Chicken missing

A quick update from clonlin, two chicken went missing, after Bibi escaped and got killed by the fox, we miss two others this morning. We have seen no trace of feathers around the house so we still have hope they might be somewhere out there. If you see them, can you send them home ?

Quick update on the Kitchen / House

 Its still cold outside so I put the work on the garden on a hold until after St.Patrick's day and used the time to bring the house into its best shape for the new arrival.

Painting all walls and a bit of rearranging and decorating. Especially the kitchen got a face lift.

Next Up, Hall and Sophie's room, that will be fun. Sorry if i lately don't post as much as i used too, just so many things going on right now, busy times ! :-)

Checkout my Project for the cookbook at www.clikechef.com ( Make sure to signup for the newsletter to get the invitation for the great book presentation and Amazon book release ! )





Laura Wieser Fresach Daddy Loves you

DIY Decorating

I am still okay, my house is a mess, all Friday I was covering the edges with tape and plastic to be ready to paint on the weekend. Today, Saturday I could make the foundation of 3 rooms, and paint 2 rooms once already. I hope i Finnish up the ground floor this Sunday, so next Sunday more work upstairs :-)

Yeah.
So far no accidents, know on wood !

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Simple Starter - Breadcrumbed Mussles

Sorry I am a bit busy recently with painting the house, so my blogposts are not that regular and long as usual. So is my cooking, easy and quick recipes are on the menu now, since this walls do not paint themselves. tomorrow on our family menu is the above starter bread crumbed backed mussels. Just open the mussels, and fill them with a butter/ breadcrumbs / herbs mix, and bake them in the oven on 180 C for about 10 Minutes or until golden brown.

As second course we will have a nice whittling fish from the fisherman from the Market.
I hope that gives me the energy back for another day painting on Sunday. Wish me luck, I might post some in progress pictures :-)

DIY: Self made firestarters

Why buying expensive fire starters if you can make some yourself ?
Using a Egg carton and some old candles which you melt in a jar in a water bath you make your own fire starters within 10 Minutes.

After cut the carton into pieces and use 2-3 pieces to start your fire.
They actually work better than the ones from the shop. Now even the girls at home who never made a good fire make a great one with these starters.

How much Beef cuts are there ?

Because of the recent scandal in processed beef in Europe I had a discussion with my friend Bas about what food is being presented to us in a whole piece, what is minced up, or thrown away.

Well I am not a butcher, but I did some research on the topic, as did my friend Bas, and Board Bia here in Ireland for example promotes on their website 14 beef cuts, as shown above. On their website you can learn more about each cut and how its used in cooking.

Looking a bit further, to France for example, they promote 33 cuts, not counting the tongue and cheeks (thanks for pointing that out Bas). In my old home Austria, the Austrian Meat Marketing agency promotes the Viennese style of cuts which adds up to 25 cuts.

I wonder, how come there is not more on offer in Ireland, what happens to the rest, is it all just minced up ?
Maybe an expert can let me know ?

Salmon Avocado Salad

Everybody who knows me know I love fish. Since I cant go out there myself catching some right now I cook my favourite, I wouldnt catch anyway out at the Atlantic. Salmon. Everybody who knows me closer knows I have a personal problem with Salmon, yes, when I say the word I pronounce the L.
I believe that's the fault of my English teacher, 20 years ago, anyway, my good friends here correct me on each occasion, its getting better.

The salad in this recipe is quickly made, just cook the salmon in the pan, arrange the salad nicely in a bowl. With a peeler slice nice thin chippings of a carrot. Boil that chippings in water for about 3 minutes or until they are softer. Place that on the salad, also with the cubes of avocado. Before serving sprinkle the oil and vinegar on the salad, spice it a bit with Salt and Pepper and place the salmon pieces on top.
Bon appetit !

Ingredients for 2 servings

Ingredient	Quantity	Comments
Salmon	200	gram
Vegetable Oil	20	ml
Avocado	1	piece
Carrots	100	gram
Salt	1	pinch
Pepper	1	pinch
Lettuce	1	piece
Balsamic vinegar	10	ml

Pear Cake - Tarte tartin

This is a great recipe I learned last year in one of Richys Cooking classes here in Clon, its so simple but yet so tasty.

Ingredients for 1 cake:

Ingredient	Quantity	Comments
Puff sheet	1	Pastry Sheet
Pear	3	pieces
Butter	150	gram
Brown Sugar	100	gram

You need a oven proof pan, add a bit of oil and the butter to the pan and let it melt. add the sugar and let it caramelize, but don't burn it. Split the pears in halfs and take out the core. Once the sugar caramelized place the pears in the pan in a circle. Cover all tighly with the puff sheet and place the pan in the oven at 180 C for 20 Minutes.  Once the puff sheet is golden brown and solid, remove the pan from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes and than place it up side down on a plate, Voila

Thanks to Richy for showing me this simple but so yummi recipe,
you should book a class if you are in town !

Schnitzel with Veal

I am a made Schnitzel person and I admit at least once a month I have one. Recently I found a source for veal here in Ireland, and let me tell you its nothing better than to have a Schnitzel made with veal.
most people here only know the chicken or pork version, but if they would ever try it with veal they wouldn't eat anything else any more...  here the recipe I posted last year, Ingredients you need:

for 4 Servings

Ingredient	Quantity	Comments
Pork chops	4	pieces
Egg	1	piece
Flour Plain	50	gram
Potato	0.5	kg
Parsley	1	pinch
Salt	1	pinch
Pepper	1	pinch
Breadcrumbs	200	gram
Butter	50	gram

Happy Valentines !

Some romantic stuff already prepared, Candle, Romantic music and a rose. Are you going to the Restaurant or do you celebrate your love at home ?