Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Rise & Shine: The Ballyknocken Breakfast 5
How to … Cook Eggs 6
My Childhood Porridge with Cinnamon and Pear Compote 10
Orchard Apple Breakfast Compote 12
Rhubarb, Orange and Ginger Compote 14
Ballyknocken Granola 18
'In a Rush' Smoked Bacon and Broccoli Frittata 19
Spinach Fritters with Poached Eggs and Roast Tomatoes 20
Ballyknocken Drop Scones with Blackberry Sauce and Orange Mascarpone Cream 22
Trench Toast with Rose Petal Syrup, Plums and Goat's Cheese 24
Simple Beginnings: Easy Starters 29
The Ballyknocken Irish-Italian Antipasti platter 31
Scotch Egg Salad with Tarragon Mayonnaise, Rocket and Chargrilled Asparagus 37
Smoked Trout, Dill and Strawberry Salad 38
Crab and Dillisk Mini-Tartlets 40
Chargrilled Prawn Skewers with Marie Rose Sauce 41
Chicken Liver Parfait 42
Easy Mackerel Pâté 44
Roasted Red Pepper, Leek and Soft Farmhouse Cheese Terrine 46
Cheesy Lemon Cups with Garlic Herb Oil 50
Smoked-Salmon Roll Salad 52
Tomato, Yoghurt and Lemon-and-Chilli Pesto Pots with Flattened Toasted Herb Ciabatta 54
Farmhouse Soups: My Favourite Soups 57
How to … Make Great Vegetable and Chicken Stock 58
Duo of Soups - Beetroot and Jerusalem Artichoke with Bacon 60
Sorrel, Wild Garlic and Potato Soup 62
Curried Mussel Soup 64
Shallot, Spinach and Barley Soup 66
Kale, Cannellini and Potato Soup 68
Fresh Catch: Fish Mains 71
How to … Cook Fish 72
Tomato Haddock with Asparagus and Prosciutto 76
Baked Trout with Fennel, Lime and Wasabi Cream Sauce 78
Smoked Salmon and Salmon Fish Cakes 79
Baked Oysters with Bacon 82
The Murrough Posh Fish Pie 84
Irish Seafood Risotto 86
Of Pastures Fair: Meaty Mains 89
How to … Cook Meal 90
Herby Parmesan-Encrusted Rack of Wicklow Lamb with Plum Salsa 94
Leg of Wicklow Lamb with Moroccan Mint Jelly and Shallot and Red Wine Gravy 96
Lamb Wellington with Wild Garlic 100
Wicklow Lamb Steak with Wild Leaves, Mushrooms and a Blackberry Dressing 102
Chicken Supreme with Spinach and Herb Stuffing and Sorrel Cream Sauce 104
Italian-Style Tomato, Shallot and Rosemary Chicken Hotpot 106
Sicilian Lemony Roast Chicken and Potatoes 108
Wicklow Wolf Braised Beef 110
Beef and Stout Pies with Potato Pastry Topping 112
Peppered Sirloin Steak with Whiskey Cream Sauce 115
Rosemary, Apple and Celery-Stuffed Pork Chops with Apple Cider Sauce 116
Stuffed Date and Hazelnut Pork Fillet with Creamy Mushroom and Pink Peppercorn Sauce 118
Ham Croquettes with Leek and Paprika Sauce 120
Rosemary Venison with Shallot and Red Wine Sauce 122
Five-Spice Seared Duck Breasts with Honey and Raspberry Sauce and Wilted Pak Choi and Spring Onions 124
Winter Rabbit Casserole 126
The Great Veg Plot: Sides and Salads 129
How to … Make the Most of Vegetables 130
Ballyknocken Dauphinoise 134
Mustard and Spinach Mash 135
Garlic and Rosemary Roast Potatoes 136
Polenta and Parsley Chunky Parsnips 138
Cauliflower Cheese Bake 140
Honey, Red Wine and Juniper Red Cabbage 141
Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Wild Garlic Sauce 144
Pan-Fried Rainbow Chard with Garlic and Blue Cheese 146
Beetroot and Prosciutto Salad with Orange Dressing 148
Mint, Artichoke and Broad Bean Salad with Herb Dressing 150
Chargrilled Courgette Salad with Crumbled Black Pudding and Chilli Sauce 151
Mangetout, Wicklow Blue Cheese and Borage Flower Salad with Strawberry Dressing 154
Shallot and Pear Tarte Tatin 156
Individual Tomato and Basil Summer Puddings 158
Fresh From The Garden: Accompaniments and Preserves 161
How to … Plant a Micro Herb Garden 162
Herb Syrups 166
Chocolate Mint Liqueur 168
Catherine's Favourite Pesto 169
Herb Salts 170
How to … Make Great Jam 172
Strawberry and Balsamic Jam 176
Apple Jelly 178
Ballyknocken's Famous Rhubarb and Ginger Jam 179
Cinnamon Pear Preserve 180
Plum and Red Onion Chutney 182
Marsala Pear Relish 183
On The Sweeter Side: Cakes and Desserts 185
Mary's Eve's Pudding with Lemon Verbena Cream 186
Elderflower Fritters 187
Chocolate Mousse Cake 188
Very Berry Pannacotta Tart 190
Mini Strawberry and Lemon Éclairs 192
The Perfect Fools' - Gooseberry and Elderflower and Blackcurrant and Rosemary 194
'To Die For' Lemon Meringue Pie 198
Prosecco, Lemon Balm and Blueberry Jellies 200
Blackberry and Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake 202
Wicklow Summer Pudding 204
Harvest Times: Breads and Baking 207
Ballyknocken Soda Seed Bread 208
Soda Earls 209
Mary's Brown Bread 210
Lemonade, White Chocolate and Fraughan Scones 212
Caramelised Onion and Leek Scones 216
Oaty Chive Biscuits 217
Aunty Trina's Tea Brack 218
Churn It Up: Milk and Cheese 221
How to … Make Yoghurt and Butter 222
Three Flavoured Butters 224
Three Yoghurt Dressings 225
Apricot and Lemon Balm Yoghurt Cake 226
A Celebratory Cheese Cake 228
Cheeseboard Essentials 230
Farmhouse Festivities: Christmas at Ballyknocken 233
Ballyknocken Bay, Thyme and Cranberry Christmas Turkey with Bacon Stuffing Balls 234
Festive Baked Ham 238
Individual Black Forest Trifles 242
Ginger and Orange Christmas Pudding 244
Index 250
