A trip to West Cork to bake on an Island

Towards the end of last year I was getting itchy feet and wanted to head to a more tranquil part of the world. So West Cork is the perfect destination I had heard a lot of good things about Firehouse Bread on Heir Island http://www.thefirehouse.ie there was nothing else to do but book a Saturday baking on the island.
I planned my trip with family and friends in mind so that I could stay in Durrus for a few days afterwards.
Now that I can't drive due to illness public transport is the only option of travel, this turned out to be quite relaxing after booking tickets in advance traveling via Cork.

To break the long journey up I stayed in Cork city for the night, after walking round this compact city and the famous English Market it was time for dinner. I had booked a table for 1 in Fenns Quay Restaurant http://fennsquay.net not being in the review business this was a great meal. Kate Lawlor the head chef has a great skill and the restaurant staff are very welcoming I will be back.

The next day was a bus trip to Skibereen a long and bumpy bus journey but worth it, a short taxi ride to the Quay to catch the 2pm ferry perfect timing.
I arrived on heir island and walked to Firehouse bread, a warm welcome from Patrick and Laura followed tea freshly baked cookies after a long journey is great. Laura's parents who run a sailing school on the island are great hosts, Patrick cooked and very tasty leg of lamb in the wood burning oven for dinner.  The rooms are very clean practical and warm the quite of an Island is wonderful, its makes a great break to arrive before hand explore the island.

So down to the baking after an introduction the 6 bakers for the day got down to learning a new skill a really fun size of a group. Starting off with Sourdough to let it rise in time so we could bake it before the day was out, then everyone has a different recipe to follow a great way to learn lots at the same time. All in all a must do for anyone who loves real bread fantastic food we even had handmade pasta from Laura and soup and salads for lunch before filling boxes of bread to take home. Have a look at the selection on the table in the photos below. So book now! http://www.thefirehouse.ie

It also turned out that 3 of the people on the course lived in Bantry so where able to give me a lift to Durrus many thanks.

just some of the bread made on the day

cooling sodas 

These look and taste great 

morning walk round the island

Evening view next stop USA

Tea smk salmon starter at Fenns Quay

The next few days where spent relaxing in Durrus many thanks to Richard and Linda for your hospitality and to John and Sally Mckenna for a great lunch. I also meet up with @Jaq_Stedman for a great lunch in http://www.thefishkitchen.ie and a few beers after before heading back up north.
Thank you to everyone along the way.

Valentines gifts and Valentines Almond and Orange Shortbread

Its 4 weeks away from Valentines day so I have a recipe for you, Valentines Almond and Orange Shortbread.

Before I give you the recipe I would like to tell you about a wonderful little chocolate shop in Belfast Co Couture is run by Deirdre and they make award winning chocolates in the shop. Deirdre has a real passion and great skill for this culinary art. So if your looking for chocolate for your valentine this is the place to go.

Co Couture
7 Chichester Street,
Belfast,
Co Antrim
BT1 4JA 
http://www.cocouture.co.uk

So on to the recipe!

Valentines Almond and Orange Shortbread

175g softened butter I recommend Abernethy Butter http://www.abernethybuttercompany.com
75g caster sugar
150g ground almonds
75g "00" flour
zest of on orange

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and creamy then fold in the orange zest and then gradually fold in the flour and ground almonds. Form into a dough wrap in cling film and chill for an hour in the fridge.
Pre heat your oven to 160oc and prepare a lightly floured baking sheet.
Lightly flour a cool work surface its very important when working with pastry to have a cool room and surface. Roll out the dough evenly to about 2cm thick cut with a heard shaped cutter best to flour the cutter.
Place on the baking sheets/trays and cool in the fridge for 10 mins before baking in the oven for 15-18 mins until lightly golden brown. Sprinkle with caster sugar when cooked and allow to cool before eating or putting into a sealed gift box or tin. Enjoy

Chilled shortbread read for oven

Slow cooked Goat leg from @williamrhaire

 Goat Leg  Slow Cooked in red wine tomato and garlic

I have quite a few cuts of Goat in the freezer from @williamrhaire
thanks to my friend Laura aka ( @daydreamfoodie ) . So herself and Matt the Potter planned a dinner at my house to use some of this fine meat. 

I have never cooked a leg of Goat before so once it had defrosted I marinated the meat in 3/4 of red wine a clove of garlic and herbs, peppercorns and salt. I left this over night and then placed it in a slow cooker in the morning with a few carrots and an onion as well as 500g of Passata and topped the liquid up with water to barley cover the meat. Before I left for my morning walk I turned the slow cooker on to low and checked it 4 hrs later, at this stage it was tender but not falling off the bone so I gave it another 3 hours before turning it off. Now taste and season. 

Before serving with veg and potatoes I took 2 ladles of cooking liquid and reduced it to half the amount and thickened it with a roux amd seasoned before serving. 

Very tasty and easy food! 

For a dessert I was making the most of reduced products from the local shops, Ricotta, fresh cranberries and orange. To make I made a quick jam with the fresh cranberries and allowed that to cool before mixing with Ricotta and the zest of an orange and sugar to sweeten. Then I added the mix to small jam jars and put into fridge to set.