Áras an Uachtaráin

Apologies for the major hiatus this month. You would think that finishing my Master's thesis (and college altogether) would bring some serenity but every day this month has been jam-packed! I've been to Northern Ireland for a residential camp, I've had job interviews, presented a paper based on my thesis at the International Committee of the Red Cross annual conference, and oh, I just visited the President, as you do... 

Since I was a member of Team Ireland at the First Aid Convention of Europe last summer, I was invited to attend a reception at Áras an Uachtaráin. (This also entailed wearing a not-so-flattering uniform, you've been warned!)

What exactly do you eat at the Áras? Well to start with a mini-pint of Guinness, a glass of wine, or orange juice cleanses the palette before aperitifs. The savoury nibbles were delicately assembled from bruscetta to miniature cones filled with pesto and olives to curry marinaded chicken on skewers. Everything was painstakingly arranged and presented on an artist's easel (very cute!)

I'll be honest, I didn't have many aperitifs- there were desserts to be had!Miniature scones were stuffed with clotted cream and a sheath of raspberry- afternoon tea at it's best!

Wafer-thin vanilla pod speckled shortbread was cut into leaf shapes. Wow! Definitely the best shortbread I have ever tasted!! It was so delicate but packed a serious punch- sublime!

My personal favourite had to be the teeny chocolate cups, piped full of chocoalte mousse, sprinkled with glittered lustre dust. So intricate and decadent!

Obviously tea was had (it is Ireland after all) in pristine fine bone China cups with the Irish Harp gilt on the edge, also emblazoned upon the napkins.

Here's a great shot with my sister and President Michael D. Higgins!

National Strawberry Week

Strawberries are at their very best right now so if you do nothing else this weekend, promise me you will pick up a punnet? Dine on strawberries and cream in front of the Wimbledon finals or tune in here for the best Eton Mess and no-bake strawberry cheesecake recipes! You will also find some healthier ways to enjoy this yummy fruit!

Bord Bia have loads of info on this super fruit- did you know that an average serving of 8 berries = 27 calories?! Another reason to buy Irish strawberries! Head over to the National Strawberry Week page for more.

If cream ain't your thing, try dipping your strawberries in white chocolate ganache!

To make the ganache simply whisk together 250g of good quality white chocolate with 125ml of whipping cream (you'll find out about the different types of cream on today's show!) over a double boiler until melted. Pour over strawberries and enjoy!

If you're out and about this weekend don't forget the Wexford Strawberry Festival is happening, with one of my all-time favourite bands, The Original Rudeboys, headlining Sunday night. This is definitely a festival not to be missed!

How do you eat your strawberries? Let me know in the comments section below.

Enjoy your weekend, stay sweet! x

Back from Austria!

So folks, I'm back! Hope you didn't miss me too much! ;) I'm sure one dose of sUCCulent wasn't enough for you over fourteen days, nevertheless here's the latest show.

If you weren't too snappy taking down the infamous Sachertorte recipe, find it here.

Hope you like my holiday pastry snaps below. 

The delicious strawberry layer cake!

The pretty, but not so tasty chester cake.

Have you visited Austria? Or do you just love Viennese pastries? Let me know in the comments box below!

Have a great weekend, stay sweet! x

Nutella Cupcakes / Cheat's Lava Cakes

For St. Valentine's day I baked these in heart-shaped moulds and served these beauties hot from the oven, with strawberries, ice-cream and other tasty treats! They looked fab on a platter (made to share!) and even better when matched with little bowls of lovehearts, Hershey's kisses and Haribo hearts.

These heart-shaped moulds from Lidl, at under €4 were perfect for Valentine's baking! 

I greased them as recommended but apparently they will be non-stick hereafter, fingers crossed!

They were so simple to make and oh so delicious! The smell of chocolate from these cakes is almost delirious- treat with care! The soft centre makes these cakes so versatile, if served warm they are the easiest lava cakes but can be eaten cool as cupcakes- it's a win-win situation!

The recipe is from odlums.ie 

Makes approx 12 cupcakes.

Ingredients:

6oz self-raising flour

4oz Caster sugar

4oz Margarine

3 Eggs

2 tbsp Cocoa Powder

1/2 Jar of Nutella

1. Preheat the oven to 190degrees Celcius. 
2. Line cupcake tray with cases.
3. Put all of the ingredients (EXCEPT the Nutella) and beat until smooth.
4. Spoon half of the mixture into the the prepared cases.
5. Place a teaspoon of Nutella into the centre of each case.
6. Cover with a spoon of mixture on top of the Nutella.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until springy to touch. NB the knife test won't work with this recipe as the centre of the cupcake is supposed to be gooey!
8. Serve immediately as lava cakes or allow cool on a wire rack for cupcakes.

Stay sweet! x

Strawberry Sunday ;)

EXTRA, EXTRA! Read all about it!

This is an issue of extreme importance, well to me anyways!

You may have read here about the  most amazing sweets I have ever tasted, while in Mallorca. Well, when I was in Brussels in December I stocked up on these sugary delights sent from heaven. *note, stock does not indicate that the five bags I bought lasted more than a fortnight* 

But, I didn't want to moan here on Milis about how they are still unavailable in Ireland...That was until yesterday! 

Drumroll, please!!...........

Oh yes, Haribo Strawberry Softies are now available in a store near you!! With no artificial colours! ;)

Each bite was surreal, and I'd like to publicly thank Tesco for stocking these beauties! Now you too can enjoy the most delectable sweets ever made! - I really should earn commission for this! Haribo, you owe me one!

Stay sweet! x