Therese’s Taste Team Triumph
Apologies for my lack of posts….
I’ve been quite busy lately working on a new book. Not the other second book I’d been working on but a different one altogether….I’m very excited about it, I’m loving writing it and as the subject matter (FOOD) is very close to my heart, I know I’m not going to have any trouble finishing it…..
In the meantime I thought you might like to hear of my 2 minutes of fame. If you flick through a copy of the June issue of Easy Food, you’ll see that I was a taste team member and my ugly mug is on page 19.
I tested the Chicken Satay Burgers which I must say were delish!! The recipe itself is on page 24.
So check me out….it’s a bit of fun 
Short Story – Homecoming
Maisie and Josh were a happy pair! She was seven and he was five and they lived in a bungalow about a mile outside the town of Drumferlin. Their house was surrounded by rolling fields in various shades of green and they had a large back garden which they played in everyday after school and at the weekends. A happier brother and sister you could never hope to find. Maisie was desperate for a little baby brother or sister from the moment she could talk. So she was very proud when little Josh came along. Since that day, they rarely fought, and if they did it was usually because Maisie was mammying Josh a little too much by brushing his hair or telling him to tidy his room. Josh didn’t like that but he still loved his big sister because she was lots of fun to play with.
Maisie and Josh’s parents were a young couple and who wanted only the best for their little family. Emily was a stay at home mother and she worked hard every day, cooking, cleaning and looking after the children. It was hard work but it made her very happy. Sean worked hard too as a Supermarket Manager. The hours were long and his feet were always tingling with tiredness at the end of the day, but he loved his job too. He liked the variety that his day would bring and the different people he would meet as he dealt with the customers. However, the best part of his day was coming home. He would greet Emily with a kiss on the cheek. Then he would lift up the lid from the pot that was bubbling ferociously on the stove and draw in a lungful of steam before exclaiming “Yum. That smells de-licious!” Then he’d kiss Maisie and Josh on the tops of their heads and produce treats from his pocket. They would clap their hands together with giddy excitement only to be told they couldn’t eat it until after their dinner. Sean coming home was Emily, Maisie and Josh’s favourite part of their day also.
One cold February evening, Emily and Sean relaxed in the sitting room and chatted about their day while they waited for the children to settle down upstairs. After a few minutes there was quietness. “Phew, they’re asleep” whispered Emily. She took a big gulp of her warm mug of tea. “My God we’re blessed with those two” replied Sean. “We are. Things are good right now but….. they could be better!” “Funny you should say that Em, I’ve been thinking the same thing. I’ve an idea I want to run by you.” Sean grinned. “I have an idea to run past you too” Emily replied, giggling. “We should get a dog” they exclaimed at exactly the same time. They pointed at each other and burst into a fit of laughter.
After a discussion they decided that their house was big enough to give a dog a good home. It would teach the children responsibility and compassion. Emily did volunteer work at the animal shelter so was keen get a rescue dog. The next day after dinner, they broke the good news to the children. Maisie and Josh couldn’t hide their delight. They jumped up and down, holding hands and singing “We’re getting a doggy!” They were full of questions but were assured that they’d have to help pick up the doggy poop. They were none too pleased!
On Saturday they set off to the animal shelter. “We’re going to see lots of animals today but we can’t bring them all home. OK?” said Sean in a serious tone. “OK Dad” they replied, including Emily who was afraid that she more than the kids would want to bring them all home. The manager brought them to the kennels and left them alone while they looked around and made their decision. There were dogs of all types – big, small, old and young. It was very sad to see so many unwanted animals but Emily felt better knowing that she did what she could. “Daddy” Josh pulled on Sean’s coat. “Daddy. Me and Maisie want this one!” Sean walked over to the kennel and to his surprise they were looking at the scruffiest, shaggiest, mangiest, saddest little dog that he had ever seen. He read the notice over the door. Jack was a Cairn Terrier with only three legs having been hit by a car. He was about 5 years old. The manager returned and sighed, “Poor Jack. We’re worried about him. He’s so quiet and isn’t the prettiest dog in the world so no one looks twice at him.” Sean looked down at the children with their big eyes pleading with him to take Jack home. “He’s the one” Emily announced. “Really?” asked the shocked manager. “Yes” Said Emily with pride.
Then the strangest thing happened. As soon as the decision was made, Jack stood up on his three good legs 
and his tail wagged for the first time. He licked the children’s faces with pure happiness. It was like little Jack knew that he was going to experience the best homecoming a dog had ever had. They bundled him up to take him home to Drumferlin in the car. Maisie and Josh vowed that they would take really good care of Jack; they’d even pick up the doggy poop!
by Therese Brady
05/01/10
Have you ever had a Veggie Burger?
I like to call myself an omnivore.
I love meat, fish, eggs (dairy doesn’t like me) but I absolutely love my fruit and veggies too.
As I’m responsible for 90% of the grocery shopping and cooking in the house I like to make sure we have a good variety of meals during the week. I like to mix it up. Mexican one night, Italian the next, then Spanish, then Irish but I also like to alternate proteins. Thursday night is fish night for the most part, Friday is pizza and Monday and Tuesday are meat and vegetarian.
Now, it doesn’t always work out that way….I don’t like to be too boring and rigid with my meal planning as it can take all the fun out of cooking but still it’s good to have a framework to use.
I think vegetarian food can get an awful hard time. Nature is full of some many gorgeous fruits,veggies, 
pulses, legumes, nuts and seeds of all kinds of colours, flavours and textures. I love to experiment while giving our tummys a rest (as well as it being a good idea for the environment).
So I try to keep note of any good veggie recipes that I come across and I swear by the Cornucopia cookbook. Here’s a lovely bean burger recipe I came across…I can’t remember where but I promise you’ll like it if you’re open to try new things. And as they say, a change is as good as a rest!!
Bean Burgers
Serves 3-4
1 tin cannelloni beans, drained & rinsed
2 tbsp red pesto
85g wholemeal breadcrumbs
1 egg
salt & pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/2 chilli, finely chopped (optional)
3 or 4 granary baps
3 – 4 tbsp hummus (optional)
1. Roughly mash the beans with a potato masher until they’re almost smooth, then stir in the pesto, breadcrumbs, egg & seasoning to taste. If it looks too wet add some more breadcrumbs.
2. Heat half the olive oil in a non-stick frying pan over a low heat and cook the onion and garlic until soft. Add to the bean mixture and mix well.
3. Divide the bean mixture into 3 – 4 equal portions and shape into a flat burger.
4. Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan and cook the burgers for 4-5 minutes on each side, until golden.
5. Meanwhile, spread the bottom half of each bap with a teaspoon of hummus.
6. Remove the burgers from the frying pan and drain on the kitchen paper. Place each one on a bap and top with tomato, cucumber or gherkin slices and lettuce leaves.
Short Story – Flowers
Flowers
“I wake up and everything’s ok. Then, I remember”, Big Tommy said to Ginger. She was his whole world now that his darling Evelyn was gone. As a young pup she had scurried through the half door one fresh Spring morning, too long ago to remember and had made her home there ever since. Ginger, so called because of her Red Setter breed, was the apple of Evelyn’s eye and now that Big Tommy was alone in the world, Ginger was more important to him than ever. Evelyn was gone and since she had passed away suddenly three weeks before, Big Tommy and Gingers’ lives had been transformed forever. He couldn’t understand how such a youthful, sprightly woman, who had only just gotten her bus pass, could go to sleep one night and just not wake up the next morning. It simply didn’t make sense to him and talking to Ginger seemed to be the only thing that helped him make it through the day. Ginger understood him and he could see it in her eyes that she deeply missed Evelyn just as much as he did.
Big Tommy passed the old, knotted kitchen table many times through the long hard days and every time he did, his heart broke a little bit more. The flowers were gone. Those blooms of simple splendour were like Evelyn in every way and they were the heart of their home. She made sure to refresh them every day and even during the cold, bleak winter months a festive poinsettia or Christmas cactus would nobly but briefly fill the void. Oh how the sweet, sweet aroma of the fresh Daffodils, Tulips and Roses of Spring would gladden Big Tommy’s heart. He knew that not long after the wonderful smell had arrived in the house that the longer evenings full of leisurely walks and al fresco dinners with Evelyn and Ginger by his side were sure to follow. When the vase of flowers was there, Big Tommy never remarked on them. He never complimented Evelyn on her choice of flowers nor really appreciated what their beauty did for their little home. It was only now, with their obvious absence and the empty space on the table, that he truly appreciated them and what they stood for. They represented Evelyn. Their beauty mirrored her beauty, their delicateness her delicateness and their absence her absence. Big Tommy once again walked through the kitchen and glanced at where the flowers should have been. Suddenly he hung his head on his chest and cried. He cried for his sweetheart and for the realisation that he had never appreciated her as much as she deserved. Why hadn’t he noticed them every day and not just with the arrival of Spring. “Eve, I’m so very sorry” he wailed through the tears as Ginger lay herself at his feet and tucked her nose under her paw. He gripped the back of the chair until his knuckles turned white and wiped his eyes with her embroidered handkerchief. He remembered how he had come to be called Big Tommy. When he and Evelyn had first started courting, he’d twisted his ankle badly in a pothole one afternoon when they were stepping out. When it happened the tears stood up in his eyes but he refused to cry or show any pain whatsoever. So much so, she poked fun at him forever after by calling him “Tommy; the big man”. Over time, it became Big Tommy. He smiled through his tears. “What will we do without her Ginger? What will we do without the flowers?” Ginger stared up at him imploring with her big brown, loving eyes to be comforted. As quickly as the sadness had washed over him, a thought came to mind of what exactly he should do. Maybe it was Evelyn gently taking his hand and showing him a way through his grief. Maybe it was an answer to his prayer. Big Tommy didn’t care. He resolved there and then that no longer would the house be bare just because Evelyn was gone. It was up to him to replace the flowers each day just as his wife had done. Immediately, he felt better, like he would finally be doing something for Evelyn to keep her alive in their home. In keeping Evelyn alive he’d be keeping himself alive too.
Early next morning, Big Tommy cycled down to the local market. Groceries needed to be bought and errands run but the freshly cut flowers for Evelyn’s vase were by far the most important thing. It was June and the summertime had given rise to the most beautiful choices on each stall that he’d ever seen. Evelyn always said she had no favourite flower, because no one could ever choose between so many stunning varieties. Big Tommy knew her better than that. Lilies always caught her eye and their distinctive scent lured her to buy them more often than any other. He sat the bunch of white Lilies into the basket on the front of his bike and cycled home excitedly but slowly, as he was not a young man anymore. Ginger waited at the gate and her tail wagged furiously as Big Tommy rolled to a stop at the low wall. Her eyes widened as he lifted the flowers from the basket and cradled them in his arms. The vase displayed flower’s understated elegance and Big Tommy patted Ginger gently on the head. He smiled and whispered “Eve, we miss you so much but as long as I keep this vase full, you’ll always be here. You’ll always be home.”
By
Therese Brady
A favourite poem of mine
The Black Stuff
“A pint of the black stuff Charlie”
It settles on the bar.
Dad discusses gigis
as his fingers tap impatiently
and glances are thrown
willing on its progress.
At three I take in everything
although I shouldn’t be here.
Legs swinging rhythmically
as the settling time ticks by.
Beer mats are my play things,
and not a soul blinks an eye.
Finally….the moment comes,
perfect white foam my canvas.
I make swirls with my finger
then scoop it to my mouth.
I wince, he laughs,
as he drinks down hungrily.
By Therese Brady
28th February 08
My search for a really great brown bread….
I’m having a love affair with brown bread!!
You know, that amazing stuff that’s properly baked in a loaf tin without lots of crap added to it like in our ordinary sliced pans. It’s the bread you’re always thrilled to get when you order a bowl of soup in a pub or restaurant. The stuff that you thought only your old granny or grandad ate back in the 1950′s. I just love it.
Toasted with a bit of jam or broken up into chunks and flung randomly into a bowl of soup left to soak up the liquid. It usually doesn’t due to it’s density. I started buying it in Dunnes about 2 years ago but at the same time I was really getting into my ‘making everything from scratch’ kick and decided that it would probably work out healthier and cheaper to just make my own….especially since I have my cupboards packed to the rafters full of “just in case” ingredients.
I’ve tried multiple recipes…the worst being ‘Dad’s Brown Bread’ from Rachel Allen’s Cookbook “Food for Living”. Out of the maybe 10 times I’ve made that bread, blaming everything from my oven with it’s broken thermometer to the ingredients I was using, it only turned out right only once (after I halved the amount of liquid she says to use). I subsequently decided it was just the recipe itself. It’s crap (sorry Rachel) and my search began in earnest for a really good, foolproof brown bread recipe. I’ve tried recipes from magazines, 
cookbooks, the internet and the best one (and the yummiest) that I’ve come across so far are two recipes from my Cornucopia Cookbook. The first being the Wholemeal soda bread on page 354 and my favourite one yet is the Spelt Bread on page 358.
Spelt flour is used increasingly these days as an alternative to wheat flour for people with wheat intolerance. I don’t have a wheat intolerance but I’m willing to try anything and having sampled spelt bread in a food store a couple of weeks ago I just loved the flavour. I also loved the seeds dotted throughout and on top, giving the bread a delicious nutty flavour and making you feel healthy and virtuous feeling all those B group vitamins that must be coursing through your veins after partaking of a slice! You can get Spelt flour in The Health Store or any health shop….I’ve even seen it in ordinary supermarkets and mixed seed packs are available everywhere. I really urge you to try this bread. It’s easy to make and there’s no babysitting involved at all….it came out absolutely perfectly first time So here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
425g spelt flour
40g sesame seeds
40g sunflower seeds
40g pumpkin seeds
15g poppy seeds
15g linseeds
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt (heaped)
550ml water
1 tbsp treacle (blackstrap molasses) optional (also available in The Health Store)
2lb loaf tin
* If you don’t want to invest in five different seeds, make up a total of 150g of mixed seeds with what you have available
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180C (170 for fan ovens) and brush the bread thin with oil. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and the seeds and combine thoroughly. Form a well in the centre of the mix.
2. In a jug, combine the water and treacle, stir well and then pour it into the well in the centre of the dry mix. Use a spoon or your hand to bring all the ingredients together evenly. Make sure that the treacle is evenly distributed, not clumped in sticky pockets. Use as little mixing as possible to achieve and even mix. It should be of a very sloppy consistency.
3. Transfer the mix to the oiled tin and press down evenly. Bake in the centre of the oven for about 60 minutes, until well risen and evenly browned. Run a knife around the edge of the loaf, turn out onto a wire rack and tap the base with your finger. If it makes a hollow sound, the bread is cooked. Cover with a tea towel and leave to cool completely on rack before cutting.
Venice Restaurant – Dunshaughlin
Unit 9 Dunshaughlin Town Centre, Off Main Street, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath
Telephone: 01 8240599
www.venicerestaurant.ie
If you’re not aware of this I haven’t always lived in Kilcock. I’m only living here 3 1/2 years. Before that I lived in Dunshaughlin for 7 years having moved from my town of birth, Dunboyne, Co. Meath, at the age of 18. I loved Dunshaughlin while I was there and I still miss it now. Indeed, most of my family lived there at one time or another and I still have 3 sisters living there. This is why Venice Restaurant was chosen as the venue for my mother and my sister Catherine’s birthday dinner. Venice wasn’t there when I lived in Dunshaughlin. It’s like most things, these things arrive when you’ve up sticks and left. Oh how I’d have loved an italian restaurant and an Indian (there’s a new one on the main street) when I lived there.
No matter. I hadn’t heard particularly great things about this restaurant which was probably why I was pleasantly surprised. There was 8 in our group and already seated was a huge party of kids & their parents who were very noisy. The waiter went out of his way to make sure we were seated where ever we felt most happy. I didn’t care. I knew we’d be making more noise than them before long. He was wonderful throughout the meal. Same cannot be said for the other waitress who was more than a little grumpy and took to randomly plonking plates onto the table in annoyance when no one claimed ownership.
As I previously said, I have a block when it comes to Irish/Italian restaurants but this was one of the better ones. Probably because the staff all seemed to be Italian. Always a good sign. There was plenty of bread on the table but no Olive Oil to dip – only butter 
But there were little ramekins of marinated green and black olives on the table which I happily demolished. They even obliged when I asked for more.
I chose the Primi (starter) of deep fried calamari & king prawns with garlic dip and salad. The whole thing was delicious (calamari was slightly overdone – literally by about 30 seconds – but not enough to make it inedible). I tasted the suppli which was delicious and the antipasti also. Have you ever had Mortadella? Oh
Don't judge a book by its cover!
At the end of the meal we were offered complimentary liqueurs – limoncello or sambuca. We all had a round of the limoncello’s. Those that knocked them back didn’t enjoy them but as it is a liqueur for sipping, I found it to be the perfect ending to my meal and very refreshing. At the end of the meal, a slice of tiramisu & banoffi with a candle in each was produced for the birthday people. We were all most surprised as they hadn’t been requested. The tiramisu was very well made, traditionally with the espresso soaked boudoir biscuits and not swimming in mascarpone as so often tiramisu’s are. The waiter earned his tip by picking up on us discussing the birthday girls and providing this little treat (and a song to boot). I was the only one to order coffee and the americano was delicious and very well made. All in all, a very good & 
enjoyable meal and at €197 between 8 people, I was most impressed with the cost.I certainly wouldn’t be averse to the idea of going back.
It just goes to show; good, polite, friendly service can go a heck of a long way.
Food: ***
Atmosphere: ****
Price: ***
Returnability: ***
Excellent ***** Very Good **** Good *** Fair ** Poor*
I’ve just finished reading…..
My food obsession continues….
I’m always on the look out for a new foodie book and every couple of days I do a search for the latest food related novel. I love memoirs and factual books so that, combined with food and I’m a happy camper.
I came across this book Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl on one of my searches about 2 months ago. The author of this book is a trained chef and former Restaurant Critic for both the LA Times and the prestigious New York Times. This book is all about her moving to the NY Times to take up her new post and how she had to turn herself into an anonymous diner with the help of various disguises to avoid the recognition of the chefs who had her photo pinned to the wall, quite literally, from day one. This book is more about the battle Ruth Reichl fought with her editors to champion the dining experience of the normal “Joe” than the food she ate itself. She wanted to expose how the differences between dining as herself, the NY Times Food Critic, and as boring Brenda (the alter ego she most liked) were like eating in two completely different restaurants with completely different dining experiences.
I listened to this audio-book but I wasn’t a fan of the author herself reading the novel. Even though I loved this book, I found listening to her narrate to be difficult and took away from my enjoyment. She has a monotone voice and she does the voices of each of the older characters in the same droning throaty tone. Due to this similarity in each of these characters I did find that I lost track of who was whom. So in future I think I will read her books myself if she narrates them on audiobook.
This book is for any food lover who harbours the dream of becoming a food writer and/or restaurant critic. She does a wonderful job of proving to the reader that there are, in fact, downsides to doing this for a full time job…..namely losing your anonymity, people only being interested in the fancy meal they might get out of you, time spent away from family – not being able to eat with your loved one 5 -6 times a night and becoming jaded with the pretentiousness of all things fine dining.
I loved this insight…….as there is nothing more that I hate than what I call ‘pretentious nothingness’ on a plate. I would get tired of that easily.
She demonstrates these points without ramming them down your throat but by telling the story as it was. However, she doesn’t fail to recognise how blessed she is at the same time.
Her food descriptions are good (not topping Nigella Lawson who’s food descriptions tantalize me and make me salivate) but she drops in little titbits of food trivia that will make you think “ah, I didn’t know that, must store that up for my next table quiz”.
I do think that I would’ve enjoyed this book more if I had’ve read it rather than listen to it but I like her writing style so I will definitely be reading her other books like Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table (1998), Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table (2001), Not Becoming My Mother: and Other Things She Taught Me Along the Way (2009)
I recommend this book for all you budding food writers out there.
And I loooooooooove the striking name of the book too
When good Curries go bad….
Have you ever spent hours and hours cooking something?
You’re really looking forward to eating it, you’re stirring and salivating at the same time you’re dying to get stuck in…..
Well as we all know the proof of the pudding is in the eating. My love of spicy food has been developing over the last 5 years and Indian food especially gets my taste buds going. Stephen bought me an Indian cookbook
Indian Food Made Easy - Anjum Anand
I’ve tried about 6 or 7 recipes from this book and only 1 so far has worked…..and by that I mean having a pleasant texture, full of flavour and looking scrummy. That was the coconut curry.
Before - Looks like a curry?
After - Yep, that 400mls of water was a BAD idea
And the disappointment continued when I tasted it!! Rarely do I make something and REFUSE point blank to eat it….I did this time. It was bland, thin and absolutely WRONG!
She says that this particular curry is not for the faint hearted and not to be made if you like mild Indian food….PAH! What a load of twaddle.
Looks good, but tastes.......baaaaaaaaad!
So for any of you looking for a good Indian cookbook-do not try this one.
I am contemplating getting my hands on Madhur Jaffrey’s Ultimate Curry Bible. I was flicking through it in Easons a few days ago and it looks amazing…..
Do any of you know this book & if so would you recommend it??
Or is there another Indian cookbook out there that I simply need to get a hold of??
I’ve set myself a challenge recently….I want to own a cookbook for every culture/cuisine in the world. So recommend away peoples……I’d appreciate any & all suggestions.
Anyway, I ended up eating popcorn, Green & Blacks Chocolate and Red Wine for dinner……..very healthy indeed!!
Baby on Board…..no, not me!
Firstly, I’M SORRY, I’M SORRY, I’M SORRY.
It has taken an age for me to get to writing my next post….I’ve had the busiest couple of weeks, all I’ve had time to do with my blog is write down ideas I have for future posts (9 specifically) and lament the fact that I wasn’t one of the finalists at the Irish Blog Awards.
No matter, I console myself with the knowledge that there were 19 other wonderful blogs that didn’t make the finalists list either and also…..all the finalists were professional blogs ie: people who blog full-time.
Ah well, there’s always next year! Onwards and upwards I say…..
To ease me (and you) back into the ole blogging, this will be a short(ish) post. Something I’ve wanted to get off my chest for a while. That is……. BABY ON BOARD signs!
Baby on Board, Princess on Board, Prince on Board, Child on Board. Those signs you inevitably see on the 4×4 sitting on front of you as you sit in traffic. The same cars (and I’ve taken note) usually have sun screens on all the windows and a row of stuffed toys lined up like pawns on a chess board ready to smother you to death should you even approach the car.
Before I continue, I’m sorry to any of you who may have said signs attached to your rear windows. I’m even more sorry if you are a member of my family! But I just don’t understand their purpose.
I have 4 issues with these signs:
1. How can the driver of said car see out of any of the windows that are covered in sun screens, BoB signs, stickers and stuffed toys. Surely they’re dangerous!
2. A BoB sign on your car is not going to prevent me from ramming your car from behind, urging you to race me at the traffic lights or generally harass you on the roads. Why? Because you’re assuming that I, and everyone else on the road, is a Road Rager ready to pop at the slightest thing? The BoB sign is not going to make me drive any safer. I’m already a good driver your sign won’t make me drive any differently.
3. Following on from point 2, why is it that the people who have these signs on their car (and I know I’m generalising here) seem to drive erratically and generally take unnecessary risks on the roads. Do they think that their BoB signs gives them a licence to drive like a plonker, when we have to be careful of their cars and keep our distance. How come you don’t care about your child’s safety by driving like a maniac whereas I have to keep my distance?! (only a few days ago did a man, driving a 4×4, not wearing a seat belt, 4 kids in the car, 3 BoB and CoB signs on his windows, drive out on front of me on a round about and nearly kill me. He was looking right at me and could see me coming. What a wally!!
4. Do you think that having a sign in your car that says “Princess or Prince on Board” or is 
maybe the wrong impression to be giving your child…..especially if either of these signs have the word “Pampered” on front of them. Is your child not going to grow up kinda spoiled thinking that the world must curtsey when we see them coming?
Stephen and I have already decided that when we have kids, signs like these won’t be allowed anywhere near our cars.
Do any of you have any thoughts on these signs?
If I’m missing the point of these signs because I don’t have any children, I’m all ears. Please enlighten me.
Again, I’m sorry if I offended anyone Please still like me an read my blog
Ta Ta for now
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