Month: March 2007

German Butcher, Killarney

German Butcher, Killarney Anyone visiting or living in the Killarney area would do well to seek out the German Butcher Shop in Aghadoe (halfway up the hill on the road to Milltown). That is, if you’re not already one of their many happy customers. It’s the kind of place you’re most happy to have in your life.

Besides all sorts of meats, including Killarney Park venison, they have an interesting array of German foods that are not so readily obtainable. For people like me, with a serious sweet tooth, they have a tantalising selection of German biscuits and chocolates…

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The Season’s First Kerry Calf

Kerry Cow Calf One of my favourite times of year in Kerry is the Spring, when all the calves and lambs appear and start hopping around the fields. There’s something inspiring about the emergence of new life after a bleak Irish winter.

Kerry Calf and CowThis morning, I had a text from Colm, the farmer who supplies us with Kerry Cow milk, saying that the first of his Kerry cows had just given birth, and I decided to go out and meet the little fellow and his mom, who will soon be improving our ice cream with her milk. (It’s amazing what a difference it makes).

Given that the Kerry Cow breed is under threat (only 277 were born in 2006), seeing a healthy new calf certainly brings me a lot of joy. It’s a shame he wasn’t born a she, but that’s the way of things.

Kerry Cow, Calf and Farmer

I think Colm can’t quite understand my excitement about being on the farm and seeing the animals.

For a former New Yorker like me, however, there is little that is as exotic and filled with magic as a trip to his farm, especially when there is a brand new calf and the promise of the wonderful milk from its mother…

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Coconut and Rum Ice Cream

Coconut Rum Ice Cream We have a new restaurant customer in Dun Laoghaire, the Gastro Pub, and they requested a coconut ice cream. Being a big fan of alcohol in ice cream, and given that coconut can be overpowered in the mix, I suggested a coconut and Malibu rum ice cream. The recipe is below if you like things coconut…

Murphys Coconut and Rum Ice Cream
1 Cup (237ml) Sugar
5 Egg Yolks
3/4 Cups (175ml) Cream
3/4 Cups (175ml) Coconut milk
3/4 Cups (175ml) Desiccated (dried and shredded) coconut
1 1/8 Cups(266ml) Milk
4 tbs. (65ml) Malibu Rum
1 tbs. (15ml) Lemon Juice

Malibu RumYield: 6 Servings

What to do:

1. Beat the sugar and egg yolks together until thick and pale yellow.

2. Bring the milk to a simmer.

3. Beat the milk into the eggs and sugar in a slow stream.

4. Pour the mixture back into pan and place over low heat. Add the coconut milk.

5. Stir until the custard thickens slightly (around 70C). Use a thermometer, as at 75C the eggs will scramble!

6. Refrigerate over night.

Dessicated Coconut, Toasted7. Toast the desiccated coconut over medium heat in a dry saucepan, stirring all the time, until they turn a golden colour. Allow to cool.

8. Stir the toasted coconut, rum and the lemon into the refrigerated custard.

9. Whip the cream and gently fold in the custard.

10. Freeze using a domestic ice cream machine, or cover and place in the freezer.

Notes:

1. Coconut milk has all different strengths, so taste it and make sure you’re happy with the flavour. You can always add a bit more, but remember there will be more coconut flavour coming from the desiccated coconut and rum.

2. To pasteurise the eggs, heat the custard to 73C and keep at that temperature for three minutes. Use a cooking thermometer, though, and keep stirring! If the custard goes any higher than 76C, the eggs will scramble. Immediately cover and place in the freezer until cool.

3. I haven’t tested this recipe for home use, so I would be delighted for any feedback…

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A Bit of Publicity

Radio Ice Cream Ireland I’m still on a bit of a buzz from the awards in Dublin, and it’s been good publicity for us. Today there was an article in the Irish Times, and tonight I’ll be on the Right Hook on Newstalk 106 sometime between 6:30 and 7:00 if you want to have a listen…

Now I must catch up on the real business of ice cream!

Ice Cream Ireland Scoops Two Awards

Irish Blog Awards I’m delighted to announce that we have come back from Dublin with two awards from the Irish Blog Awards – Best Business Blog and Best Specialist Blog. Thanks again to everyone who voted in the first round, to the judges, the sponsors, the organisers, and to all our readers and customers.

Rick O'SheaIt was a good night. Rick O’Shea did a great job as MC, and of course Damien pulled the whole thing off with style. The best moment for me was when Bernie Goldbach pressed his award on Damien, who certainly deserves acclamation. Pure class.

I enjoyed meeting fellow bloggers, including the nominees for the business award who were very gracious and definitely worth keeping an eye on. Krishna De, by the way, has posted the podcast of all of us here.

Others I finally met were Conor O’Neill (congrats!), Copernicus, Winds and Breezes, Vals Kitchen, Keith, and more…

Congratulations to all of the winners and all of the nominees.

I wish my brother had been along, because he would have enjoyed it. Besides, Sean is much more outgoing than I, and I’m sure we would have met many more people! My mother was kind enough to join me, and I thank her for it…

Lunar EclipseI was tired from all the travel and didn’t stay very late. However, when leaving, we had a good look at the lunar eclipse. I didn’t have at all the right camera or lens, but this will give you an idea if you missed it.

It seemed a perfect way to end the evening, standing outside the hotel in the middle of Dublin with a big group of other bloggers, watching the moon disappear…

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Get the Scoop

Coffee Cone Microphone For anyone interested and near their radio, I will be on Drivetime with Dave Fanning on RTE Radio 1 this evening some time between 7-8pm talking about the Irish Blog Awards and ice cream.

(You can listen to the show here if you missed it. Damien Mulley is also on…)

This morning, I took part in my first ever podcast with the other finalists for the Business blogging award. It was organised by Krishna of Biz Growth News. I will post a link for it when it becomes available…

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Ice Cream Helps Fertility?

Pregnant Mom Sky News covered a story yesterday that’s been going around the media: ice cream can help women conceive. The study, done by Harvard School of Public Health nurses, involved 18,555 women, aged 24 to 42, with no history of infertility.

(My mother, shown pregnant with my brother Sean above, was not part of the study, but certainly favoured her ice cream!)

Researcher Dr Jorge Chavarro said those wishing to get pregnant “should consider changing low-fat dairy foods for high-fat dairy foods; for instance, by swapping skimmed milk for whole milk and eating ice cream, not low fat yoghurt.”

I always knew that ice cream could make you happy and relaxed, and that it’s a great addition to a romantic evening in, but this is good news indeed! I look forward to meeting some Murphys Ice Cream babies (if there aren’t some out there already)!

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