Instagram Inspiration

How cute are these mini biscuit cake puddings from @hawthornbakehouse?

Chef Alison Gorman returned to her home place in Co Sligo to start her bakery and now offers nationwide delivery on her tasty-looking treats.

We can always count on her Instagram feed to provide some gooey, chocolatey, sweet inspiration in the lead-up to the holidays.

Rural Rhymes

Sammy the Snail

Sammy the snail lives in his little round house

In a little habitat surrounded by rock

Says he, “I carry my house wherever I go”

Others in the garden say it’s slowly, slowly, slowly, I go

But I am happy to carry my little house slowly with me

To view all the sites in this magical place

At night I can crawl on the glistening grass so green

While the night rain washes my little house so clean.

I look up at the twinkling stars, and the bright shining moon.

Then my little round house & I slowly, slowly, slowly, go

Back to my little habitat surrounded by rock

Where I curl up in my house and slowly, slowly, slowly, fall asleep.

Written by Marie McGauran; published in the children’s book Stones and Stories: Poems and Tales from a Hidden Burren (read more here)

Tweet of the Week

Photo of the Week

One-year-old Giorgia Savage from Tralee, Co Kerry, getting all the farming news with her grandad Michael.

Number of the Week

30,000 – The amount, in euros, billed by a solicitor to a reader for handling the transfer of the family farm. Agri solicitor Aisling Meehan answers if this is reasonable or excessive.

Home management tip with Katherine O’Leary

Planning the Christmas dinner

There is no need to stress over the Christmas dinner! Count the number of guests. Make a plan and write down everything that you are going to cook and serve.Then working from the menu; make the shopping list. Are the turkey and ham ordered? Decide when and who will collect them. Think about the things you can have ready beforehand so as to free up time and allow you to enjoy the preparation. Breadcrumbs or mashed potato for the stuffing can be done this week and frozen. If the family like desserts; choose ones that can be made and stored or frozen. Get the glasses, ware and cutlery organised. Write down plans for Christmas eve and Christmas morning. Make step by step detailed action plans. Include everything and delegate who is responsible. Then follow your plans and enjoy cooking with your family.

Quote of the Week

From Ciara Leahy on reviewing the Peppa Pig children’s books:

There is a bit of passive aggressive tension between Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig about how much stuff to pack on their holiday but Mummy’s overpacking saves the day at the end, which will keep parents mildly entertained as they read the book for the 100th time