken.  I had a little taste and it was also very delish!  We are both sweets eaters and Chloe’s Chocolate Tart was literally to die for, oh my goodness.  Especially for a chocoholic like me.  I also bought a healthy “Bounty Bar” which is a chocolate/coconut slice of heaven.  Jen had a coffee (with her famous protein powder mixed in as she is in body building training) and I tried a Matcha Green Tea Latte for the first time, made with almond milk.   Foodie Cafe definitely knows how to make a proper barista coffee with perfectly foamed milk, the secret to success!

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I just loved everything about my visit to the Foodie Cafe.  They just recently celebrated their first birthday, and from my experience it’s just the first of many.  The cafe was packed when I arrived and for good reason, it is delicious, healthy, conveniently located and the staff were exceptionally lovely!  Even with a line out the door, they stayed calm, friendly and professional.  There was Bossa Nova music playing and the customers were chilled out. Some busy lunch cafes have stress levels high on both sides of the counter and patrons could be having their “hangry” moments.  But not here!  I sense that many were returning customers as they were showing their loyalty cards.  Always a good sign.  However, even for newbies like me, I felt the love permeating the whole situation.  I am literally beyond eager to return!

Well done Chloe on such a smashing success, I am absolutely thrilled for you!  I’m also delighted Dublin has such a quality food establishment in its midst.  I hope to see more Foodie Cafes cropping up so when I move back home I’ll have them at my hungry finger tips!

Feeling the Foodie Love,

YDP

P.S. I just have to say it was such a joy to meet Jennifer in person and it meant the world that she went out of her way to join me on my Foodie Fieldtrip Friday adventure.  She is such a wonderful person and beautiful inside and out.  What a journey she is on herself and I wish her all the best!  LOVE!  Here she is with #snappy who was loving the attention so he was!

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