One thing that we’ve noticed over the years is that food plays such an important role our in lives and not just for fuel but for entertaining and providing us with fond memories too.
We’ve chatted to some of Ireland’s well-known faces to discover their favourite dishes and meals, be it from their childhood or simply something they like to rustle up at home.
Alan Kingston and his wife Valerie established Glenilen Farm in 1996. Located on the banks of the River Ilen, surrounded by lush hills of Drimoleague, Co. Cork, the Kingston family farm is the ideal location for dairy farming. Taking care of their cows and ensuring a rich and plentiful supply of nutritious grass as well as freedom to roam has always been Glenilen Farm’s top priority. This results in a steady supply of rich tasty milk, which has become the core ingredient in all their products.
In 1997 Valerie began using this milk to make homemade cheesecakes for the local country market. Her cheesecakes, made with fresh, simple ingredients, quickly gained popularity and from that small beginning Glenilen Farm began.
“These always remind me of special occasions in my childhood, they’re so easy to make, maybe it’s because ground almonds were seen as expensive or extravagant in those days, anyway I love the texture of these macaroons with their crispy outside, (as it’s from an old recipe book recipe only in imperial)” says Alan.
Macaroons
Ingredients:
- 2 egg whites
- 4 oz ground almonds
- 1 oz ground rice
- (or just use 5 oz almonds if you don’t have ground rice)
- 1 tsp orange flower water ( I omit this , my kids don’t like it)
- Split almonds
- A little egg white to glaze
Method:
- Whisk egg whites fairly stiffly.
- Stir in ground almonds, sugar, rice & flavouring (if using), and mix well
- Place macaroons in small heaps on parchment paper on a baking tray, (or pipe them if you wish)
- Place a split almond on each macaroon, glaze and bake at 180degrees for 20-25 mins until pale golden .
- Its important to cook them rather slowly to allow them to colour evenly and to get a good texture.
Glenilen Farm have recently launched their layered fruit and ‘live’ probiotic natural yoghurt pots in a new 125g four pack.
