Cute Crochet

We’re big fans of crocheted wares and cute little animals, so when the two worlds collide together you know it’s going to be something special. Check out these tiny little creations from Su Ami. 

The Vietnamese crochet-ers must have the most nimble fingers to get such amazing detail in the tiny little animals. They make everything from a family of penguins, a whale or a piglet to a little monkey or even a billy goat! If you want to get one for yourself, check out their shop on Etsy here. 

Ripe for Picking

As we are well into September; it is only fitting that we use two of the month’s best produce: apples and blackberries! If you venture out you may spot some wild blackberries ripe for picking – or alternatively go to a local farm and pick your own! Some homemade blackberry ice-cream allows us to cling on the to the end of summer and the hot spiced apples in pastry give us the warming comfort that we need to adjust to the months ahead…

  

Ingredients

Makes 4 

  

For ice-cream

2 eggs

30g caster sugar

300ml double cream

300g blackberries

For apples in pastry

4 cooking apples

2 tsp unsalted butter

2 tbsp dark brown soft sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp flaked almonds

1 lime

300g puff pastry

1 egg

1 tbsp caster sugar

Method

For the ice-cream  *Warning: you will need to make this 24 hours in advance at least!*

-       Whisk together the eggs and sugar in one bowl and in another whisk the double cream until stiff peaks form

-       Pop the blackberries into a food processor until all the fruit is pureed

-       Combine the whisked eggs and sugar and cream in one bowl

-       Pour the puree into a fine mesh strainer and allow the juice to drain into the combined ice-cream mixture and push any remaining liquid through with a spoon

-       Mix together and put into a polythene container and freeze for 24 hours

For the apples in pastry

-       Peel apples and remove the core; rub the peeled apples in 1 tbsp of the dark soft sugar

-       Cream together the butter, the rest of the dark soft sugar, cinnamon, almonds and lime juice and put in each of the apple cores; then place them in the fridge to chill for an hour

-       Heat oven to 190 C

-       Roll out the pastry and cut into four squares and wrap around the apples separately

-       Mix the egg and caster sugar together and coat each apple in pastry with the glaze

-       Place in the oven for 35 – 40 minutes

-       Serve with a scoop of blackberry ice-cream and fresh blackberries – note: must be served hot!

-       Let the spice and warmth on your taste buds savour the sweet taste of early Autumn...

By Melodie Walter

Something for the Weekend

Whenever The Great British Bake Off returns to our screens, it gets us all excited about perfecting our pastries and encourages us to try out a new cake recipe.  And what better an occasion to celebrate dusting off the apron and wooden spoons than The Cake and Bake Show! The UK's first consumer baking exhibition will take place this weekend at Earls Court. Whether you need to stock up on bowls and whisks and want tips on perfecting your sponges, or if you are more of a taster than a baker, the event provides everything required for that perfect bake.  

Take a stroll down to The Marketplace where you can try and buy some freshly baked cakes and breads from some of the country's leading bakers.  Then head over to the Supplier Zone to pick up some tools of the trade, demonstrated by the exhibitors themselves.  When you are ready to get your hands dirty, The Classroom will be ready with classes on soda bread, sugarcraft, gluten-free baking and (the bakers nemesis) macaroons, to name but a few.  

Some well known names and faces of the baking industry will be showing off their skills in The Cake Kitchen and The Bakery.  Paul Hollywood will be revealing his secrets of the perfect loaf, Juliet Sear of Fancy Nancy cakes will be showing off her cake decorating skills and Great British Bake Off winners Jo Wheatley and Edd Kimber will be showcasing us why they were such deserved champions.

All the baking can get quite exhausting after a while, so you may wish to head over to The Tea Room Garden and enjoy a relaxing cuppa.  And if you haven't already eaten too much by that point, they will be serving a wide selection of cakes, scones and sandwiches, all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.  Well, since it's for a good cause...

If you can't wait that long to sample the baking goodies, then why not try this recipe for Perfect Whipped Buttercream Cupcakes by speaker Juliet Sear to get you in the mood...

By Eve Hegarty

Heathers

We embrace an Irish twosome whose musical sounds and delights offer a bit of lilt, jilt and tilt! Let these wailing voices that belong to Heathers be of comfort to you this week. (Alas! We can no longer fight the Autumnal season and its undeniably colder weather).

Dublin twins, Ellie and Louise Macnamara are Heathers. Ellie sings and Louise plays the guitar and also does the vocals.They started writing their own music in 2007 and by 2008 had released their debut studio album Here, Not There. Just this month Heathers have released a second studio album, Kingdom!

Audible strumming guitar and two loud bewailing cries create emotional and compatible harmonies – not unlike indie duo Tegan and Sara. We love the abstract lyrics for Forget Me Knots. In particular, the lyrics “it’s alright not to feel okay” and “don’t lose sight of what’s to live for” are easy concepts to identify with – especially given the current economic, cultural and political climate.

Here is the video for Forget Me Knots – the song will instill a sense of freedom and care-free spirit to you whatever ‘yous’ are feeling…

They are next playing on September 26 at Dolan’s Warehouse in Limerick and their new album can be purchased on iTunes.

By Melodie Walter

Malibu Leche Rumba

Even a couple of weeks after Carnival, the fever is still with us at Cellardoor - check out our Malibu Rum Leche Cereza – a creamy vibrant cocktail that cannot fail to bring life and colour to the party – be it after work drinks or party o’clock these beauties bring the sunshine to you! 

 Ingredients 

 Malibu Rum (20 ml) 

 Milk (Fill coconut shell) 

 1 dessert spoonful of sugar 

 Garnish and decoration 

 Cherries Banana (sliced) 

 Cocktail stick 

 Straws 

 Umbrella 

 Empty coconut shell 

 Ice cube mould 

 Food colouring 

 Coconut chunks 

 Small bucket/holder 

 Method 

 * Warning: remember to make your ice-cubes the night before (!) 

 * Do this by filling each cube mould with chopped coconut or coconut flakes 

 * Then in a jug, fill it up with some water and put in a tiny drop of blue food colouring and mix together 

 * Pour into each cube 

 * Put into freezer over night 

 * Put the empty coconut shell in the bucket and make sure that it fits securely; you don’t want your drink to spill! 

 * To make the cocktail, pour in the Malibu Rum, then add the milk and sugar and mix well 

 * Pop a couple of slices of banana and two cherries on to a cocktail stick and place across the top of the coconut 'cup' 

 * Get the blue coconut ice-cubes out of the freezer and add into the drink 5 of them 

 * Add some straws and umbrellas (we made our own from cut out cardboard and attached it to the straw) 

 * Let the Malibu Rumba flow and welcome in your own carnival party mode!

By Melodie Walter

Time for Tea

With the third series of The Great British Bake Off well underway on BBC2, the pastime of making time for tea has never been more popular. 

If you’ve been inspired by what you’ve seen on the programme, then be sure to pick up the accompanying book, which promises to turn your everyday bakes into showstoppers, under the expert instruction of Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. With easy-to-follow recipes and lots of handy hints on perfecting the more technical elements of baking, it’s a failsafe guide on how to whip up a gourmet meringue, prove a perfect loaf and avoid the most dreaded baker’s downfall of all- the utterly terrifying soggy bottom! 

Once you’ve mastered an array of goodies, then your can turn your attention to presentation- which, as we all know from Mr. Hollywood is just as important as a good bake. With this in mind, here’s a look at some of the prettiest tea party pieces around:

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

So whether you’re attempting a tarte tatin, wrestling a rum baba recipe or just enjoying a good old fashioned cuppa, there’s no excuse not to do it in style. Happy baking!

By Sarah Farrell

Summer Sounds

We crave music that is pleasing to the ear, has a steady rhythm and chilled-out melodies that keep us in the mood for summer sounds - and luckily pop group Beach House can give us all of that!

French-born Victoria Legrand and Baltimore lad, Alex Scally are based in Baltimore, USA and have worked together since 2004. The duo have released four albums  - the critically-acclaimed Beach House in 2006, Devotion in 2008, Teen Dream in 2010 (which was more commercially successful) and their fourth album, Bloom, was released earlier this May.

They say that only having two members helps to create the simplicity and beauty of their music – and we agree – it is atmospherically sunshine!

Take a listen to the beautiful track Myth by Beach House.

 

If you like what you hear you can purchase their music from here.

By Melodie Walter