Grannymar

Finnstown house, the grounds are a pleasant walk when I stay with Elly.

Finnstown House

A Polish immigrant went to apply for a driver’s license.

First, of course, he had to take an eye sight test.

The optician showed him a card with the letters

‘C Z W I X N O S T A C Z.’

‘Can you read this?’ the optician asked.

‘Read it?’ the Polish guy replied, ‘I know the guy.’

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Thanks to Noreen for the Special today.

I seldom ask for help.  Today I do.  It is not for me personally but for George my Son in Law.

Some of you may be aware that George has reached a major decision in his life.

NO, he is not putting me in a home for the bewildered or leaving Elly!

In September he embarked on a study programme as part of a career change   That change will see him back at College for the next few years.

George loves FOOD!

In the past year, he has had the opportunity to spend long hours around food - researching, purchasing, preparing, cooking, baking, serving and of course eating the results of all that effort.  Many times I sat at the table to be a guinea pig eat, enjoy and critique a meal he has made.

Part of the cooking is trial and error, anyone who ever cooked a meal knows that.  He tries, re-tries and adjusts the recipes until he is fully satisfied.

Always the generous soul, he shares the efforts of his labour with friends round the table at home and on his Food Blog - Not Junk Food.

George wants to be a CHEF.

He has entered for a competition sponsored by Cully & Sully, that could really give him a push in his new chosen career.  The Prize sounds wonderful and I would love to see him do well.

A 12 week cookery course in Ballymaloe worth €12,000 along with everything you need to become Ireland’s next great chef: the course, the Uniform, a set of knives, accommodation while you train followed by 2 weeks with Cully&Sully to learn about the business and have some craic!

Details of the competition can be found here

Voting will be heavy, and this is where you come in.

When you open the link above an arrow will direct you in where to vote.  All you need to do is click on the ‘like’ button.  That is it. Simple!

If you scroll down past the photo of George (at the link for the competition) you will learn more about him and see the dish he has chosen as his entry.  I have tasted it!  As my mammy would say, ‘I was BBQ sauce from ear to ear’ and all over my hands, I wanted to spend the evening curled up like a cat licking my face and hands clean!  Even thinking about it….. I want some now!

So please, take the time to vote for my favourite Son-in-Law, One day when he becomes famous, you will be able to say…..  You know the rest

Thank you.

Lán grá

Grannymar

To have a Happy Childhood

I am off to find mine!

Apple & Raisin Spice Bars
Preheat the oven to 190°C

3 medium Cooking Apples
4ozs softened Butter
6ozs soft brown Sugar
1 Egg, beaten
½ teaspoon vanilla Essence
8ozs Plain Flour
2 teaspoons ground Cinnamon
½ teaspoon Nutmeg
½ teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
4ozs Raisins

Peel, core and chop apples.  Cook with very little water.  Blend to make ½ pint thick puree.  Beat the butter and sugar together.  Add the egg and vanilla, and then stir in the apple.  Fold in the dry ingredients with the raisins.  Pour into a greased 7in x 12in tin.  Bake for 30-40 minutes until well risen and spongy.  Remove from tin and cool before slicing into bars.
Alternatively spoon into Muffin cases and bake for 20-25 minutes.