Tuesday's Kitchen - Wholemeal Bread

I love the smell of freshly baked bread, there's nothing more homely and comforting.
I remember my grandmother always made her own bread.
You just can't buy it like that anywhere.

This loaf is perfect any time of the day, but it's especially good with soup or one of my own favourites butter and jam.

The recipe is tried and tested many times by me, it's taken from one of those recipe cards I picked up in Supervalu by Irish chef Kevin Dundon.

Kevin's recipes are all family friendly favourites and better still they work.

Give it a go and it won't disappoint.

Ingredients

350g Wholemeal Flour

50g Plain Flour

50g Porridge Oats

Pinch of salt

2 Level Teaspoons Bread Soda

2 Large Eggs

1 Dessert Spoon Vegetable Oil

500ml Buttermilk

1 Tablespoon Treacle

Method

Preheat oven to 160°C/325°F/Gas Mark 3

Put the flours, sieved bread soda, salt and porridge oats into a large mixing bowl and combine well

In a separate bowl beat the eggs,oil, treacle and add to the dry mixture

Add in the buttermilk and mix to a sloppy consistency

Pour into a greased 2lb loaf tin and smooth the top with a wet spoon

Bake in the oven for 45 minutes and remove the bread from the tin.

Return to the oven inverted and bake for another 15 minutes - this makes a lovely crust all around the loaf

Remove from oven and test - if the loaf is cooked there should be a hollow sound when you tap the bread with your knuckles.
 Allow to cool.

*If you like you can add a sprinkle of seeds or porridge oats before baking - this adds a nice touch*

Joining in with Townsend House What I am Eating Linky. Follow the link back and check out some of  the other great recipes.

Day Trip around Inishowen Peninsula

The weekend arrived with some fine weather so there was no excuse not to get out and enjoy our amazing countryside.

On Saturday we headed off around the Inishowen Peninsula on our monthly family day trip, nothing planned we just drove along and wondered what hidden treasures we might find.

We were joined by my sister J and her husband Mr D who are becoming part of our monthly trips.

And treasures we did find.

Beautiful scenery, nature in it's purest form, lots of laughs and precious time with family.

Our first stop was Greencastle, a fishing port on the north coast of the county.

We went to see the castle which is called Greencastle or Northburg. 

It was built in 1305 by Richard de Burgh, the Red Earl of Ulster and according to a brochure I have about it, the castle was the greatest castle enterprise in Donegal. 

Although today very little remains of the building, there is so much history here you have to step back and try and imagine the castle in all it's glory.

I would say it was a truly magnificent sight coming up the shore.

We then drove further on through Greencastle taking in the breathtaking views and very impressive houses. 

Mr P and me saw some very interesting old ruins and decided if we ever win the lottery we will buy one, renovate it and live here - I dream on.

We stumbled upon the Shrove Lighthouse and when we got out of the car to take some photos walked on toward the beach.

I wasn't expecting the view on the other side, this is where Lough Foyle meets the wild Atlantic and is a very beautiful beach.

We were so taken with this place that we just sat down and enjoyed the views, Mr P and our Inbetweener had a great time messing around, spending some father and son time.

The Little Fella enjoyed being out in the fresh air and was quite happy to just sit with everyone else taking it all in.

Such a tranquil place we could have stayed here all day.

Our next hidden treasure is called Kinnagoe Bay which is hidden by a very steep hill. When you are driving along you don't expect to find this secluded little beach.

 The view from the hill was stunning and although the drive down to it was almost vertical it was worth it.

This is where the Spanish Armada ship La Trinidad Valencera was shipwrecked in 1588.

Crashing waves, seashells, writing in the sand, we played and joked around, there is a real sense of romance here.

I took the Little Fella down to the waters edge and he loved the waves coming crashing in, we had to run back a few times as they came so fast.

It's lovely hearing him giggle.

We had a very nice lunch in Culdaff at a hotel called McGrory's. 

Child friendly and good food. 

Mr P and me shared a lemon meringue pie for dessert and it's the best I've had.

We finished our day at Banba's Crown, Malin Head.

This is the most northerly point of the whole island of Ireland and has the most gorgeous rugged coastline.

When you stand on the rocks here with the wind blowing through your hair it's raw and refreshing.

Life doesn't get any better than this.

This is the kind of day you want to bottle up and store away, it's good for the soul.

Hope your weekend was great too xxx

Joining in with Country Kids from Coombe Mill click on the badge to pop over and have a look at some of the other wonderful adventures.
 

Silent Sunday

Photo of the Week

Last weekend myself and my husband Mr P were in Dublin, you can see that I've bombarded my blog about it all week.

 I can't believe it's the weekend again - this week has gone in so fast.

There are so many wonderful photo opportunities everywhere in Dublin and it's only since I started my blog that I have really got into taking photos.

I know they aren't brilliant most of the time but I'm getting better - shaky hand and all!

This is a photo of the Dublin Spire, also known as the Monument of Light.

I have to admit I never took much notice of it before but like I say I am seeing things differently since I got my camera out.

I saw a photo of it in a shop taken at a similar angle so I thought I would give it a try as well and I'm really pleased with the result.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

I'm linking up with Louise from Team Lloyd for Photo of the Week, please visit her site from here and check out the other fabulous Photo's of the Week.

Our Grown Up Weekend - Part 3

It feels like I have bombarded my blog this week but I really wanted to share my weekend away and keep a record of it because I don't get out much these days so I have to make every second count.

On Sunday evening Mr P and myself went to see Il Divo at the O2. I thought they were fabulous, we had a really great evening and I think he secretly enjoyed them as well, he would never admit that though.

Sunday morning we walked up to O'Connell Street and took a look around. I was amazed at how many tourists there were, armed with cameras, standing taking everything in.

Then on up through Temple Bar and around College Green. 

The weather was lovely so we sat outside Sinnott's Pub across from the Gaeity Theatre and watched the passers by. I found myself immediately drawn to every man or woman pushing a stroller or pram - wondering who was the little person being pushed about. 

I love watching people, I could have sat there all day, no words needed, people out for the day, on their way home from Sunday sports, shoppers, children out with their scooters, holiday makers, couples, friends.

This is the Jeanie Johnston Tallship and it houses a famine museum. We didn't go onto the boat this time round but have been many times and it's always very enjoyable because the guides have a real passion for the story of the emigrants and the ship. 

If you are ever in Dublin and like your history I would give it a shout.

Dublin Spire on O'Connell Street

Ha'penny Bridge

Molly Malone

There are some great pubs in Dublin, this is one of the more colourful ones...

The Olympia Theatre...

Trinity College...

 All in all we had a great weekend, on Monday morning I dropped Mr P off at his work and drove home by myself. 

I was so excited to see the Little Fella, our Inbetweener and Teen who apparently missed me loads and were glad to have me back, but not as much as I missed them!

Our Grown Up Weekend - Part 2

Here's some more bits of our weekend.

When we arrived in Dublin on Saturday the first thing we did was to head off to the National Gallery, we walked up past the Convention Centre, Custom House and on up to Grafton Street taking in the all the street activities along the way.

I love street music, Mr P always enjoys a pint of Guinness and insists that it really does taste better in Dublin.
I even joined him and had a half pint - my first time drinking it.

Bicycles were out in force this weekend in Dublin.

The National Gallery is one of my most favourite places to visit in Dublin and for me it's a great way to spend an afternoon exploring a truly magnificent collection of art.

At the moment there is a beautiful display of sketchbooks by Jack B Yeats. There was even some sketches of Donegal where he was a frequent visitor.

Another exhibition is the Treasure Sheets European Works, showcasing drawings and prints dating back as far as the fifteenth century - I think that's incredible to have survived in perfect condition - if only they could speak.

After a lovely afternoon out and about we had a lovely meal at a Moroccan Restaurant called Dada.

I have wanted to try Moroccan for ages but it's not something everybody is willing to try, so taking full advantage of being on our own we gave it a shot.

I wasn't disappointed and will certainly try it again.

The food was full of flavour, we had a very nice bottle of wine, the staff were lovely and it was good value for money.

Hoping your weekend was as relaxing as ours, come back tomorrow for yet more photos of our weekend.

Our Grown Up Weekend -Part 1

At the weekend I was lucky enough to get to spend some quality time with my husband, the lovely Mr P in Dublin.

It was our first weekend away without children since the Little Fella was born.

At first I was overwhelmed with guilt at the thought of leaving them but to be honest they absolutely want for nothing and it was great to be able to spend time as a couple, which is equally important. 

We packed the children off to my parents with what felt like the whole contents of our house and headed off on Saturday morning.

I loved strolling around holding hands, chatting, laughing without a care in the world enjoying each others company.

We spent some lovely time wandering around St Stephens Green Park, a beautiful relaxing place full of natural beauty.

It has a little lake with ducks and swans, beautiful flower beds, trees, a great place for people watching which is something I love to do.

I hope you all had an lovely weekend and enjoy some of our pictures from there and I'll have some more during the week.

Visiting the Animals...

I took the Little Fella for a walk outside my parents house on Friday afternoon.

We didn't go far just down the road a bit, I carried him in my arms so being quite heavy and very wriggly some of these photos might appear to be a bit shaky.

My parents live in the countryside, it's where me and my sister grew up.

Many days were spent outside roaming through the fields, climbing trees and playing make believe - looking back it was truly magical.

To me the sound of birds chirping, tractors plodding along, or animals grazing in the fields is comforting.

The air is always crisp and clean.

These are some pictures of the little friends we met along the way.

I love how our Little Fella appeared totally enchanted by animals.

Life is good.