Driving home after great day at working at Waterford Harvest Festival.

Dinner- Garden of Ireland organic herb oil and Spelt bread.

Had a brill day including live music, food fair and Threshing demos but exhausted after leaving home at 6.15 am back at 9.30pm. Off to bed as being a film extra in Cobh tomorrow. 

 Night night, ClareAnne xxxx

Middleton Food & Drink Fair

 Slept in for Midleton Market this morning after staying up a with a couple of glasses of wine for company last night. Weather turned out not to be quiet as hellish as anticipated and I returned home with a good haul of booty from lovely stallholders so all in all a good day.

My haul included a squashed Ardsallagh soft cheese, blueberries, bashed strawberries and some organic oats.  

On my rather rainy walk home from the train I nicked some lavender from a neighbour's garden, found a lime at the back of the fridge and started on my shortcake.

Lime, Lavender and Caramelised Oat Shortbread filled with sweetened Ardsallagh soft cheese, blueberries and strawberry and lime puree.

Off to Waterford Food Fair in the morn at 7am so really best get to bed.

Night night,  ClareAnne xxx

Why this Culinary Indulgence?

I have this week exposed myself (well my cooking, strange accent and overly expressive face) to ridicule and scrutiny on national TV. I am one of the final 16 contestants on MasterChef Ireland and honestly applying for this was one of the best decisions I have made in a long time.

After a year of lost boyfriends, jobs and flatmates I was feeling more that a bit despondent but the absolute terror of being judged by Nick and Dylan (or Nilan/Dyck in modern parlance) made me realise that my life wasn't that bad, after-all. Actually this competition brought back my joy in cooking and the adventurous culinary spirit that I had lost.

So, I am hoping that in writing this blog I will keep hold the elation I found this summer while participating in the show.