This is a very tasty, cheap and easy midweek supper containing one of my favourite ingredients, fennel. Unbelievably good roasted. This served two large portions, but would easily stretch to three lunches or lighter dinners. The parsley brings some much needed colour and an added freshness to the dish. I only use wholewheat penne; it [...]

Flip! It’s cold. Autumn swept in at precisely 6.20pm on Sunday evening, as we sat in front of the main stage at Electric Picnic. I’m still recovering from that fantastic weekend, and my wallet has taken something of a hammering too. This is a rescue recipe. Supplied by my lovely friend Paula White, it has, [...]

Liver never quite recovered from Hannibal Lecter’s slimy endorsement. But in most animals, the liver is often the tastiest part: think pâté and the wistful, slurpy looks of people over 50 when they gross out their children with happy memories of liver and onions. Liver crops up on many restaurant menus, and not just in [...]

I’m determined to find sick and twisted ways of forcing history’s five greatest foods – anchovies, honey, mustard, raspberries, and chicken wings – to live together in one tiny room and swap each other around in surprising combinations (I know, I know, mustard is a condiment not a food). Honey and mustard are in love, [...]

“Concoction” was Dad’s most famous recipe. His three kids vividly recall excitement when Concoction was cooking in the kitchen. We still speak about it in hushed tones. But what was it? Nobody quite remembers. My sisters say it included any combination of leftovers. I always thought it contained fried cabbage. Dad himself had totally forgotten [...]

Here’s a simple recipe for trout that doesn’t require much fussing or measuring. Trout’s reasonably cheap too, and often on special at Superquinn. This serves two, alter as required. Ingredients 2 trout fillets 1 lemongrass stalk, finely chopped* A knob of ginger, finely chopped 1 red chilli, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 [...]

I love the East End range of Indian spices which you can pick up from any Asian store. One of my favourites is the Tandoori Masala that has the most pungent aroma. I made this recipe up as I went along and rustled together these Tandoori chicken kebabs last night using the Tandoori masala powder. [...]

I fancied some classic fish ‘n’ chips but my beloved Burdocks (man they give huge chip portions) was miles away in the big smoke. Stuck up a mountain and with no option but my local chipper which serves up manky muck, I had to rustle up something myself. My local Supervalu was doing a deal [...]

Peter and I attended a really enjoyable event in Bord Bia the week before last: it was a series of presentations and workshops for Irish food bloggers, organised by Donal Skehan of the tremendous Good Mood Food blog.  We were treated to demonstrations of pork butchery and cookery, vegetarian cookery from Blazing Salads, advice on [...]

Continuing our occasional series on quick and easy midweek dinners, here’s one for the Asian storecupboard. A healthy fallback, a quick and delicious dinner, and a good way of using what you have: stir-fries to the rescue. Lately I’ve been experimenting with some very simple variations, and I’ve hit on a few winners. Egg Fried [...]