Foodie Fieldtrip Friday: Wimbo Was a Winner

July 1, 2016November 18, 2016 ~ Harper220

July 1, 1985 was a day I’ll never forget. It was my second baby’s due date and one of the hottest summers in the history of Los Angeles. With a toddler still on my hip we tried our best to stay cool. Between dips in the backyard swimming pool and watching Wimbledon Tennis on the television in the least “sauna- like” space in the downstairs family room, we made it through. The best was being in an air-conditioned hospital five days later watching the final match while my son was born. It helped me get through the labor without any drugs whatsoever, and deliver a 10 1/2 pound baby! And every year since I’ve fondly watched the Wimbledon Tennis matches with these vivid memories. But I never imagined I’d actually get to attend this prestigious event in person!

My Hubby has enrolled in the Wimbledon ticket lottery on many occasions and we have never won. So for my Foodie Fieldtrip Friday this week, I just thought since I’m in London why not venture over by train and see what all the fuss is about. I figured I could always have a peek in the museum and enjoy the hub bub of the crowds. And maybe, just maybe, luck out and find a ticket for sale. Though an optimistic person I didn’t have too high expectations, but I have been wanting to check out a very cool restaurant in that area anyway. So it was going to be a win-win no matter what.

With my son’s birthday coming up in a few days I really wanted to document this and send a few pics to him as a surprise. Since he is in the military and in the middle of a deployment I won’t be able to talk to him on his special day. So this was a way to feel connected to him. And I made the most of it. I got stuck in and waited with the thousands, and I mean thousands of other folks in the “queue” and posted pics on my snapchat (my username is blissbakery). And I entertained myself with people watching and making friends. In fact two Irish ladies stood right beside me! And to keep with a foodie theme for the day I enjoyed a few tasty treats along the way. First was the whipped flake cone from the Mr. Whippy ice cream truck. Next was a healthier choice of granola bar and coffee.

As the line weaved its way along there was a fantastic Haagan Dazs display. An entire area was fitted out with an Airstream silver camper van! The awesome branding was everywhere, and they were even giving out complimentary tasters of the affogato (vanilla ice cream with fresh espresso poured on top). The lovely ladies working there most certainly made their company proud. Vanessa confidently described their special edition ice cream bar called “Smashed Strawberries and Cream” in honor of the biggest and oldest tennis tournament in the world! With a lovely chocolate coating, I was in heaven, though carrying a bit of guilt as this was the third dairy treat in a short span of time! But I had to admire the taste, and the cool snapchat filter!

Finally after three plus hours I made it through the gates. I nearly got myself immediately ejected as I screamed for joy! Not appropriate in such a proper English setting. I was just so happy to have gotten in with an all day grounds ticket for only 25 British sterling pounds. With this pass I had access to not only the museum, but any of the grass courts where I could find an empty seat to watch tennis. As well there were numerous food and drink areas and souvenir shopping. The weather was on and off sunny and rainy. Which was an advantage for me as some decided to ditch their seats for a drink inside the clubhouse.

In the end I really only watched two matches. One on court 18 between American Isner and Aussie Barton. And later after a rain delay I watched two Frenchmen Herbert vs Mahut play on court 17. I was struck with the number of people inside the tennis facility not watching tennis. So many were just enjoying the experience. The ambiance, the vibe, whatever you want to call it, simply having fun chatting with friends. Watching center court action projected on the big screen while picnicking on the grass was a popular activity. There were people young and old, and most people were quite dressed up, it was super fancy!

I went to the food court, of course, but it was a dual purpose trip. I needed to charge my phone and heard through the grapevine there were some electrical outlets there. Which there were indeed. I must say, they could make a fortune by having mobile device charging stations! Anyway, there I was able to enjoy some British fish and chips. A wander around and I found a large kiosk selling the compulsory strawberries and cream!

I wanted to enjoy them with champagne, but the smallest amount you could buy was a half bottle. And while it looked cute in its tennis ball cosy, I opted for a Pimms, also VERY British and very in keeping with the day that was in it!

Everything was beautiful at the Wimbledon grounds. The buildings, the flowers, the people, even the security guards and ball boys/girls. And the green of the grass was nearly as pretty as the rolling Irish hills I love so much. The whole place oozes with professionalism and decorum. I found a lovely pressie for my son’s birthday in one of the many shops and even a little treat for my next snapchat give away competition. As well, the museum itself is worth a visit any time of year. It has a plethora of information and artifacts about the history of tennis. I actually found foodie tennis themed items on display. Of course they have loads of details about Wimbledon through the years. They also have the women’s and men’s singles trophies, famous around the globe. One can always call to mind an image of them being hoisted up by the winners for thousands of photographers every year whom capture the joy of the victory.

One element of the day I will always remember is the sound. The sound of the tennis ball being hit, the sound of the fans clapping, the sound of the rain, the sound of the helicopter above making periodic surveillance fly-overs, and finally the sound of the accents. I know I AM the one with the “accent” cuz I am over here in their territory. But walking around hearing people chat, or the referees announce the scores on the courts it was just a reminder that yes I am in London! None of these sounds are as palpable viewing it on television. So I am so grateful I was able to watch and hear in person and reminisce on July 1, 2016 about all the years of “Wimbo” (as it is called) I have seen that have gotten me to this day.

Game, Set, LOVE

YDP

Recipe: Woman Crush Wednesday

June 29, 2016November 18, 2016 ~ Harper220

Though this is my fav day of the week because it is Woman Crush Wednesday, today is a tough one for me. I just heard the news of the tragedy in Istanbul. I could do what most foodie/beauty/fitness/lifestyle bloggers are doing on social media. Ignore it. Which makes me wonder… why do other places where hate plays its ugly hand get more attention (such as Orlando) and not Istanbul? It is beyond me. But since Hubby and I were literally just there nearly a week ago, it really hit home.

I don’t even watch the news, but received some messages from Snappers who had seen my snap stories from Turkey. So they commented that I was so lucky to have gotten out before this happened. Why was I lucky? To then remain silent? No! I posted a few snaps last night sharing my feelings about it. And I decided I am not going to ignore it on here either. I am praying for Istanbul and all the victims of hate in this world. Today I am going to focus on an amazing female chef who just so happens to be half Turkish. She grew up eating foods with flavors of the Ottoman Empire and it is reflected in the recipes of her books and menus of her restaurants. So I am celebrating, honoring and loving all things Turkish today!

Today’s incredible gorgeous gourmet gal is Silvena Rowe. Though she was born in Bulgaria, her Turkish father instilled in her a passion for the great foods of the country that is half in Europe and half in Asia. There is an ill conceived notion that all Turkish food is simply kebabs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes there are kebabs, but it is the delicious and stunning ingredients that make up the palette of this fresh, flavorful and diverse Mediterranean cuisine.

Silvena Rowe moved to London at the age of 19 and shared her talents as a private chef to celebrities and royalty before opening her own restaurant. Now she is in Dubai and with her numerous award winning cookery books and television appearances, this chef is making her ancestral homeland proud! Many of her recipes she directly credits to her family, such as her beloved father. Today, I’ll be doing a cooking tutorial live on Snapchat (username: blissbakery) and sharing the pics on here. I hope I do her and her family proud, and show the hate mongers that LOVE can and will still go on!

I normally only do one recipe, but I am making an exception today. I am preparing three very simple dishes. A main chicken dish with a side of rice pilaf and salad. Pretty much my favorite meal combo. So let’s get to it!

Honey and Coriander Glazed Chicken

Ingredients:

80ml (3fl oz) clear honey

4 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely ground

4 tsp fennel seeds

2 tbsp grated fresh root ginger

4 chicken thighs

4 chicken legs

salt and pepper

Instructions:

Pre-heat the oven to 200C/390F/Gas Mark 6.

First make the glaze by combining the honey, coriander, fennel and ginger.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper and place skin down in a very hot sauté pan to brown for about 2-3 minutes. Turn over and brush with the glaze.
Transfer to the oven and cook for a further 20 to 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Serve with rice pilaf and salad (recipes below)
Pilaf Rice with Vermicelli, Chickpeas and Pistachios

Ingredients:

2 shallots, sliced
olive oil, for frying
80 g (2.8 oz)vermicelli
3 tbsp dried berries, such as blueberries and/or cranberries
100 g (3.5 oz) cooked or tinned chickpeas
80 g (2.8 oz) dried apricots, chopped
300 g (10.5 oz) baldo or basmati rice
400 ml vegetable or chicken stock
80 g (2.8 oz) shelled pistachio nuts, roughly chopped
½ bunch mint, chopped
½ bunch coriander, chopped
½ bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, sauté the shallots in olive oil for 2 minutes over a moderate heat. Add the vermicelli and, stirring continuously, cook until golden, keeping a sharp eye on it because the colour changes quickly.

2. Add the dried berries, then the chickpeas, apricots and rice. Stir well to ensure the rice is coated with the oil.

3. Pour in the stock, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and add some salt and pepper. Cover and cook over a low heat for 10-15 minutes, without stirring.

4. Remove the pan from the heat. Lay a cloth between the lid and pan so that the pan is tightly covered and leave the pilaf to steam for 15 minutes off the heat.

5. Once the rice is fully cooked, add the pistachios and chopped herbs. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary.

Shoksa Salad

Ingredients:

3 large tomatoes, cut into cubes

1 cucumber, cut into cubes

1 green pepper, cut into cubes

6 spring onions, roughly chopped

3 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp white wine vinegar

150g (5oz) Feta cheese

10 olives

Small bunch parsley, finely chopped

Instructions:

Mix together the cucumber, spring onion, pepper and tomato in a large bowl.
Pile up the mixture in a salad dish.
Drizzle with the olive oil and vinegar.
Grate over the feta cheese to form of a “snow cap”.
Garnish with the olives and the parsley.

Even though there were three dishes, they can be easily coordinated to finish at about the same time. If I can do it while snapping, then anyone can do it. A simple supper to make for family or friends this summer. And it is really a menu indicative of the Turkish mentality, let the spices do the talking! Bursts of distinct flavor that work in harmony creating a peaceful summit on your palate!

Thanks Silvena! You are not only beautiful and talented, you know how to marry food with LOVE!

Love with all my heart and soul,

YDP

P.S. Props to Jamie Oliver, who funny enough I was slagging only a few days ago. He posted the gorge flower (first pic at the top of this post) in memory of the victims of the Istanbul tragedy.

Recipe: Pumped Up Pumpkin Cupcakes

June 28, 2016November 18, 2016 ~ Harper220

It is no secret that I love pumpkin. I have shouted it from the rooftops on here. I’ve posted six, count them six different recipes on here with pumpkin as the star ingredient. You can enjoy looking (and maybe even making) them for yourself here, here, here, here, here, here. But that was back in the autumn. And though we are in the midst of summer, I thought I’d pump up my pumpkin game. Not only am I sharing my fav pumpkin cupcake recipe, but I’ve given it some umph! I’ve pimped it out with some filling and some sugar and spice bling!

PUMPKIN CUPCAKES with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Ingredients:

2 cups (285 g) all purpose flour, sifted

2 tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1 cup (221 g) firmly packed dark brown sugar

1/3 cup (72 g) granulated sugar

¼ pound/4 oz/ 114 g (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

2 large eggs, room temperature

½ cup milk

1 ¼ cups (300 g) pumpkin puree, canned or fresh

1 tsp. vanilla extract

optional: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie Cookie Butter (to pipe inside of cupcake)

optional: 2 Tbps Brown Demerara Sugar or Raw Sugar mixed with 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice to decorate the cupcakes

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves in a medium bowl. Once blended set aside.
In a large mixing bowl (you can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer) cream butter and sugars until well blended and fluffy (3-5 mins). Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add in the flour mixture in stages, alternating with the milk. Stop mixer from time to time to scrap down the sides of bowl. Then fold in the pumpkin and vanilla.
Divide batter among cupcake pans that have been lined with paper liners. Fill about ¾ full. If you have an ice cream scooper it works well to scoop the batter in the baking tins.
Bake about 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Do not over bake or cupcakes will be too dry. Let cool in pans then transfer to a cooling rack. Cool completely before icing them.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients:

250 gms of cream cheese

100 gms unsalted butter, room temp

600 gms icing sugar sifted

pinch of salt to taste

drop of vanilla extract to taste

In a stand mixer beat butter and sugar until it comes together and is incorporated. Add the cream cheese and continue beating for up to 5 mins until it is light and fluffy. Add salt and vanilla to taste.

To pump up your pumpkin cupcakes, poke a hole in the center of a cooled cupcake. Fill a piping bag with some of the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butter (if you don’t have it then pipe in some of the frosting). Pipe in a small amount into the center of the cupcake. Then continue to frost the rest of the cupcake. Once finished roll the edges of the cupcakes in the sugar and spice mix. Complete process with all the cupcakes.

I’m so excited about this version of the Pumpkin Cupcakes. They turned out delicious. And guess what? I’ve only eaten two so far! You can come watch the gorgeousness on Snapchat if you’d like (my username is: blissbakery). If you do make these, please let me know so I can come help you eat them! I try to be helpful like that!

Sugar and spicy pumped up Pumpkin Love,

YDP

Recipe: Making a “Chuck It In Stew” With Inspo from Jamie Oliver and Alec Baldwin

June 27, 2016November 18, 2016 ~ Harper220

Jamie Oliver is one of my all time fav chefs. I love his recipes! I’ve even shared one on here before. They are tasty, clean and easy to follow. But more so I love his style and delivery in his cooking tutorials. I mean, who wouldn’t want to make a dish where all you have to do is “Chuck it in the pot” or “Bang it in the oven”? Just makes it sound like you are having a blast in the kitchen.

So with a sick Hubby I decided to make a stew for dinner tonight and use some healthy veg I had on hand and just chuck it in and see what happened. Well it was a rousing success and Hubby ate two bowls. Although he referred to it not as stew but as a warmed salad because there was so much green!

I’ll get to the recipe in a second, but I just wanted to share a quick little Hollywood story, as I know some of you like the bit of “goss” from my days working and living in La-La Land. During one of the U.S.A.’s political campaigns things were dicey and people got into their “camps” of “your team vs. my team” mentality. I am not a political person so I don’t even go there. I always vote, but my beliefs are private. But many, especially celebrities, use fame as a commodity. And try to “sway” their “followers” to their “camp”. Anyway, the actor Alec Baldwin said during one of these political seasons that if a certain person was elected president he would chuck it in and leave America full stop. Well, that certain person WAS elected and Alec was still a resident. I used to tease my Hubby that if I ever saw Mr. Baldwin in person I’d ask him about his moving plans.

How did I know that he was still a resident? Well we worked out at the same gym! One day I was on the treadmill and he came to work out, and as per usual there was a bit of hub bub about when he arrived. He got on the treadmill, NEXT to me, and I caught a glimpse of Hubby across the gym. He had a panicked look on his face. He knows that though I am a very kind person, I can also be feisty. So as Alec began to trot along on his treadmill, while reading the paper with his thick black rimmed glasses, I started thinking how I might broach the subject of his residency. When all of the sudden a giant THUD and crash happened. Alec had fallen off his treadmill. Everyone in the gym ran over and there were oooohs and aaaaahs. I stopped walking and started to feel guilty. OMG what if he was reading my mind and the thought of a confrontation gave him a heart attack?

In a matter of seconds it was determined he was fine, though very embarrassed. He said, “Geez guys I’m okay, just fell off the treadmill”. I was so stunned. It was one of those moments that was super funny, but strangely awkward so I didn’t dare laugh. But I also didn’t ask him why he hadn’t moved yet. I realized that it didn’t actually matter. He was hurt, well more his ego was hurt, and that we just needed to forget about it and get back on the treadmill of life.

So today, when I read Jamie Oliver’s Instagram post I was happy that he could be so free with his opinions. We are very lucky to live in an open society where we can voice our feelings. But when he said (paraphrased) that if a certain person was elected that he would “chuck it in” and leave the country, then I could only do one thing. Make a stew!

Ingredients:

1 Onion (chopped)

1 Leek (cut in half and sliced into half moons)

1 large or 2 medium carrots (peeled and cut into half moons)

8 slices of smoked Bacon Rashers (if making this vegetarian you can omit) cut into 1 cm wide strips

4 vine ripened tomatoes (cut into chunks)

175 g (6 oz) Green Beans (tip and ends snipped off) and cut into thirds

185 g (1 cup) red split lentils

1 Chicken Stock Pot (or vegetable if making vegetarian)

2 handfuls Cavolo Nero Kale (remove the tough stems first then roughly chop)

1/2 Lemon

1 Handful of Pine nuts

1 Handful of grated Gouda Goat’s cheese or grated Parmesan Cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 Knob of Kerrygold Irish Butter (or 1 and 1/2 TBPS olive oil)

Optional:

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 Tbps fresh basil leaves, chopped

Instructions:

Heat butter or olive oil in a large pot on medium low heat. Chuck in the onion, leek, carrot and 1/2 the cut up bacon strips. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes uncovered stirring from time to time so it doesn’t stick.

Chuck in the lentils, green beans, tomatoes, stock pot, a bit more salt and pepper, and 600 ml of boiling water. Stir well and when it all comes to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes. Make sure the veg stays covered with liquid. If it gets low add some more boiling water. Chuck in the Cavolo Nero for last 2 minutes of cooking time. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Before the stew is finished, cook the other 1/2 of the bacon in a pan. When it is done let it drain on a paper towel. When cooled crumble into pieces. Pour out most of the fat in the pan, leaving just a bit (if making vegetarian, just use olive oil). Fry off the garlic if using, and the pine nuts in the pan. Sprinkle with some salt. When the pine nuts are slightly browned, remove from the heat. Chuck back in the crumbled bacon and the chopped basil. On top of all of this squeeze with the 1/2 lemon and toss.

To serve, chuck stew into a bowl. Top with the bacon/pine nut/ garlic/basil mixture. Then sprinkle with the grated cheese. Enjoy on its own or with some crusty bread!

And be careful when you say you are going to “chuck it in” and leave the country for any reason. I just might be next to you on the treadmill at the gym…Just waiting to ask you why you are still here!

Lovin and Chuckin,

YDP

Foodie Fieldtrip Friday: Benefit with Friends

June 26, 2016October 18, 2018 ~ Harper220

For this week’s installment of Foodie Fieldtrip Friday, I had a partner in crime with me. One of my Snapchat friends, the well known mommy/scientist/blogger Catherine of Passports and Adventures. She was in London for a blogging conference and came a little early to join me on my adventures. But the itinerary was a total surprise to her!

Through my Snap Sista Melanie Morris I met her buddy Mark Rogers who is the head of marketing for Benefit Cosmetic’s Ireland. They had told me about the “Good Ship Benefit” this cool place to eat, drink, hang out and celebrate all things Benefit. Though I’m a Foodie not a Beauty blogger, lots of folks that watch my snap stories are indeed in the beauty business. So I thought it would be fun for them, and Catherine and I would learn about a whole new world.

The Good Ship Benefit is docked on the River Thames just opposite the London Eye and near the Embankment Underground Station. It was easy to spot as we walked up to it as it is decorated with loads of bright pink. Thank goodness we had a sunny day too as it just added to the charm. There are several places on board to dine. The Hoola is a casual menu offered on the outdoor decks of the aft or stern part of the boat. But there are also several other lovely places inside, the Lashitude dining room with a choice of the fine dining menu, or the Hoola menu. Even a bottomless brunch or high tea in the Brow Lounge would be a blast.

Catherine and I decided to eat inside the Lashitude Dining room with a gorgeous window table. What a great view looking over the river to the London Eye! We had a delicious lunch and fabulous conversation. I ordered a Cajun Chicken Burger with a salad and fries. So delicious, with a sweet and soft brioche bun. The sauce had spice but not too hot. Catherine ordered a steak sandwich and hers too came with salad and fries. We just drank water, but the fancy cocktails served in the pink ceramic heads were awesome! I just loved all the decorative touches on board!

One of the nicest touches of all was the personal one. We were both given little goodie bags filled with mascara, lotion, sunscreen, bronzer and Pore Finishing Gel. In fact the lovely Monique, one of the Benefit experts, took us on a tour into the Pore Vault. It’s another space they use for private parties and corporate functions. There is a bar, and very cool chairs, and a wonderful vibe. . We also had a peek in the salon where you can get your brows shaped or have a full makeup application. And all products sold on board are 10% off the high street stores.

We said our goodbyes after our 3 hour lunch and tour, which sped by like 3 minutes. And while we hated to leave, I have a feeling we will be back again someday! The Good Ship Benefit is docked there until the end of August and is opened from 11-11 seven days per week. But we had some delish adventures waiting for us at Spitalfields in East London!

The World Gelato Festival 2016 is a traveling celebration of the beloved Italian ice cream known as Gelato. This touring competition and exhibition of Gelato is only in London for this weekend. But will culminate with the finale in Florence, Italy in September when the new best gelato will be crowned.

We wanted to partake of the right to vote in the esteemed contest, so we purchased a card which allowed us tastings of 8 different delicious contenders. Sounds fun, but halfway through we realized we were in over our heads. The “tasters” were actually quite generous and since I hate waste, I did my best to finish each one. OMG! But really, they were all amazing. Though a couple of my favs were the Strawberry Mint Gelato that Catherine chose and kindly shared with me. From that first gelateria I opted for their Chocolate Peanut Caramel Gelato which was to die for. Though I’ve always felt that gelato is best when it is perfectly creamy and absent of chunks. However, the peanuts were lovely.

There is also an important aspect to gelato that I discovered when tasting eight, one right after the other. That is that the consistency and temperature is so important. Too cold and ice crystals begin to form and it loses its creaminess. It becomes more like ice-cream and is stiff. Too soft and it is more liquified and messy. As well, some flavors can be too rich such as the last contender’s selection of chocolate-y gelato. I love chocolate, but these were over the top with the dark chocolate with cinnamon or vanilla. Which oddly enough you couldn’t really taste as the chocolate was so overpowering.

With our final vote cast and a full belly we ventured on home. Catherine had a big day ahead and I had to get home to Hubby. But it was a Foodie Fieldtrip Friday that won’t be forgotten. Food + Beauty! I think this one will be renamed Feauty Fieldtrip Friday!

Lashings of Love,

YDP

Recipe: Ireland I’m Missing You!

June 23, 2016November 18, 2016 ~ Harper220

Last night the “Luck of the Irish” was in full effect and it was celebration time for anyone with Irish connections. The Irish Soccer team beat Italy 1-0 in the Euro 16 Tournament to advance to the round of 16. Even people who never ever watch soccer were glued to the set. The pubs, clubs, houses, even the churches erupted in excitement when Robbie Brady scored a goal. Hilarious tweets started flying including my favs:

Even though Hubby and I have a television set, it isn’t connected. We just aren’t TV watchers to be honest, and rather than waste money we don’t have a Skybox. We watch DVDs or connect my laptop computer and watch Netflix. But how to watch the Irish game? With Hubby being under the weather, as I mentioned yesterday, we couldn’t go to our local pub (especially when we couldn’t even guarantee they’d have it broadcasted). But luckily Snapchat friends were kindly posting updates and fantastic revelry. I felt like I was there!

It is times like this that I really miss Ireland. I know our stay here in London is temporary and I am doing my best to soak up all I can of this great city. I get back to Ireland fairly often, still have the Irish plates on the car, and my Irish mobile phone is with me all the time. But my soul longs for a chance to sing “Come on you boys in green” at the top of my lungs with my fellow country men and women! So what is my way to deal? Get into the kitchen and get baking! Cooking is great therapy folks. I threw together a recipe ad hoc with what I had on hand in my pantry. But mainly I wanted to use my fav Irish Flahavan’s Porridge Oats and the best sweetener in the world, the Highbank Organic Orchard Syrup. I visited the Highbank Farm for a Foodie Fieldtrip not long ago and using their syrup brought back lovely memories of my time there. Here is the link if you’d like to relive the visit as well! I did a very quick tutorial today on Snapchat (my username is: blissbakery) if you’d like to watch me make this “home away from home” Irish treat.

Since Hubby isn’t the best about eating breakfast during the week I am always trying to make healthy treats he can take on the boat for his morning commute. So hopefully he will enjoy these Applejacks. That’s what I decided to call them. They are Flapjacks and there are three grated apples in them, so I am sticking with the name Applejacks. Of course, most Americans would think I was talking about THE Apple Jacks, the sugar laden breakfast cereal. But I’m here to say, there’s a new kid in town. He is vegan, gluten free and sugar free. And he goes by the name of Applejacks!

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp extra virgin coconut oil

2 Tbsp Nut butter of your choice (I used peanut butter)

3 Tbsp Highbank Organic Orchard syrup

1 Tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 handfuls of regular pitted dates (85g)

1 ripe banana

3 apples (I used organic Gala apples)

Generous pinch of sea salt flakes

225g regular rolled oats (I used Flahavan’s Organic)

100g pecans, roughly broken

Handful of mixed seeds (I used a combo of chia, pumpkin, sunflower, flax, sesame)

Handful of dried currants

(1) Preheat oven to 170 Celsius / 325 Fahrenheit / 150 fan-assisted. Line an 8×12 baking tray with parchment paper

(2) Using a saucepan, gently melt the coconut oil with the Highbank Orchard Syrup for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the peanut butter, vanilla and cinnamon and stir until very creamy.

(3) Grate the apples. I did not peel them first, just washed them, cored them and put them through the food processor with the grating attachment blade. Remove the grated apples and place in a bowl.

(4) No need to wash the food processor, just make sure there are no grated apples left inside and then switch to the blade attachment. Blitz the dates followed closely with banana until you they are a chunky puree.

(5) Now in a large bowl combine the oats with the warmed coconut oil mixture, the grated apples and the date/banana mix and salt.. Fold in the pecans, seeds and currents.

(6) Mix well and pop into your pre-lined tin.Press down firmly with your fingers.

(7) Bake for 30 minutes until lightly golden, Remove the tray from the oven. Cool completely on a rack in the tin. Then remove from the tin, but further cool in the fridge before cutting into bars.

They turned out delicious if I do say so myself. And guess what? While the house was smelling amazing during the baking, a lovely package arrived in the post. A little pressie from IRELAND!!! OMG! Sharon Leavy of Behind Green Eyes blog (and one of my Sunday Spotlight Snap Sistas) sent me a care package. So generous, and it made me feel totally connected. Especially with her handpicked treasures like the “Luck of the Irish” leprechaun magnet (see pic on top of the page)! Sure I still miss our lovely home in Dublin, and our family and friends there, but with my Applejacks and my care package I’m feeling the Emerald Isle LOVE!

Go raibh maith agat agus grá agat,

YDP

Recipe: Woman Crush Wednesday

June 22, 2016November 18, 2016 ~ Harper220 ~ 1 Comment

Yipeeeee! #womancrushwednesday is back! After a two week break due to traveling, all is well in the world. At least in my world because today is my favorite day. It is my chance to share another female foodie with all of you. And I will recreate one of her recipes live on Snapchat (my username: blissbakery) and of course share the pics on here as well.

Today’s gorgeous gourmet gal is one of my special Snapchat friends. And though I was scheming to make her one of my Sunday Spotlight Snap Sistas, I only just discovered that she has a cookbook! Yes a beautiful critically acclaimed cookbook called Wholesome: Feed Your Family Well for Less. I am in awe, as she not only wrote it but also photographed it all on her own!

Caitriona Redmond is a well known Irish food blogger with an award winning site called Wholesome Ireland. She writes for numerous publications and has also been featured on television shows such as The Restaurant as a guest judge. I am actually embarrassed to say that I didn’t know she was a cookery book writer until now. Given the fact that she is so humble she probably wouldn’t have said it to me unless I sleuthed it out on my own. But that gives me that chance to make one of those fabuloso recipes of hers!

Caitriona is a wife and mom besides being a fantastic chef. And she is an expert at providing her family great food at affordable prices. In fact that is the premise of her blog. “Thrifty Tasty Bites” is the tag line, and let me tell you, the 300+ recipes reflect that motto! It is a family affair as Caitriona includes the gang in the planting and harvesting of their garden. They grow much of their own produce and even rear their own pork. She is one of the nicest people you’d ever meet (though we haven’t officially met in person yet, I hope to soon) and is extremely generous with her time and information. Today I wanted to try her delicious Thai Yellow Curry. However, if you watch the Snapchat tutorial (though it is only online for 24 hours) you will see I couldn’t find yellow curry paste in any store! So I had to improvise and use half green curry paste and half red curry paste.

400ml tin of coconut milk
3 teaspoons Thai yellow curry paste
2 small onions, diced
1 teaspoon of sugar (optional)
1 tablespoon of fish sauce (or 1/2 tsp salt if making the curry vegan)
3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
5 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 medium turnip (swede), peeled and cubed
1 cup of frozen peas
1 red pepper, sliced
400ml of hot water/vegetable stock

**Chicken pieces or stewing beef if using

Method:

Pour the coconut milk into a large pot and slowly bring to a simmer, stirring often to make sure the milk doesn’t split. Once at simmering point (not boiling), stir in the curry paste. Allow to simmer for 2 minutes and add the diced onion, sugar and fish sauce (or salt if vegan). **If you would like to add meat to your curry, add slices of chicken breast or steak at this stage.
Leave the pot simmering for 5 minutes. Add the carrots, potato and turnip. Stir well to make sure they are coated in the sauce then turn down the heat and cover the pot, top up the sauce with the hot stock so that all the vegetables are covered. Leave the pot to slowly bubble away for 40 minutes. After which time, stir in the frozen peas and red pepper. Simmer for a final 4 minutes then serve.

How utterly amazing is this? It tastes so delicious! It is not only flavorful but the textures are very satisfying. I can hardly wait for Hubby to try it too. He’s been under the weather since our return from our travels, and a bit of curry is just what he needs to kick his immune system into gear. While Caitriona is an avid photographer (one look at her Instagram and you will see her dreamy pics) I am an iPhone girl. But with her recent blog post of how to up your food blogger game I hope you’ll see some improvement on here in the near future. I took copious notes!

Have a peek at Caitriona’s blog or other social media. She is an Irish treasure! You will defo enjoy and appreciate her wealth of knowledge. Whether you want to organize your food shopping, need tips on parenting, looking for DIY homemade cosmetics or reviews on books, she is the woman for you! And today, she is not only my woman, she is my #WCW, and a dream recipient so she is. She offers super tasty food recipes whether you have a tight budget or not! Thanks Caitriona for being a great Snap Sista! I know you are probably blushing right now, but let’s pretend it’s the glow from the Irish sun!

Big time love and respect,

YDP

Yankee Doodle Paddy

America + Ireland = LOVE

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