Ah, we’ve all earned this, haven’t we? It has been the longest winter in living memory, and we’re ready for a little warmth on our old bones. A change in eating habits from comfort food to something a little lighter is also on the cards, hopefully beginning this weekend.
Freiend for dinner – Pimm’s in the garden
I’ve had a quick look at the weather forecast for all over Ireland, and – dare I say it? – it’s not looking too bad…
A three-day weekend is the perfect excuse for having friends and family over to admire your garden/efforts at weeding (in my case anyway) and to share some easy and tasty food, and a glass or two of a suitable beverage 😉
The recipes that I’m mentioning here are all over on Eating for Ireland ( www.eatingforireland.com ), but I’ve put the links to each one in for you already. Don’t forget to check out the website for alternatives.
One of my favourite salads is the Warm Spicy Chicken Salad https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/warm-spicy-chicken-and-mango-salad/ You can do so much of this ahead, and just cook the marinated chicken up to 20 minutes before serving ( it’s supposed to be warm, not hot). I serve it on the Turkey plate that my Mum gave me when I cooked my first Christmas dinner. That plate only saw the light of day one day a year, until this salad, that is!
Pasta bakes are always good for a crowd – especially one that has a bunch of kids in it – Try my Spaghetti Surprise on the kids and see how they like it! https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/family-favourite-pasta-bake/
That old favourite, Chilli Chicken Pasta is always well received too, and if you make the sauce ahead of time, all you have to do is cook the pasta, heat the sauce and add the Mascarpone..
Don’t forget to look up my home-made burgers https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/build-your-own-burger/ and the crispy oven cooked potato wedges https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/my-home-made-crispy-oven-chips/ to go along with them!
For desserts:
You can’t go wrong with the All-in-one Chocolate cake – loved by kids and adults alike!
And even my famous Cheat’s Chocolate Trifle goes down well at this time of year!https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/the-easiest-ever-christmas-trifle/
For a simple but effective dessert try making some of my easy scones https://eatingforireland.com/photo/my-everyday-scones/ and serve them with some softly whipped cream and some good old-fashioned raspberry jam, or if you’re feeling lavish, some delicious Lemon Curd https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/home-made-lemon-curd/
Whatever you get up to, and whatever the weather, I’m wishing you all a lovely relaxing weekend!
Becks xx
PS: Don’t forget to check out the website for other weekend inspiration!
I started writing down recipes in an old copybook when I was about 16. With 6 children at home, my Mother was always glad of a hand in the kitchen, and really allowed us to experiment - as long as we washed up afterwards, and left the kitchen immaculate! Having a tidy kitchen has followed me through my life, as has the habit of writing down my favourite recipes; except that these days I write them for my website, and add photographs when I can. The website really started when it occurred to me that my daughter might like to have these recipes when I've forgotten them. In my early days of cooking for family and friends, I used to phone my Mum all the time to ask her for the recipe for some of our favourite family dinners. She rarely had a recipe to hand - I think, like me, she made a lot of it up as she went along.. So welcome to Eating for Ireland - these are the recipes that my friends and family having been eating these past 40 years.. yes, I truly am ancient! They are tried and tested, and have worked for me for all that time - I have updated them as new ingredients became available - I really hope you'll find something that you can make into a family favourite of your own. You don't have to tell anyone where you found these great new dishes that you're serving up - it can be our little secret, but I'd really love it if you could give me a sneaky 'follow' on Facebook and Instagram.. So off you go - have a good rummage around, you're bound to find something new! My sincere thanks to all of you who have found a recipe that you liked and dropped me a line to tell me - I really do love to hear from you! Happy Cooking! Becks xx