Wednesday 29 February 2012

Love Irish!

I love being Irish! It's just something about it I love! So considering this is my first proper post I decided to go with a cookbook from one of Ireland's famous chefs - Rachel Allen. The book is her latest 'Easy Meals' and I'm big into it at the moment for one reason and one reason only... it does exactly what it says on the tin! All the recipes are so easy and quick and  not to mention DELICIOUS! From 'Spiced Baked Eggs' to, one of my all time favorites,  'Chocolate Croissant Bread and Butter Pudding'. Yum!





Tonight I decided to go with her 'Bacon and Potato Gratin'.




This turned out great... however I did half the recipe because there was only three of us eating it. Oh and I love food so we also had chargrilled chicken breast and buttered chantenay carrots. Extra Yum!


So it went a little something like this:


2 tbsp olive oil
375g (13oz) bacon - diced (I used rashers) - Was also thinking would chorizo be good as a subsitute??
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
1 tbsp chopped thyme leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1kg(2lb 3oz) potatoes, peeled and sliced 5mm thick
300ml(1/2 pint) single or regular cream
50g(2oz) gruyere or chedder cheese, grated


You will need a 2 litre(31/2 pint) gratin or ovenproof dish - and please note the recipe here service 6 - 8 people.


  • Preheat oven to 200degrees C, 400 degrees F, gas mark 6
  • Heat olive oil  in frying pan, when hot add the bacon and fry for 5 minutes or until crispy. Stir in onions, garlic and thyme then season. ( I only used the black pepper as the bacon was pretty salty). Cook for a further 6 -8 mins or until the onion is soft and slightly golden.

  • Take off the heat and leave to the side while preparing the potatoes in the dish. Arrange half the spuds in the dish, season, then spread the cooked bacon and onion. Add the remaining potatoes and season again. (I added a bit of cheese in the middle with the bacon/onion mix which turned out very tasty).
  • Pour over the cream. Add the grated cheese and cover with foil. Put into oven. 





  • Bake for 45 mins, remove foil and return to oven for about 30 - 35 mins or until lightly browned and crispy on top



Ok so that's all for today ... any tips or ideas are more than welcome because i am a newbie at this!!! And would love the feedback!

Happy cooking everyone,
Love em.x

Tuesday 28 February 2012

My Addiction!

Just a quick little intro to let you know what this blog is all about!
Well as it says in the title I have too many cookbooks... it is an addiction! It's the only way to describe it!
My kitchen looks a little something like this...




I will get a picture of my actual collect posted!


 Hold on let me get back to the start. My name is Emma and i have no training in cooking or baking but I LOVE cookbooks and basically any type of recipe i can find. These can come from anywhere! My latest find was a delicious Butternut Squash soup which i found a recipe for in a magazine in my doctors waiting room... of course i pulled it out and brought it home...sshhh!


So my mission for this blog is to try at least one recipe a day and tell ye all about, however good, bad or ugly it turns out!


So watch this space... if all goes as plan i will have my first recipe with pics up tomorrow! Yay!


Love Em.x