kinsale, county cork

I did a LOUSY job of blogging while living in Europe... since it's currently ALWAYS on my mind (it's rough being as nostalgic as I am, honest...) I've decided there's no time like the present.

Although things might not be quite as fresh as they were 4 years ago, I'm going to do my best to re-live them and document what I can manage to tap back into. Photos will help, of this I am sure. :)

The family I was working for found a phenomenal deal on airfare from Geneva to Cork for one week in March, they let me know when they purchased their tickets that I could either go with them as their nanny, stay and work at the house - cleaning and caring for the animals, or take a week off and take advantage of the deal myself. Clearly, I chose the latter of the options.

My friend, Amanda, is a missionary working at the church I attended while living in the Geneva area. (More on the church in another post... I know I say things like that all the time, but it was so wonderful, my tangent would fill up too much of this post that's supposed to be all about my nostalgic memories of incredible Ireland!) Okay, so back to Amanda. :) Amanda works at the wonderful church I had the opportunity to be a part of while living abroad, she currently is working as a part of their church plant, but was the Children's Ministry Coordinator while I was in the area. She's such an incredible girl and a great friend. 

I think our adventurous sides are what initially drew us together. We're also both American, which probably had a little something to do with it. Anywho, she and I had gone to the South of France that previous autumn and I was able to see how talented she is at organizing fun AND relaxing trips. We meshed just perfectly. Have you ever traveled with someone who you absolutely love in everyday life, but can hardly stand or just all of a sudden absolutely clash with while trying to explore and see a new location? Travel, it's tricky. Amanda and I didn't have that issue, and we were both in dire need of some true rest and rejuvenation, so I invited her along on this next rendezvous. 

I'll be honest, I feel a little bad looking back on it, because she took care of EVERYTHING. She made such detailed plans for our timeless trip that everything was beyond perfect.

While we were landing, I remember the little boy I took care of saying, 'Uhh... Mom, are we in Iowa??' Ireland was going through their first drought in years and in landing we only saw flat land with lots of dead grass... it did look a lot like landing here in Iowa. 

Amanda and I and the family I worked for parted our ways. Amanda and I headed south in our trusty 'hired car'. Thankfully, Amanda had learned to drive a manual while she was living in Scotland. She, unlike myself, was already a pro. 

Upon arriving in Kinsale, we asked around for local grub and were directed to Patsy's Corner... this was just the beginning of our gastronomical gluttony. (Who knows how much of the weight I gained from living in Europe was from this trip alone.)

Amanda entering Patsy's Corner.

Amanda and I dining at Patsy's Corner.

Deliciously rich crumble with cream.

After a few hours on a plane and another hour or so getting the hired car, we were ready to see where we'd be sleeping. We had the privilege of meeting Chrissie and Tom at The Olde Bakery B&B, oh my word, they were so unbelievably darling. They were the most perfect hosts for a B&B, so welcoming and knowledgeable about EVERYTHING in Kinsale and all of southern Ireland.  

Our beloved B&B!

We figured with all the information Tom and Chrissie loaded us with, it was time for some exploring! We walked all along the town meeting people left and right. It was so great. (Not to mention refreshing from all the sitting we'd done traveling and calories we'd consumed at Patsy's!) We ended up at historical Charles Fort. I had never been to the Atlantic Ocean, so I was excited to see that we were there! The fort was really neat, but we'd happened to walk past an intriguing golden yellow building entitled 'Bulman'.... we needed to check it out...

Charles Fort.

The Bulman was just as breathtaking and charming on the inside as the outside hinted it would be. We sat next to the fireplace and each had a half pint of our favorites and took in our surroundings. We were both falling hard for this unbelievably welcoming, not to mention, gorgeous-in-every-possible-way land. (Even during a drought!)  

The most perfect pub in the whole entire world! The Bulman!

We enjoyed our drinks and discussed our travels and the folks we'd met all while watching the sky fade to these juicy colors of pink, purple, and copper. The night was coming alive. We hadn't been sitting too long when a local came up to try to get our story. He could see we weren't too quick to share, so he gave us a brief snapshot of his story. Ugh, my heart swells just at the thought of how beautiful all the people we met there are. Ireland in all it's glorious details makes me want to open a B&B and extend the hospitality they so kindly showed us to everyone that walks through my doors. Just throwing that out there. ;) 

John was his name and he'd lived in Kinsale for, I believe he'd said 15 years. He was originally from the lovely land of Wales (or perhaps that was his buddy, Danny...) and had, much like us, fallen in love with the beauty and charm of not only the land, but the people of Kinsale. He created his own business and had no intention of ever leaving. He shared some of his adventures with us of his time in America. He'd gone all along the west coast, starting in Alaska and ending up in South America. His adventures put my mind at ease from some of the things I had been experiencing right then and there. Ah, isn't there such beauty in camaraderie?! 

The sun setting over Kinsale Harbour... a mere 10 meters from the Atlantic Ocean!

One of the things Amanda and I had discussed over our toddies was that we absolutely HAD to find some authentic, traditional Irish music! John assured us that especially on a Thursday night, we'd have no problem. He offered to show us around to ensure we found the truest, most authentic traditional Irish music in the land. I know, I know. STRANGER DANGER. Well, if you know me, that's not always applicable. Regardless of where you are or who you're with, sometimes you just connect with people! We took him up on his offer and headed back to Ye Olde Bakery to freshen up. 

Our gorgeous view walking back to the B&B.

We thought it was beautiful in the daylight, but the view of Kinsale at night reminded us of a world renowned piece of art!

Back in Geneva-land, we had a sweet lil British market run by Jim. He carried these tasty lil treats or something similar, but for quite a fortune compared to what I found them for at the markets in Ireland -- I stocked up and, naturally, cherished every bite.

John was true to his word and met us out on the town with his friend, Danny. Despite their efforts, we never did find true Irish music. We hopped from pub to pub and found plenty of live music (also a nice treat!) but, alas, this wasn't the night for the real thing. John and Danny gave us tips and tricks for the rest of our journey and introduced us to the local 'nightclub' (my first ever!). Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas now always bring memories of gorgeous people with perfect accents. Ahh... Ireland really can't get any more wonderful.

Our search for traditional Irish music ended up being a bit of a wash.... the covers were nice though!

The Easiest GF Pancake... EVER

Good Morning!!

I don't know about you, but I woke up HUNGRY.

Now, what I'm about to share with you is likely to change you life... or at least your breakfast... FOREVER.

My best friend is really who deserves the credit for these. She and I lived together many moons ago in the great city of Des Moines and both learned so much about flavors and nutrition and the differences of each person's needs - this simple breakfast was one of the many great findings from that season!

I will tell you that these are extremely versatile. Anything you're craving can be incorporated... pretty much.

You will need:

1 cup oats (I prefer thick cut, but quick cooking would make the pancakes softer and more traditional in their texture)

1 egg

1 splash OJ (I base this on how much egg white is in the egg - just try to make the dough as close to the density of your favorite pancakes!)

I always add:

cinnamon

fresh grated nutmeg

fresh grated ginger

You could also incorporate:

pumpkin

berries

apples

bananas

chia seeds

the limits are endless!

Mix together oats, egg, OJ, and seasonings in a bowl.
(This batch I added pumpkin to my dough.)

Pour into hot skillet with either butter or coconut oil to ensure it doesn't stick!
Once the edges begin to bubble, you're good to flip it.

When your second side bubbles, flip it once to see that it's cooked all the way through (remember, we're working with raw eggs here...)

Plate with honey, fruit, and anything else you desire... and ENJOY!!

A nice cuppa and some beautiful flowers are always a nice addition as well.

Let me know how YOU prefer your delicious pancakes!

Chicken Dijon

My momma made a great discovery the other day while cleaning - she came across one of my Grandmother's old recipe holders. Knowing my love of food and our family history, she sent them home with me. 

This was such a blessing because, especially lately, I've been missing her a LOT. It's been hard and fun, but it's crazy all the random things that bring her to mind with my new job. I think she would be really happy with what I'm up to these days. Sometimes I just want to sit with her over coffee and fill her in and get her input as to what's best... She definitely was one of my biggest cheerleaders! She was always so great at creating things, making pretties, and being adventurous with even the small details of life. Little gestures like following a recipe written in her handwriting makes her seem ever so slightly, less far away...

Nostalgia at it's finest.

I went ahead and started with the first recipe held in the book: Chicken Breast Dijon. 

Per usual, I changed things around to fit what was already in my kitchen... here's how it went... 

Chicken Dijon

1/3 cup crushed Nut Thins (I was looking for a GF option - it worked really well!)

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon dried Herbs de Provence 

3 tablespoons dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon salt & pepper

1 chicken breast

1 teaspoon butter

1.) Combine cheese, seasonings, and mustard in a shallow dish, stir well. Brush mixture over sides and dredge in crumbs.  

Mustard, Parmesan, Herbs de Provence, thyme, and salt & pepper mixed together before brushing on the chicken.

I brushed one side with the mustard mixture before dredging with the crumbs, then did the same to the other side.

2.) Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook 6 minutes on each side or until done. 

I put a plate over my skillet (as I have no lids - gotta make the most of what we've got!) I believe this helped the chicken to keep it's moisture and have really perfect texture once it was done.

Unfortunately, my chicken breasts were ginormous. The six minutes didn't quite cut it... I added a few minutes on to each side and they cooked up very nicely. As soon as my parents caught wind that I was trying out some of Grandma's recipes, they made their way over to my house to be my taste testers (always so helpful). I asked my dad if he remembered this recipe at all and he said he most certainly did not... could have been my adjustments - could have been a more recent discovery of hers too! Either way, it was super easy, delicious, and such a nice surprise!

Detoxifying Sushi Salad

If you have not yet taken the time to watch 'Hungry for Change', the sequel to the food documentary, 'You are What you Eat', I suggest you do so at your earliest convenience. Vast amounts of knowledge regarding your very best health and wellness. 

This is a salad from the detox I did a few days ago - it was by far the best surprise to find how delicious this meal is! The rest of the detox was a little less appealing to my palette, but I will continue to make this salad as a part of my regular rotation of staple meals!

Sushi Salad

*You can find the full 3-day detox plan here. 

You can also find other great articles and recipes through their website!*

This salad contains some of the most nutrient-dense plant foods on the planet - nori, or dried seaweed. It is high in calcium and iodine, which helps draw toxins from the body. 

For the dressing: 

-1 tablespoon finely grated ginger root

-1 tablespoon organic tamari sauce

-juice of 1 lemon

For the salad: 

-1 ripe avocado, chopped

-2 small cucumbers, halved and chopped

-1 carrot, grated

-handful of alfalfa sprouts

-handful of fresh cilantro, finely chopped

-1 nori sheet, cut roughly into bite-size strips (I use my hands to rip them up, but scissors would work too)

-1 tablespoon sesame seeds

To create the dressing, mix your ginger, lemon juice, and tamari sauce. Mix well.

To create the salad, simply mix the avocado, cucumbers, carrot, sprouts, cilantro, and nori together in a medium bowl and toss with the dressing. Sprinkle seeds over top as garnish. 

**I use organic tamari sauce rather than soy as I try my best to steer clear of gluten. These two sauces are very similar, but do differ in a few ways: both are made from fermented soybeans, the amount of wheat in them being the main difference between the two. Tamari is a class of soy sauce made with little to no wheat (read your labels!) and from a greater concentration of soy beans.

This difference makes the flavors differ as well. Japanese tamari is thicker, richer, and less salty than most soy sauces - because of this, I find the flavor to be a bit more smooth. 

...food for thought! ;)