Farmleigh Fast Food

Went to the farmers market at www.Farmliegh.ie yesterday - obviously we await the pounds piling on because we ate our way around whilst waiting for the childrens book readings and watching the polish acrobats (the stilt walkers were the best) .

Our eat-out started (unconventially enough) with ice-cream from cashel, three slices of cake from Ina's Kitchen (I remember know how nice it was having them in Terenure!) Chocolate crepes, followed by shares of Chicken & Leek pie and a fish cake with chutney & salsa dips respectively. As if that were not enough we also bought a very nicely cooked burger with all the extras, washed down with fresh coffee and freebies of iced water from the resturant.

We spotted the fabulous Miriam of Olvi Oil (Red Pesto being my all time favouite from her reportiore) but despite sample many of them we were just too stuffed to buy any - sorry Miriam next time obviously!

Aunty Mary’s Lemon Chicken with Roast Potatoes

Serves 4

1 Chicken cut into small joints
1 tsp Rock Salt
Olive Oil
3 Cloves Garlic
2 Lemons
1lb Potatoes


Method

Mix lemon juice, oil & salt. Pour over the chicken joints and allow to stand for 24hrs covered in the fridge. Take chicken out 1 hour before cooking. Peel and par boil the potatoes –allow to cool.

Put oven on high 200C. Place chicken joints and potatoes on cooking tray – and cook for 20-25 minutes until chicken and potatoes are crisp and golden.

Serve hot with a green side salad

Connie Onnie’s Salsa Dressing

Connie Onnie’s Salsa Dressing

This dressing is great served with grilled meats or fish. You can make it by hand or use a small food processor, blitzing with oil first!

You will Need
½ cup parsley leaves 1tbsp small capers
½ cup basil leaves ¼ cup snipped chives
½ cup mint leaves 1 spring onion
¼ cup chervil leaves 4 fluid oz virgin olive oil
¼ cup tarragon leaves 1tsp whole grain mustard
3 cornichons Zest & Juice of 1 Lemon

Prep the Herbs
Supermarket herbs are usually sold washed but those bought in the farmers market will probably contain the odd twig or insect! Fill a deep bowl with cool water and plunge the herbs, holding the stalks. Drain in a colander; gently pat them dry in a tea towel before chopping.

Method
Roughly chop parsley, basil, mint, chervil & tarragon
Roughly chop cornichons and capers
Put in a bowl with chives, spring onion, oil, mustard lemon zest and mix together
Stir in lemon juice and season to taste
Leave the salsa to sit for at least 30mins at room temperature for the flavours to develop

Connie Onnie’s Choc Chip Cookies

Real chocolate chip cookies are chewy on the inside and crunchy around the edges.

Makes 30:
5oz butter at room temperauture
1tsp salt
8 ½ oz Brown Sugar (Soft)
1-2 eggs
8oz Plain White Flour
1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
4 oz Mixed Nuts
8 ½ oz Good Quality Dark Chocolate

Method
Place butter and sugar ina mixing bowl and beat until smooth & creamy.Add salt and mix well
Add the eggs and mix for a futher 3 minutes
Add flour , soda, nuts and chocolate, mix for 2/3 minutes
Shape the dough into a ball. On a sheet of parchment roll into a sausage shape of about 6cm. Wrap in cling film and put in the fridge for 2 hours
Heat Oven to 180C gas mark 4, cut into 1cm slices, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 mins approx, allow to cool on a rack.