A visit to Oldfarm

Back in September while on my travels round Ireland I was invited to stay with the lovely people at http://www.oldfarm.ie/ . What a wonder place, fantastic food and happy pigs.

Both Rory and I had a great visit.
So if you want to eat real pork get on the phone to http://www.oldfarm.ie/ and order great food.

Many thanks to Margaret and Alfie

Shin of beef flattered by Molly's Choc stout

For this months recipes I have a warming winter theme using one main ingredients. This indulgent stout from Hilden Berwery makes a great sweet or savory addition.

For the first recipe it’s a long slow cook, beef in choc stout with a little chilli.

Shin of beef x2

Carrots x 4

Red onions 3

Garlic 6 cloves

Chilli peppers 2 medium heat

Btl choc stout

1 pnt good beef stock

To start with you should have a few large cuts of shin of beef from your butcher this is a fantastic cut of meat and great value. Leave the beef out of the fridge for an hour and heat up a heavy based frying pan until just smoking, brown your shin of beef to seal the meat and place in a slow cooker. Place the chopped veg in the pan used to sear the beef and deglaze with the chocolate stout, add all that to the slow cooker and cover with the beef stock.

Cook at a low setting for at least 6 hours, when the beef is melt in the mouth remove the beef and set aside in hot serving dish. Make a sauce from the stock and veg in the slow cooker by passing it through a sieve and thicken with a roux and a spoonful of coco powder.

Serve with a mustard mash and curly kale. 

While on my travels I visited the fantastic cheese producers at Durrus

New blog

Well hello all, I have started this new blog for my travels around Ireland and maybe further a field.
On the 14th September I am jumping in the car with the dog and a tent and traveling round the country visiting food producers and restaurants as well as the sights of the country.