"RECIPES FROM THE 'SOD'"

CURRAGH SOUP (serves 4)

1/4C/120ml. Onions (diced)
1/4C/120ml. Carrots (diced)
1/4C/120ml. Celery (diced)
1/4C/120ml. Leeks (diced)
2 tbs. Vegetable Oil
3C/750ml. Water
1C/250ml. Shredded Cabbage
2 Med. Potatoes (diced)
1 Tomato (diced)
1 Garlic Clove (minced)
1 Bay Leaf
Salt & Pepper
Chopped Parsley

METHOD: Cut the vegetables into a small dice (1/8 inch /3mm.), this is called a Brunoise. Start cooking the onions, carrots and celery, in a pot, with the oil. When the vegetables start to get soft, add the water and bring to a boil. Add the leeks, cabbage, bay leaf, season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to a simmer, and let cook for 30 minutes. Add the diced potatoes and simmer for 10 more minutes. 5. Add the diced tomatoes, garlic and parsley. Simmer for 10 more minutes.

JULIENNE BEET SALAD (serves 4)

2-14oz/396ml. Tins of Sliced Beets or
1-1/2lb/750g. Fresh Beets
1 Med. Onion (julienned)
4 tbs. Vegetable Oil
1 tbs. Wine Vinegar
1 tbs. Sugar
Salt & Pepper
Chopped Parsley

METHOD: If using tinned beets; drain and rinse in cold water, cut into a julienne. When using fresh beets; boil or steam beets until tender. Peel and cut into a julienne. In a mixing bowl, add the beets and onions. Add the remaining ingredients in recipe order. Mix well and refrigerate for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve on a salad plate, lined with a lettuce leaf.

IRISH SODA BREAD

2½C/560ml. All purpose Flour
1C/225ml. Milk
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt

METHOD: In a mixing bowl add the flour, soda and salt, mix well. 2. Add the milk and mix well. The dough will be thick. Transfer dough to a small loaf pan, that has been greased with butter, or shortening . Bake in a 400°F/200°C oven for 20 -25 minutes or until golden brown.

NOTE: This recipe makes one small loaf, which will serve 4 people. The recipe can easily be doubled to make a larger loaf.

CAPON IN WHISKEY SAUCE (serves 4)

1 4-5lb/2-2-1/2kg. Capon or Roasting Chicken
6oz/180ml. Irish Whiskey
1C/250ml. Chicken Stock
1oz/30ml. Vegetable Oil
Salt & Pepper
1 tsp. Dried Thyme Leaves

METHOD:1. Cut capon into pieces, first remove the breasts and wings. Cut wings into 2 pieces each, cut the breasts in half cross ways, remove the leg and thigh and cut into pieces. Each serving will contain, 1 piece of breast meat, 1 leg or thigh and 1 piece of the wing. 2. Place the pieces in a bowl and season with salt, pepper, thyme, add the oil and mix together. Put the seasoned pieces in a roasting pan and bake in a 400°F/200°C oven for approx. 40 minutes, until cooked all the way through. 3. Transfer the cooked capon to a heated serving platter, pour off excess oil from the roasting pan and place over a medium heat. Deglaze the pan with the whiskey, let reduce in half and add the chicken stock. Let simmer and adjust the seasoning, thicken with a tbs. of corn starch, cook for five minutes and strain with a fine mesh strainer.

Serving suggestions; Irish mashed potatoes, add a piece of yellow turnip with your potatoes and mash together with diced green onions. Vegetables; carrots and brussels sprouts.

WINE SUGGESTIONS: Dry - Medium White or a good red Burgundy.

BANANA & ALMOND CARAMEL (Serves 2)

2 tbs. Butter or Margarine
2 tbs. Cream
2 tbs. Syrup
2 tbs. Brown Sugar
2 Med Bananas (not over ripe)
Pinch of Cinnamon
Toasted Sliced Almonds (garnish)
Vanilla Ice-cream (optional)

METHOD: Slice bananas in half cross ways, then in half length ways (4 pieces per serving). Using a sauté pan over a medium heat, add the butter, let melt. Add the cream, syrup and brown sugar, let this heat up and all melt together. Add the banana pieces, cinnamon, and let simmer gently for 2 minutes an each side. Transfer the bananas to a warm plate or arrange around a scoop of ice-cream. Pour the sauce over top and garnish with sliced almonds.

IRISH COFFEE (per serving)

1C/250ml. Fresh Strong Black Coffee
1 tsp. Sugar
1oz/30ml. Irish Whiskey
2 tbs. Whipping Cream

METHOD: Add sugar to coffee and mix well. Pour in Whiskey, do not stir. Take a spoon and slowly pour the cream over the back of the spoon into the coffee so that it is layered on top of the coffee.

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow,
~~ and ~~
May trouble avoid you wherever you go.

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