Day Eight- The Black Eye Peas!

Week two begins! It's back to the kitchen this morning first thing. I've moved to a new kitchen with a new partner, who's also my housemate so it makes planning out the morning alot easier. She keeps robbing my Pyrex measuring jug so I need eyes at the back of my head...

First up was my Winter Salad of Pomegranates, Persimmons and Pecans. This a pretty simple dish, I destroyed my chef's whites when I was banging the back of the pomegranate. The salad dressing could have done with more olive oil but for a first attempt it was good.

Then I made a delicious creamy pasta with fresh chilli with Gubbeen Farmhouse Chorizo, it really was delicious and I got full marks for it- so I was well chuffed!

We then broke for lunch and I got to taste my partners yummy hazelnut chocolate tart. Yummy!

Every lunchtime, there's lots of people dropping into school for some lunch. Today, the lovely Mike Hanrahan, an ex-student of the course dropped in to say hello.

Darina convinced Mike to chat to us about his time in Ballymaloe and what he is doing now. Mike is the head chef in Pat Shortt's Bar in Castlemartyr, East Cork where he sources all the ingredients for the kitchen locally. Mike sources his meat from Clifford’s Craft Butchers, main street, Castlemartyr. Their vegetables are sourced from The Village Greengrocers, main street Castlemartyr and their fish is supplied by local fisherman Trevor McNamara direct from Ballycotton Pier.

  

Following Mikes great chat, Darina demonstrated to us how to make perfect White Soda Bread, which she left sitting by the window- to ensure the fairies have left the loaf. Then Darina demonstrated how to make the perfect orange scones with orange butter- amazing. Seriously, amazing.Yum. Yum. Yum.

Then Darina discussed the concept of 'Meat Free Mondays' and demonstrated a delightful Chickpea Stew as well as a Black-Eyed Beans with Mushrooms (or Black Eyed Peas as they're called in US).

We then went onto a new section of the course which was the Mexican section. Before demonstrating Mexican dishes, Darina mentioned another past student; Thomasina Miers, who set up the 'Wahaca' chain of Mexican dining.  Check it out at: Wahaca Homepage.

Darina took us through lots of Mexican dishes, to name but a few:

Tortillas De Harina De Trigo

Quesadillas with Tomato Salsa and Guacamole

Then another very long day ended and my housemates and I had cheese and biscuits with some wine. Now to prepare work for tomorrow!

Chat soon!