Fool, Pasta & A Pate

What a lovely day it’s been! I had a productive morning in the kitchen, smoked mackerel pate with melba toast, black current fool, melted leeks, homemade pasta with sage butter, a black current parfait, and stripy cat (white soda bread with chocolate chips). The black current puree was made with frozen black currents from the farm last summer, and it was so delicious. The black current parfait is generally made with left over fool here at the school, I had extra puree so I whipped some more Jersey cream – it is so quick to whip by hand because it is so thick to begin with! My partner Lorna made Jane’s Biscuits (my favourite!!!), so I had two of those with one of my fools for pudding at lunch, so yummy. Our teacher this week is Annette, who is lots of fun, I’m very glad to have her for what I assume will be my last week in Kitchen 2. It’s crazy to think I will head to Kitchen 1, and then before I know it I’ll be back in Kitchen 3.

Rory was doing the demo today, soufflés, terrines, flay pastry, butter and milk bread, a few yummy different salads, pancakes (random, but it’s pancake day tomorrow!), and a several different condiments for terrines. I am making a pork, spinach and herb terrine tomorrow, celeriac remoulade and confiture d’oignons (onion marmalade). I am hoping to make a brown soda bread, butter and milk bread, and have a go at flaky pastry as well. If I’m in the kitchen early enough, this should all happen! I really enjoy making bread everyday, it is so satisfying to have a see a perfect loaf of bread come out of the oven, and with the good Irish butter it is a nice treat too!

The sun was still shining after demo, I can’t believe how much time we’ve gained, it’s so nice to be able to enjoy a bit of daylight at the end of the day. After feeding my two sour doughs (somehow my first starter got too large and I had to split it into two jars!), Mary, Hannah and I headed down to Shanagarry Strand and walked for about an hour. Beautiful sunset, it was great to get some fresh air and hear the sea. I will sleep well tonight!

“With the contents of this afternoon’s recipes you have the start of a picnic factory.” – Rory on the different condiments we made today

Pasta with sage butter	Melted Leeks	Black current fool!
Pate	Shanagarry Strand	Shanagarry Strand