Garden Mint Lemonade

There's a load of mint taking over my garden and I absolutely love it. I'm putting it into everything and the more I pick, the more it grows. Mint is one of those brilliant things that just thrives no matter what, my kind of plant! I used a mixture of spearmint and peppermint for this gorgeous summer drink.

Side of the road Strawberry tart

This lovely tart came about because of a boy. Sitting on the side of the road selling glorious Wexford strawberries. Every summer there are horse boxes, trailers, and car boots brimming with wexford strawberries and new potatoes parked on the roadside all over the country. When you see the handwritten signs advertising this seasonal wonder you just have to stop as it's a traditional herald of summer. I know I'm such a brat because I was eating strawberries way back in March! These strawberries were nicer though, sun ripened and plump and also they cost a fortune. Funny how those cute handwritten signs never have any price and how you have abandoned the car on the side of the road with the hazard lights on so have to justify your risky detour by grabbing 4 punnets...

Lavender Madeira: The taste of Summer!

Another Cake? I know. I'm addicted. It's just that butter is the perfect consistency for cake making nowadays, what with all this lovely weather we've been having. Anyway I was flicking through Country Homes & Interiors Magazine, as I'm sure alot of twenty six year old girls do, and I came across this freaky little recipe, so I had to try it.

Pride Cakes

Pride Cakes. I bet you were expecting photos of a gathering of lion themed cakes? Nope. Instead it's Pride Cakes to celebrate the start of The Dublin Pride Festival which starts on 19th June. The Cork Pride parade was on last June the 5th and was a beautiful bright and happy family day out with gorgeous weather. The theme for this years parade is family. I heard Oisin from Dublin Pride doing a great interview on Newstalk last week and I instantly thought: I must make some sort of cakes!

Turkish Delight Cupcakes...ooh lala!

It all started when Mise from Pretty Far West sent me some gorgeous chocolate as part of a giveaway on her blog. My snack of choice is usually crackers & cheese or something savoury. I rarely reach for the chocolate but this stuff was different. It was from The Cocoa Bean Chocolate Company and one bar was rose and pistachio. Schaaaawing! Gorgeous.

Don't mention Chocolate Swissroll...

First, some exciting News! June is my first month being a columnist! Eeek! I know. My first article is out in Easy Food Magazine (Ireland no.1 food magazine, as they say.). I made a gorgeous crab picnic loaf (below) and next month will be kids cooking. It's brilliant because I can write whatever I want and do any recipe and get to take the photos too! Dream job!