Not a proper food post, just wanted to share a couple of wonderful discoveries for any ex-pats missing a taste of home.
Aldi is doing some sort of "America Week"; featuring such delicacies as real Marshmallow Fluff, knock off Cinnamon Toast Crunch, proper fake maple pancake syrup, giant pretzels and best of all Libby's Canned Pumpkin.
Now there is no point going to the Aldi in Westside for the canned pumpkin as I believe I bought them out of it last night. 24 cans of pumpkiny goodness all for me.
I love canned pumpkin and it was one of my pantry staples in the States. It may not seem like that versatile a food, but for all you skeptics out there I can tell you it is one of the best healthy convenience staples to have in your pantry. Stir it into pasta sauces for an added bit of veg, mix with yogurt and pie spice mix for a delicious breakfast or snack, mix with black beans, stock and spices for a great soup, mix with milk, onions and spices for soup, mix with re-fried beans for a healthy kick, and of course there are all the Ahmazing desserts involving pumpkin. Nom, nom, nom. It is almost impossible to find in Ireland, as understandably pumpkin is not exactly a staple of the Irish diet. I can normally only find it at specialty grocers for a ridiculous mark-up. Being still on somewhat of a student budget, that just is not a purchase I can justify, but 1.49 per can, though still more expensive than the States, is a delicious and affordable taste of home. (For the record, I am not some sort of crazy hoarder, and I do not normally purchase items in bulk).
Also, for anyone who is a fan of sweetened flaked coconut, which you cannot find in Ireland at all, Aroma, also in Westside stocks like 5 lb bags of the stuff. I had never ventured out to Aroma in which is sad because it is about 30 minutes away from my house, but let me tell you in tiny Galway that feels like FOREVER! I finally went yesterday, and was pleased to find it is stocked the brim with more exotic and delicious noms. It stocks more Southern Asian cuisine than the Asian markets I am familiar with, so a lot of ingredients that I don't have the foggiest idea how to use. But, I did buy a ridiculously large bag of Bombay Spice Snack Mix for less than they sell a tiny bag in Dunnes, Rose Syrup, which though sweet is divine with sliced cucumber, soda water and gin, Lychee soda, Wholewheat roti (which to my uncultured palate are essentially the same thing as tortillas and are a fraction of the cost of tortillas) and bulk spices. Definitely worth a visit to stock up on dry ingredients.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Local Goodness
One of the best tips for living the champagne life style on a beer budget came from my Mom. She always says you could treat yourself to whatever you wanted at the grocery store, because even if you bought the most expensive thing there it was unlikely to break the bank.
Galway is the perfect place to put this philosophy into practice. One of my favorite aspects of life in Galway is the constant fixture of food markets. There is the weekly market by St. Nicholas's Church, a great place to scout out organic veg., olives, homemade doughnuts and the best Matar Paneer I've ever had courtesy of the Harri Krishna run Govinda's food truck. If you don't mind a little hippie with your Indian food it's well worth getting it just to listen to the conversations of the other people waiting in line. Last week I got to listen to a very serious conversation about the huge amount of radiation you are exposed to when you fly, and that it should be avoided at all costs. I wish someone had told me this before I moved to an island :)
At regular intervals throughout the year Galway is also host to a number of artisan food markets full of to die for fudge, sushi, bread, and my absolute favorite home made jams, condiments and marmalade. The best of the bunch, in my opinion is Memory Lane http://www.bluebellcottageireland.com/
Their Rhubarb Ginger jam has changed my life. I am sure it is simple enough to make if I put my mind to it, but for around 3euro I can my very own jar that I don't have to make myself. It is absolutely divine paired with Brie, Camembert or Goats Cheese and served on oatcakes. My new favy snack for when I am a bit peckish in the afternoons. It's the perfect consistency,. which can be difficult to find in homemade jams and the ginger adds just the right amount of spice and complexity.
In other news, I am moving to a proper town house. This means I can finally unpack and get to cooking. The house is conveniently located within 5 minutes of Lidl, Tesco and Aldi. So watch this space for actual cooking posts, complemented by actual photographs if I can find the battery charger for my camera.
Galway is the perfect place to put this philosophy into practice. One of my favorite aspects of life in Galway is the constant fixture of food markets. There is the weekly market by St. Nicholas's Church, a great place to scout out organic veg., olives, homemade doughnuts and the best Matar Paneer I've ever had courtesy of the Harri Krishna run Govinda's food truck. If you don't mind a little hippie with your Indian food it's well worth getting it just to listen to the conversations of the other people waiting in line. Last week I got to listen to a very serious conversation about the huge amount of radiation you are exposed to when you fly, and that it should be avoided at all costs. I wish someone had told me this before I moved to an island :)
At regular intervals throughout the year Galway is also host to a number of artisan food markets full of to die for fudge, sushi, bread, and my absolute favorite home made jams, condiments and marmalade. The best of the bunch, in my opinion is Memory Lane http://www.bluebellcottageireland.com/
Their Rhubarb Ginger jam has changed my life. I am sure it is simple enough to make if I put my mind to it, but for around 3euro I can my very own jar that I don't have to make myself. It is absolutely divine paired with Brie, Camembert or Goats Cheese and served on oatcakes. My new favy snack for when I am a bit peckish in the afternoons. It's the perfect consistency,. which can be difficult to find in homemade jams and the ginger adds just the right amount of spice and complexity.
In other news, I am moving to a proper town house. This means I can finally unpack and get to cooking. The house is conveniently located within 5 minutes of Lidl, Tesco and Aldi. So watch this space for actual cooking posts, complemented by actual photographs if I can find the battery charger for my camera.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Guest Chef or why Cream is the Best Sometimes Food Ever
Well, as I am only two posts in and have yet to actually post anything I've cooked I suppose a more appropriate title will be only chef.
Today, Sam being the domestic goddess he is prepared his delicious seafood pasta. This is a simple, quick, high salt, high calorie dish, so contains pretty much everything I consider essential in a good meal. Ingredients are simple and amounts aren't set in stone so add in whatever seafood is in season, or some veggies if you are a better person than I. It does taste lovely with some fresh tomatoes thrown in at the last second, but Sam considers that an abomination, so the recipe below is the dish in it's purest form. This is not for everyday, but is a great special treat and tastes exactly like something you would order at a restaurant, I believe this is largely due to the copious amounts of cream used.
I never cooked with cream until I met Sam, and oh my goodness it has changed my life. I never understood why food at restaurants always had a creamy rich goodness that I could just not achieve a home. Then I realised that goodness, was in fact, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SATURATED FAT in the form of cream. To off set the ridiculous unhealthiness of this meal Sam uses (at my insistence) whole wheat pasta. Tastes just as good and makes it that tiny bit healthier.
This is also the dish that wholly converted me to the ridiculous amazingness of Le Creuset, you need to use much less oil as the ceramic is naturally non-stick.
Sam's Spectacular Seafood Pasta
1 package whole wheat pasta
1.5 cups of cream
2 large yellow onions
5 cloves garlic
1 package smoke salmon
1 package mixed seafood (prawns, squid and mussels)
1 dash of soy sauce
1 dash of olive oil
First chop your yellow onions. The smaller you cut tme, the faster they cook.
Heat pan on the stove. When hot (you can tell this by dropping water and the pan, if it sizzles it is ready to rock n' roll) add just a dash of oil and chopped onion.
Cook onion till it is soft and clear, but not quite caramelized.
Add in the garlic and pour in cream.
Keep simmering at low medium heat, this reduces down the liquid in the cream and ensures a thick, rich sauce.
While your cream is reducing you can start cooking your pasta.
Add just a dash of soy sauce (this may seem ridiculously salty, but just dash adds so much dimension to the flavour).
Chop your smoked salmon into thick rough portions. The salmon will naturally fall apart and you want it to retain some of its shape. Open you pack of prepped seafood if you are lazy an on a budget like us, or prepare whatever delicious fresh delicacy your bought for the occasion.
Right before you are ready to serve add seafood and salmon. Cook it just long enough to ensure seafood (if your using raw) is cooked. If you over cook, the seafood can get tough. The dish is still delicious, but not as delicious as it could be :)
Pour pasta into the pan and stir to coat the pasta with the cream sauce.
Enjoy!
Today, Sam being the domestic goddess he is prepared his delicious seafood pasta. This is a simple, quick, high salt, high calorie dish, so contains pretty much everything I consider essential in a good meal. Ingredients are simple and amounts aren't set in stone so add in whatever seafood is in season, or some veggies if you are a better person than I. It does taste lovely with some fresh tomatoes thrown in at the last second, but Sam considers that an abomination, so the recipe below is the dish in it's purest form. This is not for everyday, but is a great special treat and tastes exactly like something you would order at a restaurant, I believe this is largely due to the copious amounts of cream used.
I never cooked with cream until I met Sam, and oh my goodness it has changed my life. I never understood why food at restaurants always had a creamy rich goodness that I could just not achieve a home. Then I realised that goodness, was in fact, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SATURATED FAT in the form of cream. To off set the ridiculous unhealthiness of this meal Sam uses (at my insistence) whole wheat pasta. Tastes just as good and makes it that tiny bit healthier.
This is also the dish that wholly converted me to the ridiculous amazingness of Le Creuset, you need to use much less oil as the ceramic is naturally non-stick.
Sam's Spectacular Seafood Pasta
1 package whole wheat pasta
1.5 cups of cream
2 large yellow onions
5 cloves garlic
1 package smoke salmon
1 package mixed seafood (prawns, squid and mussels)
1 dash of soy sauce
1 dash of olive oil
First chop your yellow onions. The smaller you cut tme, the faster they cook.
Heat pan on the stove. When hot (you can tell this by dropping water and the pan, if it sizzles it is ready to rock n' roll) add just a dash of oil and chopped onion.
Cook onion till it is soft and clear, but not quite caramelized.
Add in the garlic and pour in cream.
Keep simmering at low medium heat, this reduces down the liquid in the cream and ensures a thick, rich sauce.
While your cream is reducing you can start cooking your pasta.
Add just a dash of soy sauce (this may seem ridiculously salty, but just dash adds so much dimension to the flavour).
Chop your smoked salmon into thick rough portions. The salmon will naturally fall apart and you want it to retain some of its shape. Open you pack of prepped seafood if you are lazy an on a budget like us, or prepare whatever delicious fresh delicacy your bought for the occasion.
Right before you are ready to serve add seafood and salmon. Cook it just long enough to ensure seafood (if your using raw) is cooked. If you over cook, the seafood can get tough. The dish is still delicious, but not as delicious as it could be :)
Pour pasta into the pan and stir to coat the pasta with the cream sauce.
Enjoy!
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Mexican arrives in Galway.
Well ladies and gents it seems Galway is finally getting an upgrade to its offering of Mexican food. La Salsa, long the standby and essentially the only option for cheap quick Mexican food is being upstaged by a new arrival http://www.boojummex.com/. As an American with a serious addiction to proper Mexican food I am delighted to find that my options are broadening in Galway. Though not as good as proper American Mexican or even the best proper Mexican Mexican, it is a step in the right direction. Boojum is more Chipotle than http://www.taco-bus.com, it still does a pretty savage barbacoa. Just in time for summer, let the celebration being with cerveza and burritos. Maybe this is a foretelling of things to come, with Tesco now stocking some halfway decent mole paste, and tomatillos showing up in Dublin. This gringa has her fingers crossed.
The only downside to this development is the ridiculous closing time of 6pm on a Sunday. Surely sunny summer sundays in Galway were made specifically for nomming on food, drinking beer and sitting out by the river.
The only downside to this development is the ridiculous closing time of 6pm on a Sunday. Surely sunny summer sundays in Galway were made specifically for nomming on food, drinking beer and sitting out by the river.
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