5 Ways to Celebrate Ireland from Home

Hi Everyone, 

We've put together a pack of free online jigsaw puzzles, perfects for days inside.How many of these famous Belfast landmarks can you put back together? https://visitbelfast.com/article/belfast-jigsaw-puzzles/

All those replies really inspired me and got me baking at the weekend.

Does anyone else tried a new recipe or have more to share?
I am hoping to have a go at the seafood chowder next weekend. 😋

I love this thread so much! 😍

This weekend, I wanted to make some barmbrack in celebration of Halloween. 

My Irish mother-in-law and I followed the same recipe, from different kitchens on opposite sides of the pond.
We used this method from Donal Skehan and it was easy super easy to follow. 

It turned out really, and pairs nicely with a cup of Barry's tea. 

Note: for others making this recipe in the US, we don't have the equivalent of "mixed fruit" so I just used raisins, dried apricots, dried cherries, and dried dates. I cut up the larger fruits so it was all about the same size. It woked well that way, but you could just as easily use only raisins, ect. 

I also converted the recipe into cups -- it's about 1.5 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of brown sugar. 😊

10/10 recommend! Enjoy!

A lovely looking Barmbrack, hope it tasted as good as it looks!

If it's sweet and traditional Irish bakes you like, have your ever tried Fifteens from Northern Ireland?

A recent video from Tracey's Farmhouse Kitchen has all you need to know to make some for yourself.

Learning Irish, the very beautiful and musical language, is certainly one of the best things we can do to celebrate Ireland from home! 🗣️

I have recently found an online beginners class for Irish held by Ireland Lucan Library.

Each Wednesday, for 8 weeks, there will be a free Irish class delivered on Zoom.

Learn Irish now! Foghlaim Gaeilge anois! 📖



Don't forget to register your spot on the link! 

An activity that always transports me back to my childhood in my granny's kitchen is cooking up her famous bacon and cabbage! It's a culinary journey that takes me straight to the heart of comforting Irish home cooking. On colder days when I'm looking for home comforts I always resort to this dish. Every bite feels like a warm hug, with the salty, smoky aroma of bacon perfectly complementing the tender, flavourful cabbage. It's a dish that wraps me in the nostalgia of countless family gatherings and cozy Sunday dinners. 

So, let's dive into the recipe so that you can get a taste of this comforting experience!

Bacon and Cabbage Recipe

Ingredients:

1 head of cabbage
1 kg (about 2.2 lbs) of bacon joint
6-8 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and quartered
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preparation: Rinse the cabbage and chop it into large chunks.In a large pot, place the bacon joint and cover it with water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for about 20 minutes, skimming off any impurities that rise to the surface.

Add the quartered potatoes and cabbage to the pot with the bacon. Season generously with salt and pepper. Let the ingredients simmer together until the potatoes are fork-tender and the cabbage is cooked but still has a bit of bite.T

Allow the flavours to mingle as the bacon imparts its rich essence to the cabbage and potatoes. This is where the magic happens, and the kitchen is filled with a distinct and delicious aroma!

Serve with Love: Once everything is cooked, ladle the bacon and cabbage goodness onto plates. Feel free to drizzle some of the flavourful broth over the top for an extra touch.

Gather everyone around the table and enjoy!

 Happy cooking!