Winter Berry Trifle With Crème De Cassis

Ultimate winter berry Christmas pudding — winter berries simmered with sweet crème de cassis and layered on Madeira cake, followed by custard whipped with silky mascarpone and lastly topped with softly whipped cream — heaven!

Recipe, dessertsClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Christmas, Winter

Baked Apples With Dates, Honey & Spices Served With Vanilla Custard

This autumnal treat seems to have fallen out of favour in most restaurants and home kitchens. But I think it’s worth reviving, as these baked beauties take little effort and are eternally comforting when the weather reminds us of the demise of summer.

Recipe, dessertsClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Winter, Autumn, Christmas

Sweet Potato Dumpling With Sage Butter Sauce

Hearty Sweet Potato Dumplings with Sage Butter. The rich salted butter mixed with woody sage makes a flavourful sauce to pour over the dumplings. An ideal dish for a late-summer family meal.

Recipe, Vegetarian, SupperClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Vegetarian, Autumn

Quick Coffee-Chocolate Mousse

This is my go-to dessert when I have very little time to make anything, but I still want to give everyone a treat. These take just 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to chill, and you can make them a day ahead.

Recipe, dessertsClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Spring, Winter

Irish Cream Liquor Chocolate Truffles

Fresh Chocolate Truffles dipped in raw coconut flakes; pistachio & cranberries; and the third simply in cocoa powder. SO incredible simple to make. I love serving these instead of dessert followed by a hero farmhouse cheese.

Recipe, desserts, ChristmasClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Christmas, St. Patrick's Day, Irish

Roast Tarragon Chicken with Mushroom Risotto

This is my favorite way to cook and serve roast chicken during the fall. The tarragon adds a delicious sweet flavor, mixed with the spicy Dijon mustard and aromatic garlic. The risotto is creamy, so there is no need for a sauce. It’s an ideal supper for a cozy evening at home.

Recipe, LunchClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Autumn, fish, Summer

Spiced Mezze Falafel Bowls

I adore this vegetarian bowl of Middle Eastern flavours! Couscous brightened up with fresh herbs, zesty lemon and pops of pomegranates to add juiciness and sweetness. The falafels are so easy to make just pop all the ingredients in a food processor and whizz them up , and shape into patties. I love the aromatic spices in the falafels, bringing exotic flavours to the bowl. Finished off with a drizzle of creamy rich tahini dressing is absolutely delicious!

Recipe, Vegetarian, SupperClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Autumn, Winter

Lamb Chops with Crushed Peas, Mint Jus & Pan-fried Potatoes

I just love a juicy lamb chop! My recipe is a classic, as that’s how I like them best. I always have frozen peas in the freezer and a few potatoes lying around, so it makes this whole dish very easy. If you want to jazz it up a bit, you can add crushed fennel to the lamb chops, or cream up your frozen peas by whizzing them with crème fraîche, lime and coriander. A couple of tips for the lamb chops to keep them juicy – remove them from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking and be careful not to overcook them. They should still be pink on the inside.

Recipe, Lunch, SupperClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Autumn, Lamb

Marsala & Star Anise Poached Pears

Marsala wine is a must for your pantry as it's so good for poaching fruit, adding a delicious rich sweetness.

Recipe, desserts, ChristmasClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Autumn, Christmas, Winter

Tiramisu

I think tiramisu has to be my all-time favourite dessert, and this is my top way to make it. I am not going to give any alternatives because, for me, adding fruit or flother flavours just takes away from this perfect pudding – creamy with thin layers of velvet chocolate and notes of coffee throughout.

Recipe, Christmas, dessertsClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Christmas, Dessert, Winter, Summer

Banana Bread

I love a good banana cake, but can’t stand those dull variations with little to no flavour. A good one has to be made with overripe bananas, otherwise that taste gets lost. In fact, this is a fantastic way to use up bananas that have blackened.

Recipe, desserts, BakingClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Spring, Winter, Baking Cake

Creamy Polenta with Green Vegetables & Gremolata

Polenta has the same comforting effect as mashed potatoes and the vibrant gremolata really livens up the dish with its freshness.

Recipe, Supper, VegetarianClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Autumn

Affogato With Rich Chocolate & Zesty Peel

This recipe is incredibly simple to put together — perfect if you just need something easy to serve. The sauce can be made in the morning, so all that needs to be done is to scoop the ice cream and pour the sauce on top, at the table.

Recipe, desserts, ChristmasClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Winter

Herby Chicken Kiev

A fresh chicken breast filled with beautiful fresh herbs, garlic and good-quality butter, dipped in fresh breadcrumbs and cheddar and fried in clean oil is sensational. Biting into a cheesy crumb with a gorgeous crispy texture, then into juicy meat oozing in melting herb garlic butter, is so delicious and nothing like the frozen Eighties version that chicken Kiev has become associated with.

Recipe, SupperClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Summer, Father's Day

Green Thai Curry, Coconut Rice & Cucumber Salad

Packed with vegetables and steaming with traditional Thai flavours, I’ve put a twist on classic Thai green curry.

Recipe, SupperClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Cooking With The Stars, Fish, Autumn, Curry

CHICKEN, TARRAGON AND MUSHROOM PIE

It’s the weather that dictates what you crave for your supper, well at least it is for me. In these chilling evenings for me it’s comforting foods and even the word pie is comforting, with its crispy top and luscious creamy filling. Now the idea of making your own puff pastry may not lend itself to the appeal of making a pie, so I have made this pie with a readymade butter puff pastry.

Recipe, SupperClodagh McKenna31 December 2023Autumn