A perfect weekend!

So a weekend like I just had certainly deserves a post! 

Ballymaloe Cookery School was started in 1983 so this year is the 25th Anniversary. In the picture below I am wearing my 25 year t-shirt.

So my great weekend started on Friday. I spent the morning making biscuits... I made lemon squares and coffee pecan bars. I also helped make the salad and did a few random jobs. Then at 12:30 it was time for the best part of the day -- lunch. I was starving so I had lots of salad, duck with lentils, duck leg with onions, crab and coriander tart, tomatoes w/ pesto and goat cheese, and salmon w/ cucumber neopolitana. Oh yeah, and chocolate fruit and nuts, fruit pie, and sugar cookies for dessert. And I washed it all down with Ballymaloe's apple juice. Every day lunch is pretty much like that. It's crazy! But I run around for 10 hours so I figure it is alright. 

So anyway, after that delicious lunch Tim Allen (Darina's Husband) invited me to make bread with a couple that had come from Dublin for a private bread making class because Tim is the bread making rock star. We made brown yeast bread, Irish soda bread, and another basic brown bread. I learned so much about bread making and enjoyed getting to know the couple from Dublin.

Friday morning I got up bright and early to work at the Midleton Farmer's Market. Darina started this market and there is a great selection of local producers. I manned the Ballymaloe stall with Darina's daughter. It was so fun selling food to people and talking to them about the produce and prepared foods we had. I can't even put into words how wonderful it felt to be working at a farmer's market in Ireland. I walked around and bought some delicious goat's cheese, a yam, butternut squash, curry powder, rice, ginger, and garlic. I also got some smoked mackerel from the stand next to me and I swear I have never tasted anything so delicious. 

We packed up the stall and got back to school around 2pm. The 25th anniversary party was in full swing. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed talking to people and filling up on local food. Many of the stalls from the market were there except you could eat what you like from them. I had salad, smoked fish, goat's cheese with biscuits, cupcakes, and lots of grape tomatoes. There were lots of interesting people at the party and it was a wonderful occasion.

I spent last night babysitting for two of Darina's grandchildren, named Willow and India. They are adorable girls, ages 4 and 6, and we had lots of fun. I got home around midnight and crashed!

Today I went to Ballycotton for lunch with my housemate and some of her friends. It was a gorgeous day and the sea looked beautiful. I had salad and butternut squash risotto. Then we walked around and had ice cream. We followed that up with coffee at the Ballymaloe House. The Inn was really busy and we were lucky to get a table in the cute cafe. After the long lunch I organized my room.

Tonight I went to the Blackbird and enjoyed some cider, local music, and good conversation. It was 100% Irish and I had an awesome time. It was a great conclusion to a wonderful weekend.