Kieran

New Words – Polski Sklep

Polski Sklep Shop Dingle There are mixed feelings in Ireland about the recent influx of immigration from foreign parts. I have to say I don’t share those mixed feelings. For me, it’s a good thing. After all, historically we had more of a problem with people leaving than in coming, and it’s great to see that we have the jobs not only to keep our own here, but to attract others as well. There is a need for labour, especially in the service industry. Although we always try to hire Irish when we can, we have had some excellent non-Irish team members from the EU and further afield and have been grateful for their service.

What really makes me excited, though, is the accompanying influx of cultural and culinary influences. Asian Market KillarneyWant some Polish pickles, sausages, or herring? There has been an explosion of Polish shops, and even Dingle has one now.

Craving galangal, fresh lemon grass, exotic noodles, extra hot chilli peppers, or African spices? There is probably an Asian market near you (Killarney has a great one).

It is such a joy to peruse offerings that, until recently, one could have only dreamed about. I suggest a visit for anyone who wants to broaden their culinary horizons. For me, always looking for ice cream ideas, it is an inspiration…

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Cardamom Honey Ice Cream

Honey Cardamom Moroccan Ice Cream This time last year, I was preparing to take two weeks holiday in Morocco. And what a lovely two weeks it was. In fact, this year, I am feeling nostalgic for the desert. Or was it dessert?

Most Moroccan desserts use a combination of the following flavours – almond, honey, cardamom and rose. I decided to make an ice cream using two of the above. I think it is quite a special flavour. Here it is:

Murphys Cardamom Honey Ice Cream
1 Cup (237ml) Sugar
5 Egg Yolks
1 1/8 Cups (266ml) Cream
1 1/8 Cups(266ml) Milk
2 tbs. (10g) Ground Cardamom
3 tbs. (65g) Honey

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

Honey Cardamom Ice Cream5. Stir in the honey and cardamom.

6. Refrigerate over night.

7. Pass the mix through a fine sieve to remove the cardamom bits.

8. Whip the cream.

9. Gently fold in the custard.

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

Notes:

1. Since it’s a mostly cold extraction with the cardamom, it will need a bit of time, so that’s why I have the mix rest over night.

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.

This is going off to Meeta as part of her Monthly Mingle…

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Rooibosch (Redbush) Tea

Rooibosch (Red bush) Tea We’ve decided this year to improve our tea selection in the shop, and yesterday I went to Munster Wholefoods and poked around their warehouse, looking for options. One of the things I came back with was organic Rooibosch tea (also called “Redbush” or “Rooibos”).

Tea setThis non-caffeinated tea originated in South Africa with the Khoisen tribe, who used it as a natural remedy. It’s from the red bush shrub (Aspalathus linearis) and was brought into Europe by the Dutch.

According to the BBC, it can help with headaches, colic, asthma, insomnia, eczema, etc. In South Africa, hospitals routinely give children with skin conditions a bath in the stuff as well as giving it to them to drink.

However, I’m not so interested in the bathing or medicinal properties. I think it’s a delightful drink. It has half the tannin as normal tea, which makes it less bitter, and it can be drunk with milk and sugar, lemon and honey, or straight up. If you want a cup of tea before bedtime, you don’t want the usual herbal, and you want to sleep well, this is definitely one to consider…

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Is it just a matter of taste?

Coffee beans I just came across the interesting news that Starbucks was rated lower for its coffee than McDonalds in a taste test of mega-chain’s coffees by Consumer Reports. Apparently Starbucks coffee “was strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water… McDonalds, the winner, had the rather lukewarm review: “…decent and moderately strong. Although it lacked the subtle top notes needed to make it rise and shine, it had no flaws.” (Newsmax)

I guess if it’s good coffee you want, one way to do it is to follow the lead of Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea and make it yourself! Me, I’m just delighted that our shops are back open and the espresso machine is waiting for me in the morning…

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New Links

Happy St. Bridgets day! I haven’t done too much in terms of links recently, so here are a few Irish blogs to keep an eye on:

Cúpla Focal – Great concept on Irish language issues. Hope it’s kept up.
Irelandlogue – Irish Travel blog.
Kerry News Blog – Does exactly what it says on the tin.
Munster Pub Crawl – A Munster pub run-down.
Small and Tasty – Another Irish food blog.
Stuff yer Bake – Northern Irish Foodie.

And Abroad:

Lobstersquad – Spanish foodie blog with stunning drawings.
Chocolate Obsession – Chocolate, more chocolate.
Su Good Sweets – A New Yorker with a sweet tooth.
Chocolate in Context – A Melbourne-based chocoholic.
Ice Cream Journal – A blog from Turkey Hill Dairy.

Construction in Killarney, Part 3

Construction on Main Street Killarney Things seem to be looking up for our poor, beleaguered shop in Killarney, as the construction on Main Street is continuing apace. The Killarney UDC promised us that the sidewalk outside our shop would be finished by the end of January, and it looks like they have made good on that promise.

Main Street Construction

You can see from the photos that they are putting down the paving slabs outside our door…

Hopefully the entire project will be complete by the middle of March, which means that we will be operating in a construction zone for the next month and a half. However, as we open the shop for the season day after tomorrow, at least customers will be able to get to us!

We certainly hope that the redevelopment of Main Street will improve the town, and it will give more of a plaza feel to our street. The downside is it might make traffic worse and parking more difficult.

We’ve also been promised permission for a couple of tables outside, and the happy thought of people drinking coffee and eating ice cream outside helps to mitigate the construction disruption to our business…

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Sundance Film Festival

Freeheld - Laurel Hester Story I know this has nothing to do with ice cream or Ireland, but one of my best friends in the States, Cynthia Wade, has won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival for her documentary film, Freeheld. Based upon Laurel Hester, a dying police lieutenant who wants to leave her pension benefit to her same-sex partner, the film is about love and battling injustice. If you want to support the film or get more information, click here.

I am so proud of you, Cynthia. Well done!

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