Pottery Education

Today I experienced the lovely little hotspot in Millise called Eden Pottery, it's a quaint studio, shop and cafe situated just outside Carrowdore.  It sells all hand-made pottery for use in the kitchen mostly among other things.  Most importantly (for me anyway) the food was homely and delicious.  From the tea in strawberry covered teapots to milk in the hen milk jug and plates with motorcycles, all the food and drinks were served on or in the amazing pottery made in the studio there.  You are first presented with lush desserts, you know what they say "life is too short, have you dessert first..:)" You will find everything from chocolate cake to carrot cake..yum!  Then they have a spread of different quiches and salads.  I enjoyed a well proportioned slice of chicken, cranberry and stuffing quiche with home-made coleslaw, baby potato salad and an apple, grape and mixed lettuce salad drizzled in white french salad dressing.  Then you are faced with the brilliant scones and tray-bakes at the counter.  They are gorgeous, the scones were the reason we chose to go there in the first place.  Actual words.."the scones there are nicer".  So, if you are looking for somewhere different to do coffee or lunch and look or buy some lovely kitchen ware, head on down to Eden Pottery. 10 points!

www.edenpotteryshop.co.uk

Diane xo

Simplicity

Hey everyone..sometimes we need the simple things in life when it comes to cooking.  I was chatting the other day to someone who was just looking an easy recipe for fairy cakes and I thought sometimes we need to go back to basics, which is great! These fairy cakes take less than 30 minutes!.  Also you can decorate them any way you like, I was totally put in the mood for them after that conversation. I decorated mine with a drizzle of icing and nutmeg...yummy! Have a go, perfect for unexpected guests or just a wee treat..:)

Diane xo

Mother's Day Mash-up

Mother's Day Mash-up


Hello everyone..mother's day, Sunday 18th March was my first little dinner party which has been a real hit.  Even though it was all family members and my boyfriend..i am sure they would never be bias and also tell the truth.  I have called it a mash-up as each course was a little piece from around the world.  Also today was a lovely day, which we all know is rare in Northern Ireland.  Therefore, the wine was flowing.  If i knew it was going to be as nice i would have made my homemade lemonade but that is for another day.  Anyway just for starters ;) is a dish i have had many times when out in restaurants but never attempted myself, Thai style crab cakes, served with Italian salad, drizzle of olive oil and very very spicy sesame dipping sauce, not for the faint hearted.

This is a melt in your mouth mild dish with a spicy, zingy side which my mum went in for the kill and poured her pot of sauce all over her crab cakes and loved it where my Dad put the tiniest bit on each mouthful and really enjoyed it.  Today really showed me how different people have very different taste buds or whether my mum has any at all.  It really is about getting all that flavour in there though and its totally worth experimenting as Thai has so many yummy spicy and refreshing ingredients such as chilli, lime, coriander and curry spices.  




Inspiration has come from as far as Asia and Australia but also very close to home right in front of me on the telly. As most of us know you just need to switch on the box and you have got shows like Come dine with me and Masterchef. For those of you who are new to cooking, this next recipe is so simple but yet so scrummy.  This was made on Come dine with me and I have not been able to get it out of my head.  Was a major success with  everyone today. Lemon and chocolate posset garnished with strawberry and mint..mmmm!

One of my favorite chefs at the minute is Raymond Blanc, so i added a recipe from his recent tour around France, the Rum Babas, which are little muffin type cakes but a lot lighter soaked in a rum syrup served with creme fraiche and raspberry conserve..totally delicious! 

All the recipes or links will be added...happy mothers day to all the mumsy's out there and i hope you all got a little piece of gourmet today, until next time....


bye xo

First post..:)

Hey all..my first proper food post will be sometime over the next week.  I will try and post at least once a week..here goes..:)  its nearly the weekend so time to chill with yummy cocktails, these are two from Apartment bar, Belfast, check out their drinks list at: http://www.apartmentbelfast.com/drinks.aspx

bye xo