Category: Store Cupboard
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Eat what you have
Yawning spaces opened up in the fridge. Lonely potatoes and tomatoes felt conspicuously exposed in the presses. There was a freezer full of long-forgotten sauces. Meanwhile, an excess of herbs, spices, and assorted condiments shrugged their shoulders, unsure how they could help. But I was determined to eat what I had. With a visit to…
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Stock up for the snow
Panic buyers are surging to the shops in Britain as the snow threatens to entomb us all, write some breathless newspapers in the UK. Yesterday’s Guardian newspaper reported that shoppers are stocking up on salt, alcohol, soups, and ready meals, while the never-hysterical Daily Hate showed a post-apocalyptic scene of empty supermarket shelves, presumably in…
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Recipe: Everlasting Preserved Pears
The other day, my nice neighbour Barbara offered me some dessert, and I thought I was about to get some cake. She plonked down a pickled pear, pointed, and gently said, “Would you believe that dessert was made in 1985? I’ve had that pear for 17 years”. I smiled, as little bugs of horror darted…
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Caribbean Larder, Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe
Caribbean cooking is an amalgamation of many influences; indigenous Caribs, French, Spanish, Dutch, British, African, Indian and Chinese. Peppers, hot sauces and dry rubs are often featured in island specialties and if you have a decent Indian larder you will find that there are spice similarities.
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Break Out the Emergency Ham
Old age is turning the snow to slush, but we’re still stuck here. AA Roadwatch informs us that Sallygap, Roundwood and the Wicklow Gap are all impassable; we live somewhere between the latter two. A neighbour says that he went to the village for supplies and was sliding all over the road. Tomorrow, we’re going…
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Snow Day
Our neighbours tell us that, about 15 years ago, they were stuck in their house for two weeks during a snowfall. Helicopters had to throw food and cigarettes down to them. We’re not quite at that point yet, but we are snowed in, about ten minutes away from Glendalough in Co. Wicklow, and quite high…
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Stock up your Indian Larder
Indian food is an intoxicating blend of delicious spices and herbs. Whether it’s blandoori or grandoori I’m planning on whipping up, these are the very basic Indian ingredients I need to have in my cupboard. I can get a lot of them in the supermarket, but for really good quality and value the best place…
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Rercy’s Lamb Saag with Frozen Spinach
I always have a bag of frozen spinach tucked away in the freezer as my backup vegetable. It’s packed with vitamin B and according to research by Penn State University, frozen spinach retains more of its nutrients than its fresh equivalent because of the lower temperatures at which it is stored. Rercy’s Lamb Saag Indian…
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Grilled Trout, Sweet Potato Mash, Rocket and Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade
If you want your friends to think you can cook – but you can’t – this is a hugely impressive meal. Stress-free, massively tasty, and it looks amazing too. It takes no time at all but your guests will think you’ve spent the whole day in the kitchen. This will serve 6 – adjust accordingly.…
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Stock Up for a Festive Chinese Feast
Much as I hate to heap more misery upon the beleagured Superquinn group, I did promise I’d compare their Chinese New Year offers with those of the Asian Markets. These are from the Oriental Emporium on Middle Abbey St in Dublin, and should form the basis of a Chinese/ Thai storecupboard. I think most ethnic…