Ballymaloe Week 5 / Pretty Pics in Limbo Land

The last week and a half have been a bit nutty. We are preparing for our mid term exam so this week, although I have LOTS to talk about... I am at my deadline of getting a post up so photos will have to suffice for now. More next week!

Until then.. Happy Valentine's Day!

This is a loaf of bread filled with sandwiches made from the inside of that loaf a bread formed into a treasure chest.

Christmas cake!

cupcakes with meringue topping

meringue animals!

My Gluten-Free Chocolate Hazelnut Eclairs

More Choux Pastry delights!

The weather's been rather crummy.  WIND WIND WIND - the show must go on!

The power went out due to a terrible storm - Rory pullin' through, continuing the lesson.

Tapas - Marinated Olives

Marinated Anchovies

Manchego Cheese & Sherry

Almond Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Cod-Stuffed Red Pepper & Toasts

Peace over the weekends.

Wish me luck on my exam!

Ballymaloe Week 3 / How to make Hard Aged Cheese

I ride my borrowed bicycle every chance I get when I'm not in school and it's sunny.. turns out that day is Sunday.

At school this week we learned how to make sourdough and cheese!

Makin pizza!

Sourdough starters.

Sourdough Tutorial

Cheese equiptment.

Let milk ferment with cheese culture.

Cutting cheese to let whey escape.

Mix at a certain temperature to encourage whey to escape.

Drain whey and wash.

Whey is a really healthy beverage!

Adding water to wash it.

Fill cheese mold.

Press out whey.

3 months later.

Cheese fridge.

Salting the cheese the next day!

The most amazing part is getting to sample all the local goodies and just completely immerse myself in the culture where food is concerned. I'm really starting to get an idea of what true Irish food is. Cured fish, breads, THE CHEESE IS AMAZING. Irish cheese and butter is widely sought out around the world since the cows just have so much darned grass to eat. It makes their milk more yellow.

Midleton farmer's market. BARISTA!

You get locally made chocolate chips with your coffee.. amazing.

Bread.

Cheese stand!

My goodies. Eggs, blue cheese, chive goat cheese, ginger dark chocolate, seaweed pickle, hot smoked salmon with chili.

Local prawns.

Bacon.

Chocolate lollipops.

Meringue heart with spiced plumb and whipped cream centre.

My creation!! Smoked salmon rosette with quick cucumber pickle.

Stuffed lamb breast.

Roast beef!

Dressing a cutting board for roast beef.

Roasted lamb shank.

beautiful raw vegetables for an appetizer

Hummus

Helen and Mary Pat. Music promoter and Irish mom.

There was a talent competition at the local pub.

Talent show!

Ballymaloe Week 2 / Big Bright [cloudy] Lights

FILM CREW!?

For this post I'd like to talk about my roots.. I grew up in Ottawa, Ontario but I was actually born in Serbia. I attribute feeling 'at-home' in Ireland because of my European roots. Another thing I'm taking in from the Irish culture.. (mind you, I'm in a very remote place.. so this could be particular to where I am) but damn everyone is so incredibly nice! They are so helpful.. giving rides, offering things to borrow, like a bicycle?! Film crew?

Charcuterie Board

Food set for a special project.

Musicians!

One thing I wanted to get back into was music. There are a lot of bands around here.

I finally had fresh fish sushi from the sea! Actually, Ballycotton - the harbour town - directly intersects the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea!

I also had a chance to make my way into Cork city, the biggest city near by us. They also have an amazing indoor farmer's market called The English Market. Tourist from all around come here for quality products from the fertile Cork soil.

CORK CITY! beaut.

Crew going to Cork!

Fresh Fish from the Market

The famous English Market!

Beautiful cappuccino and beat salad.. waiting for my sandwich. At Farmgate Cafe!

BACON SANDWICH

Real fish.

Teaching my peeps how to eat oysters..

...expecting freshness

There are shells in them...

they weren't shucked properly...

disappointment.

Patty's day at the 'EURO SHOP'

- One Direction -

Beautiful cafe.

This week we also had a cheese maker come in. He was a full on scientist, too. I've never seen someone more passionate about their job.

Home made fresh ricotta cottage cheese (un-broken) with rose and pistachio.

Labneh (strained yoghurt) with anchovies, chili, mint and pepper. DELISH

Beautiful ricotta with herb, calendula (an edible flower) and home-made crackers.

I milked these cows today!!

Check out the worldwide Slow Food movement! This lecture was on Irish culinary history pre-potato.

snacks before lecture..

More on food politics next blog!