A November to Remember

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November 1st!  Wow, where did the year go?  While most people are dealing with a sugar hangover today from all the trick or treat candy, some are already pulling out the Christmas decorations.  Lucky for me, November is a special month to savor and punctuate the calendar.  It is a month long break after Halloween before the Christmas chaos to reflect and remember.  November 11th is Veteran’s Day and with my family being a military one it is dear to me.  Also November 13th is my birthday and I’ll be 52 this year!  And my absolute favorite day of the whole year is Thanksgiving Day.  A holiday all about food, fun, family, friends, feasting and being THANKFUL!  Anything that has to do with gratitude is up my alley!

So today, I decided to post some appreciation for a few special people who also happen to be on Snapchat. They have inspired me in many ways, but particularly with their wonderful blogs.  Specifically, each of these bloggers has at least one story that literally made me stop, think and FEEL. These stories are open, vulnerable and honest. With so many folks in the blogosphere worried about what they post and its affects on “their brand” it is refreshing that these talented writers can use this medium for what it is intended. Not advertising (though I know for some this is a business) but to use this platform to make a difference in the world. We all have a story, and by sharing ours it will encourage others to share as well. That in turn creates an environment of Human Beings not Human Doings! Just click on each writers name to read these post on a wide range of topics which I believe will blow your mind and touch your heart!

  1. Sharon Leavy: This Irish mom of three writes the blog Behind Green Eyes. She coins it Lifestyle, Books and Beauty.  But the underlying personality of each post is completely her own, which I adore.  She is no nonsense.  And this post about social media bullying is  the most honest piece I’ve ever read about the subject. It is a sobering look at what can be the dark underbelly of our digital age. The good news is that any sort of negativity won’t stop her from sharing her talented self with the world! Go Sharon go!
  2. Rosemary Mac Cabe:  When Ireland was recently rocked by the news of a murder/suicide in a small village, there was one story that was so personal it had me in tears.  Rosemary is a well known Irish journalist with a great wit. But here she shares her own perspective on this grim topic. You will definitely be taken on a journey when you read this.  Rosemary has an amazing storytelling prowess that belies her “social media influencer” moniker. Because this lady is beyond a social media influencer, she is a force of nature surely to be reckoned with my friends!
  3. Penny: Though this English lass gained popularity on Buzzfeed’s 22 most horrendous breakups, luckily she’s now happily in a great relationship. But of all her stories on her blog, A Penny for Them, the one that blew me away was her personal account of debt clearance. To be so humble and honest about her financial struggles will surely help many others in the same situation. She is a lover of life and travel, which she shares through her posts. So certainly dealing with managing her cash flow is a regular challenge. But she maintains transparency throughout each entry and the blogging world is lucky to have her voice!
  4. Battlemum: While this Scientist/Mommy blogger lives in Wales, she is originally from Ireland.  Besides being an awesome photographer, Catherine shares a wide variety of parenting, travel and science on her blog.  But my favorite post was a very personal one about her reluctance to have a second child.  It is so hard to be vulnerable publicly as it seems someone might take offense to our opinions and feelings. Yet she eloquently spells out the pros and cons of adding to their family.  No matter what happens I wish her the best as the 2nd birthday of her blog approaches.  She’s my real life super hero!
  5. Kokolikes:  “The Deployment: The End” is a post I can’t read without crying.  It is so honest and gives an insight into what it is like to be a partner of someone in the military. As well, it wasn’t really the end. Yes it was the end of that deployment, but there have been others.  Hence, there are many posts on Koko’s blog about the military, but she’s also a fabulous foodie fashionista.  I’ve talked about her before because I love her so much.  She just so happens to be married to my son.  And my heart hurts not just for me as a mother of a son who is currently deployed, but it hurts for her too. Yesterday was her 31st birthday and she wasn’t with her husband and soulmate.  While she knew when they got together what she signed up for, it doesn’t make it any easier.  But I am so thankful for her as I know my son wouldn’t be able to make it through without her support.  And one of the ways she copes is by writing honest reflections of her experience, which I am sure helps others in similar situations. .

So there you have it, five awesome blog posts that have touched my heart and inspired me in a myriad of ways.  The quote “The pen is mightier than the sword” is so true in many circumstances.  In the blogging world, I believe the keyboard too has the power to hurt or heal.  And the later is what I hope to do on Yankee Doodle Paddy as these awesome writers are doing in their virtual corners as well.  I LOVE them all and hope you give these bloggers a little love too in this month of thankfulness!

With LOVE and appreciation,

YDP

 

Recipe: Spooky Ghosty Meringues

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Since Halloween is nearly here, for this week’s Saturday Snapchat Takeover of Cookreel’s account, I thought I would make it a spooky affair. It will soon vanish like any scary paranormal activity, so check out their account (@cookreel) or my own (@blissbakery) for a taste of freaky fun. And of course who else but the Snapchat mascot himself Snappy was the star of the show!

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For the first part of the day, we took a gastronomic expedition in London City Center. We went to The Tower of London thought to be one of the most haunted places in all the world. Why? Shall we start with all the beheadings that occurred there?  It was built in 1066 and has been used as a jail and the national mint to name a few of the purposes of this fortress.  It is listed on the World Unesco Heritage Sites and is oozing with history.  It is no wonder it is one of the top tourist destinations in the U.K.  Of course, the amazing Crown Jewels are housed here and are eye poppingly blinged out!  No photos were allowed inside, though I didn’t realize that until after I took a couple.  A security guard admonished me verbally.  But then I felt a little tap on my left right back. Which funny enough when I turned around no one was there. SPOOOOOKY!

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While in town we popped over to my fav restaurant Ottolenghi for a delish and healthy lunch. But on the way we passed by an area of East London, Spitalfields, where many bodies were discovered which were believed to be victims of Jack the Ripper. After all the bone chilling stuff we headed home so I could bake some ghostly goodies. These little meringues are sweet, gluten free, melt in your mouth yumminess.

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Ingredients:

4 large egg whites

225g (7 1/2oz) caster sugar

1 tsp cornflour (called cornstarch in US)

1 tsp white wine vinegar

A little bit of dark chocolate for melting to make the eyes

Method:

Preheat oven to 140c/275f.  Line baking tray with parchment paper or use silicone pad.Put egg whites in a clean bowl and beat with an electric whisk to stiff peaks. Add 1 Tbsp of sugar and whisk back to stiff peaks. Continue adding sugar 1 Tbsp at a time and whisking back to stiff peaks until all sugar has been added. Fold in cornflour and vinegar. Put into a piping bag. Then squeeze onto the baking tray by holding bag upright and squeezing into round discs bringing the tip up about 3 inches high (almost like a witches hat). Bake for one hour. Turn off the oven and leave inside to cool. Then decorate by making eyes with a piping bag filled with a bit of melted chocolate.

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I have never liked anything scary! I am a total wimp when it comes to this time of year and the fright factor. I love the pumpkins, candy, parties etc but I prefer to dress up in something happy. I was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz a few times back in the day. And this year I am going as a donut. Yes a calorie free way to enjoy one of my fav dessert treats!  LOL. But leave it to my ghost friend Snappy to go for something a bit more evil.

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Whatever you are doing this year, I hope you have a fab time. Stay safe and sane!

Love you Boo-tiful people!

YDP

P.S. I know it might be early for some, but this recipe is fab for Christmas tree treats. Just fold in a bit of green food color paste when adding the cornflour and vinegar.  Then use a star tip on your piping bag. Everything else is the same. I do like to sprinkle some icing sugar (called powdered sugar in the US) to make it look like snow.

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Recipe: Woman Crush Wednesday

Each Tuesday eve brings me the same excitement that some might have on December 24th. I can’t stop thinking of the joy that is bursting through my heart (and this screen from which you’re reading) about my Woman Crush Wednesday. And this week was even more so than ever. Because today I am going to be crushing on a lady so dear to my heart. The amazing chef Fiona Dillon is more than a foodie she is a proper Renaissance lady!  She is a wife, mother, broadcaster, blogger, and business woman as well.

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Fiona not only cooks, but grows her own food, keeps chickens and pigs on her farm. There are also bees for honey, and she has a famous goose called Mahatma Gander that lives with the family.  But what I really admire is Fiona’s talent as a writer.  Not just a food writer for hire sharing her talents with magazines and online publications, but her own  books.  I first met her at the Dream It, Do It event which she created with one of my Sunday Spotlight Snap Sistas Nicola Curran of the Naked Blondie. These events help inspire Irish women to achieve their dreams.  She was so welcoming and open with her knowledge.  How on earth does she do it all and keep up with her popular social media channels?   It must be her delish food.

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Today’s recipe is going to be a good one.  It’s tasty and healthy and it comes from one of her most special creations, her Freddy Buttons children’s book series.  I LOVE these books.  I received one in my goodie bag at the IBA this Spring.  I gave it to my granddaughter who adores it.  The books are so well written, funny and informative. The illustrations are warm and friendly.  And I love that at the end of the books there is a section with interesting food facts and a recipe as well.  Kids need easy to follow healthy recipes to teach them about food. And Freddy Buttons is the man!  I am so proud of this important venture of Fiona’s and my hope is that Freddy Buttons will travel the world sharing adventures and recipes to all children.  Until then I need to start cooking today’s recipe for Mahatma Muffins.  That is right, it’s an egg muffin. Just the perfect start to the day!

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Mahatama’s Muffins

Ingredients:

4 medium eggs

1 generous TBSP Glenisk plain yogurt

3 cherry tomatoes chopped finely (optional)

1 slice cooked ham chopped finely (optional)

50 g (1/2 cup) grated cheese

Pinch of mixed herbs (optional)

Salt and pepper

Method:

Preheat the oven to 190c/375 f

Rub a cupcake tray with a little oil

Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk

Add all the other ingredients and mix well

Pour the batter into the cupcake tin and bake for about 20 minutes

Allow to cool slightly and release from tin with a plastic spatula

Mahatma’s Muffins are great for breakfast, lunch, tea and picnics

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Well, I’d have to agree with Fiona, these are tasty little treats that are also wholesome and nutritious. What is great is the flexibility and adaptability.  If you have a child that might not like tomatoes than you could omit them all together.  And if I didn’t have ham on hand today I could have used chorizo which would also be lovely.  These egg muffins are delicious hot, but also just as nice cold. Since Hubby isn’t a big breakfast eater during the work week, I could make these in advance and he could take to work for his “elevensies” as the mid morning break is called over here.

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I absolutely love all the recipes in the Freddie Buttons book and could have re-created any of them for my live Snapchat cooking tutorial (my username is blissbakery).  However, since Hubby and I are headed out for a little adventure like Freddy Buttons himself, we thought a nice substantial snack for the car ride would fit the bill.

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But what I would recommend to anyone reading this that has small children, is to get your hands on a set of Fiona’s books.  Her writing style in the Freddy Buttons series is whimsical and engaging.  They would make a fabulous gift too.  And if you aren’t inclined for the young ins yet, get her book, Food From An Irish Garden.  Fiona doesn’t pretend to have the perfect life, but as the subtitle says, “the good life” and that is what it is.  Good food enjoyed with her family and friends. Fiona knows how to  savor the important things such as back to basics cooking.  And that is why she is my Woman Crush Wednesday. We can all learn a few tricks from her books!

A big button of LOVE,

YDP

 

 

 

 

A Different Sort of Woman Crush Wednesday

Today is my favorite day as it is Wednesday!  The day I spread some love in the culinary world by honoring a female chef.  But today is another significant day.  It is my mother’s birthday and every day on this date since 1990, the day she disappeared, it has been a strange experience . A sad moment of course, but also a day of unresolved emotions. I shared a bit about it last year and you can click here to read it. But in spite of all these mixed emotions, I was also given a gift or shall I say miracle into my life.  This year on October 19th, my mother’s 78th birthday, I was asked to speak at the #NWED (National Women’s Enterprise Day) here in Ireland.

With seven events around the country it is a massive initiative put on by the Local Enterprise Offices. What a great way to support, encourage, and inspire women in business or those wishing to start one. How awesome to have been asked to speak at such an event, which is only because of the courage of Loretta Gavin. But I was on the stage today at the ghotel in Galway with so many formidable women of all facets of business and media. And for me all I had to do share was a story. Though not so easy to tell. However it all  boiled down to one word. LOVE! And that is what got me through it all.

So while many of you might have signed on here today to see which gourmet gal got crushed on and which recipe I cooked (while doing the bad singing and dancing) today you’re getting a story. But it is a story of the Hero’s Challenge that the awesome keynote speaker Natasha Fennel (of Stillwater Communications) shared this afternoon. It is a journey we all take from our first adventure into the world, with all its twists and turns, until we arrive back home.

I will share with you all the lovely details of the event, the ghotel, and all sorts of fabulous women I met for another post.   But for now I thank you! It was the day that is still marinating in my soul. And all I can say is this day has forever been morphed into something a bit more positive than before. Life is wonderful, life is strange, life is  LOVE!

Until next week, Slan! LOVE

YDP

P.S. If you’d like to check out the 45 previous awesome Woman Crush Wednesday honorees click here. Lots of inspiration and fab recipes to be found!

Recipe: Woman Crush Wednesday

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I’m back in London and on fire to honor another gorgeous gourmet gal for Woman Crush Wednesday. After a break last week (though I did a comprehensive round up of the amazing chefs honored so far, which you can read here) I am ready to bust out some bad singing and dancing.  Of course only to compliment the awesome recipe on the docket. Today’s honoree is the talented chef, blogger and now a first time published cookery book writer Ayesha Curry.

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Ayesha is a dual citizen like myself, though she is an American/Canadian citizen. She lives in San Francisco with her husband (basketball player Stephen Curry) and their two beautiful little girls Riley and Ryan.  She grew up with a mom who loved to cook and those culinary skills obviously rubbed off. Especially this recipe for Roasted Brown Sugar Chicken which I will re-create live on Snapchat . As usual, this is a recipe I have never made before. So you will see every step if you watch (my username is blissbakery) and I’ll post the photos below. So let’s get cooking!

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Ingredients
4 Chicken Quarters
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp chopped shallots
3 cloves chopped garlic
3/4 cup (177 ml) chicken stock/broth
1 cup (236 ml) low sodium soy sauce
2 cups (372 g) brown sugar
1 heaping tbsp freshly chopped ginger
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F/180c degrees. Heat a dutch pot on med high to high heat with your butter and olive oil. Generously salt and pepper your chicken quarters. Brown the skin of your chicken in the pot for about 2 mins on each side until it’s crisp and golden brown. Remove the chicken quarters and reduce the heat to medium. Add in the shallots and garlic. Deglaze the pot with the chicken stock. Scrape down all of the sides to make sure you get all of the delicious seasonings and flavors into the broth (I’m hungry already!). Add in the soy sauce, brown sugar and ginger. Simmer the sauce for about 5-10 mins. Add the chicken quarters back into the pot, place the lid on and bake for 45min to an hour. The chicken will be flavorful and falling off the bone. Mmm mmm mmmm!

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Okay, for real, you have to make this recipe. It was so delicious and mouth watering. Literally the chicken fell off the bone it was so tender and  just melts in your mouth!  Hubby ate his and started in on mine too when I left the table for a moment. And the rice cooked in coconut milk was the perfect side dish. Even the broccolini was nice and sharp, crisp and a healthy green side. I’d make this whole dinner again in a heart beat!  LOVE!

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Speaking of hearts, Ayesha is such a giving and kind hearted person. Even though busy with her cooking career and family (she was an actress and model before she had children) she makes time for philanthropic endeavors. Such as her wonderful  Little Lights of Mine in which she donates to the to No Kid Hungry campaign to feed hungry children for every bottle of her olive oil that is sold. It is refreshing that she is open about her Christian faith. So many celebrities feel the need to hide their religious beliefs for fear of alienating any of their followers. But Ayesha and her husband actually met as teenagers at their church. This foundation has kept their relationship rooted and grounded and they are delighted to share that with the world.

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I so loved doing a #WCW for Ayesha. I hope she enjoys it as much as Hubby and I enjoyed her delish chicken.  And with two girls of her own ( I have one daughter and two granddaughters) having some #girlpower is a good thing!

Yummy LOVE!

YDP

 

Recipe: A Different Sort of Italian

I’ve had a love affair with opera since I was a kid. All thanks to a certain Bugs Bunny cartoon!

I’ve been blessed to have been able to see numerous live opera performances over the years. And this weekend, for a welcome back treat, Hubby got us tickets to see The Barber of Seville  at the Royal Opera House in London!!! Since it coincided with my weekly Snapchat takeover of Cookreel’s account (their username is cookreel) I decided to fashion it into an Italian theme. Yes I know Seville is in Spain, but the composer of the opera is the famous Italian Gioachino Rossini.

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Before our venture up the Thames River into town to the theater, food was on the docket.  What are two of the most iconic Italian dishes, spaghetti and tiramisu of course. But me being me I had to do a spin on each.  So I created a vegetarian gluten free spaghetti made with courgetti (courgette/zucchini noodles) and made a deconstructed tiramisu. Both of these dishes are so delicious and super easy. I have posted the tiramisu recipe on here before, but have never done it for a Snapchat cooking tutorial. By the way my own Snapchat username is blissbakery in case you ever want to check out the fun. This version of the decadent Italian favorite makes for a fun interactive dessert and it doesn’t have to be made well in advance as traditional tiramisu recipes. The courgetti is a very flexible recipe and one where you could add prawns/shrimp (as I have done in the past) or chicken if protein was in order. Or you could add some mushrooms for an earthy taste.  It is one of those dishes that adapts to what you have on hand and I love those kind!

Vegetarian Courgetti Spaghetti

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Ingredients

3 large Zucchini aka Courgettes

Tomatoes (use 6-8 large vine ripened tomatoes which have been peeled and chopped or you can use a tin of chopped tomatoes)

2 cloves Garlic, minced

1 Onion, finely chopped

1 stalk of celery chopped

1 carrot, peeled and finely diced

¼ cup mixed fresh chopped herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, parsley)

6 Sundried Tomatoes, diced (and a couple TBSP of the oil they come packed in. If you can’t find them in a jar with the oil, you can buy them dried, but then use olive oil to sauté the veg)

½ head Cauliflower, remove from the stalk and then broken up into tiny bits

1-2 Tbsp red wine

½ cup Pine nuts, toasted to sprinkle on top

Grated parmesan cheese if desired for the top

Salt and pepper

Instructions:

Spiralize the zucchini into noodles and set aside. Heat the oil in the frying pan and sauté the onions for a minute. Season with salt and pepper. Then add the garlic, celery and carrots and herbs. Cook for 5 minutes or until soft. Deglaze the pan by adding the red wine to the pan and let it cook off a bit. Add the tomatoes, sundried tomatoes and cauliflower and season a bit more and cook covered for 10-15 mins. When ready to serve pop the noodles into the pan with the sauce and cook only for a minute or so until the noodle get a bit soft. But not too much or they will become soggy. Taste and adjust seasoning. You could also add some chili pepper flakes if you like a bit of heat. Put on a plate and sprinkle with the pine nuts and grated parmesan cheese.

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Deconstructed Tiramisu

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Ingredients:

4 Tbsp strong espresso coffee

2 Tbsp Coffee Liquor

85 g (3 oz) dark chocolate, roughly grated

2 Tbsp caster (fine granulated) sugar

½ cup (4 oz or 116 g) mascarpone cheese

½ cup cream

4 Tbsp icing sugar (powdered sugar)

1 tsp vanilla extract

24 Boudoir Biscuits (Lady Fingers)

Instructions:

Mix the coffee with the sugar in a saucepan. Over a low, heat stir constantly until the sugar dissolves. Simmer over very low heat for one minute. Remove from the heat and add the coffee liquor. Then let it cool, placing it in the fridge when the pan is no longer hot to the touch.

Next place the mascarpone in a bowl, along with cream, icing sugar and the vanilla extract. Whisk until soft peaks just begin to form.

To serve, place the coffee mixture in a small cup, the mascarpone mixture in a small cup and the chocolate shavings in a small cup. Place them on a plate along with three Boudoir Biscuits. The diner can then dip away at their heart’s content with a personal deconstructed tiramisu!

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After the culinary creations it was a dash to get into city center to see the opera. But we had some pretty sights of London on the way via our boat on the River Thames.

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The opera was simply mesmerizing and it certainly helped we had front row seats. Wow what a treat!  Hubby and I had been to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden once before several years ago, but it was to see the ballet Romeo and Juliet. It is amazing that this theater originally built in 1732 is actually the third construction as the first two were damaged in fires. It is so lush and fancy with all the red velvet and even the audience comes well dressed in tuxedos and ball gowns. But what I love most is that a piece of art, an opera, can still be enjoyed many years after it was first created. Like classic food dishes that can be recreated and appreciated today too. So I hope you enjoy my versions of these Italian delicacies. And most definitely you should check out an opera just to see the beauty of it all!  Even if only on youtube. Like tasting new foods, a small bite helps to wet the palate for more!

Thats Amore LOVE!

YDP

P.S. A massive thanks to Cookreel for the opportunity to share my passion for cooking with all of you via their Snapchat Takeovers. Long may they last! I would write an opera for them if I could, but if you’ve heard my bad singing you know my musical skills are lacking.  LOL! So I’d better stick to my pots and pans!

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Woman Crush Wednesday Recap #6

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It’s Wednesday, my fav day of the week, yippee!  It is also the last day before I say goodbye to America and my daughter and family. My least fav day of my life! Whenever I have been unable to do a Woman Crush Wednesday due to travel and not having a kitchen I post a recap of several of the most recent recipients. And though tomorrow I will have a kitchen, my daughter’s which she’s kindly let me use these past two weeks, I decided to post a recap. Yep, I am gonna take the day to enjoy their company, pack my things and wipe some tears. However, I’m going to post a roundup of the last nine fabulous foodie females that have received the love from me on my weekly episodes. And they have provided fantastic recipes that we have all enjoyed!  I’ll be back next week with another installment of this awesome celebration of gorgeous gourmet gals out there setting the culinary world on fire!

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Madeleine Shaw is a not only a chef but also a breath of fresh air. She glows for a reason as she cooks delicious food that is also good for your insides. It isn’t a surprise that this Londoner (who made the conversion to a healthier lifestyle while living abroad in Australia) has a successful blog and other popular social media. But her best selling cookbooks speak for themselves. And they say, “go ahead and lick my pages” because each recipe is that good! I made two of her recipes, her “Life Changing” Spicy Tomato Soup and her Spinach Bread, for my Snapchat cooking tutorial on the day (my username is blissbakery).  You can make them yourself if you click here for the recipe and story about her.

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I had the absolute best time recreating Irish chef Sharon Hearne Smith’s totally mouth watering no bake Chocolate Date and Peanut Butter Bars. In fact if you click here for the story and recipe and choose not to make them, I think I might have to make them for you, but will probably eat the whole batch myself!  They are very simple and yet impressive at the same time.  And Sharon herself is actually beyond impressive. She is so genuine, sweet and quite humble about her culinary prowess. I love her whole retro vibe and even tried the look out when I recreated her recipe live for the Snapchat tutorial. It made me appreciate her even more! I’m used to my comfy chefs clothes yet her effortless style just makes me love her even more.

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Ching He Huang is one of the most knowledgable chefs on Asian cuisine. Born in Taiwan but now makes London her home, this powerhouse has written numerous successful cookery books and is a household name in the U.K. due to her television appearances. She a wonderful person and involved in so many charitable causes. I recreated her Shredded Duck Lettuce Wraps which my hubby devoured in no time. I must make them again soon, just thinking about them makes me hungry. If you too want to be transported to Asia through your palate, click here for the recipe and the story about this amazing chef!

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Sarit Packer is one half of the founding team of the London restaurant Honey and Co. But since my series is about crushing on the women, her lovely husband Itamar will have to bask in the glow of his gorgeous wife and fantastic chef. I visited their restaurant twice now and can hardly wait to go again. They are expanding and the cookbooks keep rolling in too. The success is so well deserved and I’m delighted that Middle Eastern cuisine is gaining mainstream popularity due in part to Sarit’s fabulous recipes. And one of my all time favs is her Pomegranate Molasses Chicken. Click here to check out the deliciousness and learn more about this inspirational woman!

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I just love Paula Deen. A true Southern Belle who is shares her family and her recipes generously. I baked her scrumptious Hummingbird Cake recipe, which you can click here if you’d like to give it a go yourself. It really is a showstopper dessert that is a proud centerpiece at any event. I had the pleasure of visiting Paula’s restaurant in Savannah, Georgia and with a line around the block, along with her best selling books and television shows, this woman is a real role model for women achieving their dreams. Especially since she hasn’t had the easiest time of things in life. But that’s why I love her as she tries her best to carry on and certainly cooking is one way (of which I can relate) that healing can be attained.

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New York born chef Ruth Rodgers has lived in the U.K. for many years and is one of the founders of the Michelin Star restaurant River Cafe. Hubby and I enjoyed a fabulous meal there a few years ago and I can agree this place deserves all the accolades. And the number of chefs that have worked there and gone on to their own success is astounding. In large part due to Ruth’s skills in the kitchen and management. It’s no wonder she was awarded the MBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2010. For my Snapchat cooking tutorial I made Ruth’s outstanding Pasta with Asparagus and Herbs. Click here if you’d like to recreate this dish or just read about the amazing achievements of this most worthy WCW honoree.

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Mary Berry is a British national treasure. She has done more for home cooking than most anyone else. Her recipes are easy to recreate yet are still very impressive. In her 81 years old she has written over 70 cook books besides numerous television shows. Of course the most popular of late is the Great British Bake Off. So with that show in full swing on television this season I decided to make one of her desserts. Though funny enough when I saw her at the BBC Good Food Show she actually demonstrated a savory dish. But since I love Banoffi Pie, I recreated her recipe and was so glad I did. It is so delicious! Please click here and give it a go yourself. You’ll be happy you did! We owe Mary Berry a debt of gratitude for her contribution to the culinary world.

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Marina Delio is the author of the popular blog The Yummy Mummy Kitchen and recipe book of the same name. Her food is as beautiful as she is. And it is delicious too. I recreated her Protein Nice Cream Pies which are dairy, gluten and sugar free and they were a big hit here at my daughter’s house with my granddaughter. Harper is dairy free so finding treats for her can be a challenge. In fact it was my daughter who told me about Marina as she knew  of her from when she and my son in law lived in Santa Barbara where Marina lives. If you’d like to try some healthy recipes yet still want to feel like you’re splurging, then click here!

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Cliodhna Prednergast was my most recent Woman Crush Wednesday. If you missed my Snapchat cooking tutorial last week then you missed a fabulous recipe for Orange Cranberry Cookies. You also missed the usual bad singing and dancing I do when I am doing my love fest for the chefs. But I am sure you aren’t sorry about skipping that. But you can still click here to read my love story to Cliodhna, get the recipe and also learn more about this inspirational woman. She is not only a chef, but also the creator of the Lens and Larder workshops (along with another WCW recipient Imen McDonnell). Cliodhna is also the founder of Breaking Eggs a blog and video series to help teach children to cook.

So there you have it, a full recap of the last nine Woman Crush Wednesday chefs! If you’d like a recap of the previous ones you can click here, here, here, here,  and here.  Forty four amazing human beings who just so happen to be women working in the world of food. But I am sure even if they were in another industry, they’d be shining lights. They are all creative, hard working and inspiring. And thanks for all your support of this fun and educational weekly segment. Hope to see you back next week. I’ve already got the honoree, recipe and of course the infamous songs all lined up for the Snapchat tutorial and also a post for this blog.

Girl Power and Love,

YDP