Irishmammycooks

So I have created a little booklet for students, or busy working parents. It’s got a small selection of recipes to cook that will feed three people, well four maybe - but can be adapted to suit. None uses too many utensils, or ingredients, and there are or will be videos of all on the blog so you can look there to see how it’s done.
Please be kind. I created this myself. It is not all things to all - just my suggestions to help.
I have included a link to a charity on my linktree for Gaza - please consider giving a donation to them for the booklet which is free of charge to you all.

To find it go to my home page on Instagram and clink on my linktree. You will see the booklet there. Feel free to share, download, print, do whatever suits!
Let me know if you find it helpful
I am not able to share a link here for some reason

Best of luck to everyone today who is receiving exam results. They are only a snapshot of a moment in time, nothing more, not a reflection of who you are, or how you are 💚💚💚

If you have a moment maybe share and donate 💜

Donate to Hope for Zoe, organized by David Mills A campaign to raise funds for Neuroblastoma maintenance therapy only available in the USA - to help Zoe beat … David Mills needs your support for Hope for Zoe

Adjusting to the fact that school starts back this week - Thursday, and I’m not complaining. We have been very lucky this year with our fruit crops. We got so many blackcurrants - we always do, but we have managed them better. I have some set aside and frozen for jam, and those I topped and tailed fully. We have others I will use for cordial or curd, and because of how I cook those I didn’t need to chop the tails off - very handy! Blackcurrants are so easy to grow - one little bush will give you a few kilos of a crop by year three - a kilo after a year - and the vitamins are so good for you - organic and no air miles at all!
We have a few apple trees but sadly the birds peck most of them every year - we seem to have thousands of apples but Paddy only managed to rescue one solitary Beauty of Bath - the rest fell to the ground or were guzzled by the hungry crows! We do get a few cookers - I love the Bramley’s. They don’t keep well for me no matter how I pack them so I cook them - I’ll share that with you when the crop is ready. It’s simple and a delicious way to keep the cooking apples all year round.
As for the plums? Well last year we got one from our three trees - yes I said one! This year we’ve managed to keep the wasps at bay and got 3 kilos this week! I washed and froze them - and I’m hoping for some more this week too
Happy Sunday!

No filter needed! I made more homemade cordial yesterday. This one is delicious! Raspberry cordial using fresh fruit, but equally doable with frozen. It took fifteen minutes, and 500 gms of fruit made 800 mls of cordial. It’s delicious!
More fruit recipes coming - let me know in the poll what you’d like first 😊
As always DM me if you have any questions.
Ingredients
* 500 gms raspberries
* 300 gms caster sugar
* 300 mls water
* juice of one lemon

Method
Zest the lemon and store in freezer for other recipes
Add all ingredients into a pot and heat on medium until the berries almost boil and the sugar is dissolved.
Pour through a sieve into a bowl or large jug.
Store when cooled in the fridge for up to three weeks - I promise it won’t last long enough for that! Don’t forget to vote below!

I’ve been a fan of for a while now, and I was delighted when she reached out to gift me one of her beautiful table runners. What I’ve loved about Lana is her beautiful creations - Paddy and I are fighting over which print to buy for the empty wall above our dining table - but more is her insistence on using only the best of linen for her products. All her linen is Irish made, and this is helping to keep an Irish industry alive that has been a craft we have enjoyed for hundreds of years. That’s so important. Each design has some beautiful writing on it too - mine says abhaile- a beautiful idea for a wedding or housewarming gift.
Thank you - I love it - and I’m looking forward to enjoying more of your beautiful products in my home in the future. I hope the gang enjoyed the homemade scones and crumpets. Tell them they can make their own from the blog next time 🥰

Quick dinner here this evening with the tastiest pasta sauce ever. Three ingredients - tomato purée, cream and chip spice. We were wrecked from cleaning and watching the gymnastics - they’d make you tired just looking at them - so rustled up her favourite. Topped it with some Parmesan and a little chicken - delicious.
We used maybe 3/4 of a tube of purée, and about 60 mls of cream - and about a tbsp of chip spice - add no other seasoning as there’s salt in it already. You could add some garlic if you wanted but it’s fine without. 60 seconds in the microwave and that’s it! Tasty and delicious. Try it! Now back to the 🤸- I’m wrecked Ted!

Not a food post today! Went to a fabulous makeup masterclass in Dublin hosted by for
He showed a Beyoncé Renaissance styled look, perfect for the Beyhive event in tonight.
Not going myself, but it looks like it could be fun! Great afternoon with my sidekick
I use the luminous silk foundation already, but there are several items used today that are on my wish list now! Mind you I don’t have the flawless skin that Camillo’s model has - Brónagh I think her name is… oh to be young again!
Back to the kitchen tomorrow 😞😊

Have you visited before? I was there a while back. Very impressed with the efficient service, the value for money, and the tastiest food. Huge portions - those wings are a starter (!) - and very pleasant wait staff. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Dublin soon.

Another Brown Bread Competition!
Thanks to for sending me the fabulous soda bread kit to publicise the National Brown Bread Baking Competition run in conjunction with the National Ploughing Association’s championship and the Irish Countrywonan’s Association in September, and sponsored by .ie
First prize is €5000 and a gorgeous new Slide and Hide oven - get back! I want to win!
The pack was delicious. I added a little maple syrup to the mix when I made it, and used buttermilk. A gorgeous loaf. Why not try your hand? Loaves can be handed in on July 19th, July 26th or August 2nd at various venues around Ireland. Why not bake up a storm and win an oven?

Called to yesterday and bought a supply of berries for the freezer, but couldn’t resist seeing what all the fuss about picking your own is - I get it! Such a nice date! Support local business and get to your nearest fruit supplier for the freshest berries you can buy. Cordero is running lovely events throughout the summer too - and it was so lovely to hear the excitement of the children picking their own fruit and seeing where it comes from. ray

Just a pretty picture or three from a follower who shared her jam making success with me this week. I love to see what you make from my recipes. Have you tried any jam ones yet? I think I might need some help for my photos after sharing these ones! Happy hump day! Nearly the weekend again!

Birthday treat and post recital food today - so tasty - and I love that I ordered nothing for myself but was able to just pick from the other plates. The salt and pepper chicken is a favourite always, and the Char Sui is fast becoming one. Some lychee boba and we’re there. Have you eaten here before? All that’s missing is 💙

So I have a few things lined up that I made in the last few days, but I’m not sure which to share next. Let me know in the poll below which one you’d like first…
Every time I post I feel guilty for the children of Palestine, so I’m afraid they will be mentioned in every post until they are safe again - thanks to and for highlighting their plight every day. 🕊️🍉😢

If you are local to Dundalk you might pop in to support this fantastic youth centre - and you’d never know - some of my bakes might even appear!

Today was the birthday of a very special friend at work. I know lots of people are in a panic at this time of year - with communions and confirmations and no caterer available because you left it too late to book!
I made this cake in an hour last night - it tasted amazing, and fed about 50 people - it’s a rich gooey fudge cake with a chocolate ganache icing. One I will definitely make again. We ate without cream - and cold - but it would be equally gorgeous warm with ice cream. I made a full oven tray size! Very good value too!
Shall I share the recipe?

🧑‍🍳🍳 🧑‍🍳 COOKBOOK COMPETITION! 🧑‍🍳🍳 🧑‍🍳
As you know, I am the Brand Ambassador for this month! I’m delighted to tell you they have given me cookbooks by two of my favourite chefs as prizes in a competition along with a selection of their oils! How great is that 😊
The cookbooks are Home Kitchen by the brilliant Donal Skehan and Midweek Meals by the super Neven Maguire! I follow both and love their content - and the different styles of each.
To enter, just:
1: Like my page and
2: Tag three friends
3. Share on stories
4: Let us know why you love Irish cooking
T & Cs apply. Competition ends Friday, February 23rd. You must live in Ireland to enter.
Good luck! 💚

So happy to be BA for this month. Made my pizza on Friday last with rapeseed oil - it gave the bases a gorgeous softness but a crispy shell - gave it her seal of approval! Comment below and I’ll DM you the recipe 😊

A fabulous exhibition of community artworks celebrating Brigid is running in Dundalk all weekend - that and a most incredible sound and light display are not to be missed. All free

Soup time! Had a bowl of this tonight with my homemade brown bread - which is really tasty made up as scones. Comment below if you’d like me to share the recipe for the soup - and a question - do you prefer it blitzed or with the veg still in it?

Lots of requests! So I’ll share my lasagne recipe again here - honestly - I use the same mince mix for both bolognese and lasagne. I had it yesterday with a baked potato and a bit of cheese on top - it was perfect. I did sneak a bit of butter under the mince mix mind you… 😊
I’ll do a fish pie later in the week, and a prawn dish at the weekend.
I’m not a slow cooker person - I have one but I never use it! Sorry! I find one pot dishes on the hob really easy - and I always cook ahead and freeze so I don’t really need a slow cooker!
I shared a few soups on my stories yesterday - they should be saved in my January highlights - and I’ll share my husband’s ‘steak gravy’ recipe which is a really tasty but very easy dish - goes well on a horribly cold evening like this. I’ll post that one next week. It uses round steak, gravy browning, carrots, celery and onions - with potatoes on the side.
Thanks for all the responses! I’d better get cracking!

Just before the holidays season I was lucky enough to visit with my gorgeous cousin Kieran - there are benefits to being a music Mom - Finn had a gig - I had a meal out with some of my favourite people in a fabulous Persian restaurant.
Sadly this place is closing in January 13th and converting to an Italian under the same ownership - if you get a chance pop in for a meal before then if you live anywhere nearby - the food is glorious. The flavours are unusual - mild spicy, and just exquisite. Great food, great company and memories to cherish for Christmas 2023.

Just a photo of some shortbread… how divine are these?
Simple presentation, two types of shortbread - .ie crystallised ginger, and white chocolate sprinkles - both divine. I’ll share how I present them as gifts next week. A little chocolate pudding there too of course - the perfect tasting board after dinner.
Happy hump day! The time is marching - Christmas is almost here! Plum pudding recipe soon…

You asked! So many of you asked!
The quickest recipe ever!
*500 gms frozen raspberries
* 260 gms .ie jam sugar - if you can’t get that granulated sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice - 1 tbsp just.
Method
Add both to a pot. Heat on medium stirring as the berries melt. Bring to the boil gently then let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes. You’ll know it’s cooked when you see the colour is right for jam. You can also put a small spoon onto a cold plate and see if it sets. I never do and sometimes the jam is runny and sometimes it’s thicker, but it always tastes amazing!! I pouf into a clean jam jar, use the original lid and store in the fridge. Enjoy!

A vegetarian/vegan charcuterie board today. It was fabulous. Our last daughter has her debs tonight - I’m an emotional wreck! She headed off but only after we had friends and family over. I did roasted chickpeas - gorgeous, peppers, hummus, smashed avo, and some crackers. I also made sausage rolls and a salami rose.
I made extremely successful and very light fluffy buttercream - lemon and raspberry to match Éad’s colours. A little nutty brownie, all washed down with tea, coffee and of course a glass of cava. Yum!
Now to wait for the ‘collect me please’ call at 4am!

When your garden whizz neighbour offers you courgettes - mandarin in the photo for scale! - always say yes! This is one of the earliest recipes I shared - in three parts because it’s so laboursome - but it’s worth it every single time. What do you do with courgettes? Busy meeting friends and so not getting to post much here -I will be back though!