The Boho Kitchen is Busy!

Well! So sorry to have been away for so long. I promise, its only good news! The Boho Kitchen has been super busy with orders and markets. Lots of news on our end.

First thing is first, you can now buy The Boho Kitchen cupcakes and assorted treats on Fridays at Walsh's Shop in the square in Portlaw. Get there early as they sell out quick! I'm looking for other shops and cafes to supply with a few in the pipelines so watch this space for updates.

Also, check out the new website! Hopefully this will be easier to navigate than searching through the blog here alone. http://www.thebohokitchen.com

Next, we ARE going to be at Savour Kilkenny.

But, only on Sunday, October 24th. I couldn't manage two full market days worth of baking at that time of the month. Look for our stall! Lots of goodies.

Lastly, Christmas is upon us. I, like many business, must accept this early in the year so I can provide you the best service! We are now taking advance orders for decorated shortbread sugar cookies and christmas fruit cakes. These make great gifts and we giftwrap!! Contact us via the website, email me at bohokitchen@gmail.com or ring/text 0879524926. Delivery is free within most of Waterford and the surrounding areas.
I'm out of town from December 2nd - 16th to visit my folks over in America. So! Deliver is available before and after this time. I will be able to receive orders during this time so keep in touch guys.

Some recent cakes! Click the thumbnail and it will link to the larger picture on our Facebook Fan page:

Waterford Harvest Festival and National Cupcake Week!

Make sure to scroll down to read how to enter for a chance to win a dozen cupcakes from The Boho Kitchen! Also, a quick reminder to Like our Fan Page on Facebook, by searching for The Boho Kitchen or clicking HERE.

Click the logo to visit the official website and see the full line up of events!

The Waterford Harvest Festival 2010 is starting!
From Friday, September 10th through Sunday, September 19th you'll find lots of fun foodie adventures! Giant food markets, delicious barbeques, picnics, feasts, cookery demonstrations, taste workshops, free outdoor gigs and street parties, craft villages, as well as lots of free fun activities for all the family.

On Sunday, September 12th the South Quay in Waterford City will be closed to traffic and transformed into what they are describing will be the largest outdoor market Ireland has ever seen! Your's truly, The Boho Kitchen, will have her stall fully stocked with delicious sweets and treats. Come by and say hi between 11am and 6pm.

Now...
THE BOHO KITCHEN CUPCAKE GIVEAWAY!

September 13-19th is the UK National Cupcake Week. What better way to celebrate in our own Irish fashion by winning some free cupcakes! National Cupcake Week!
It's National Cupcake Week in the UK, and in celebration I'm offering a free dozen cupcakes to be collected from my stall at the Waterford Harvest Festival.
How to enter:
All you have to do to enter is link to my facebook fan page: or this blog on your facebook page or personal blog and comment here with a link to it! Can't wait? Treat yourself to a couple at my stall or place an order! Remember delivery is free within most of the South East.

Fun cakes for fun times!

I had a chance to do a couple fun/cartoony cakes recently, though I'd share them.




And cupcakes!

Busy Busy Busy!

The Boho Kitchen has been working hard and as a result I've been unable to keep this blog updated!

We had a great time at the Iverk Show, where we met many other lovely food producers such as Tastefully Yours operating from Dunhill offering amazing chutneys and sweet chili sauce, County Waterford, Derryvilla Blueberry Farms from County Offaly offering blueberries and tonic, and A Fusion of Flavors offering delicious marinades, chutneys and dips.
My cupcakes also won third place in the queen cake competition!


Before that we had a chance to show off our updated stall at Lark in the Park, celebrating 25 years of Waterford Youth Arts. A look at the delicious things we offer!

Come out to our next stall at the Waterford Harvest Festival on the Waterford City Quay on Sunday, September 12th to get your hands on some of these treats!

SOMA Garden Market

Visit The Boho Kitchen along with a variety of artists selling their wares at the upcoming SOMA garden market along Lombard street.
We'll be serving up our famous blondies as well as scones, cookies and fruit bars! We'll be leaving the cupcakes to fellow baker Cupcakes by Grace to prevent any ugly competition! Also, I will be alternating my space at the market with another delightful baker and friend Niamh from over at The Lovin' Spoonful.
Come see us and indulge! The SOMA market runs every Saturday from 11am-4pm!


SOMA Garden Market Facebook Fan Page

Next Market: See us at the Iverk Show in Piltown on August 28th!

Markets Markets everywhere... and a pancake recipe!

A quick reminder that The Boho Kitchen is always open for your orders. We're taking orders no matter how large or small for your meetings, parties and events, birthdays, christenings, and weddings! Just use our Enquire or Order tab to email us! Or contact us via bohokitchen@gmail.com or by phone at 0879524926.

Great news. The Boho Kitchen will be holding a stall at the 184th Iverk Show in Piltown in County Kilkenny.

The Iverk Show is Ireland's oldest agricultural show and will attract a large crowd. Come out to see many local food producers and some of our finest farmer's fare!

In addition, The Boho Kitchen may also be attending the upcoming Tramore Surf and Sea Festival in September as well as the Savour Festival in Kilkenny. We'll keep you updated!


As promised, I have a recipe for you today! Also, a tip.

I was asked about my swirled color cupcakes and how that's done. Simply use a small paintbrush and paint several lines in various colors straight up the sides of your pastry bag before adding the buttercream to pipe. It will result in continued colored swirls!

My daughter's birthday breakfast was buttermilk pancakes. Now, she doesn't really care. However, I'm happy to take any special event and turn it into a good reason to have a pancake breakfast!
Now, these are proper America griddle cakes, pancakes... not what the Irish frequently refer to as pancakes, which are simply crepes. These are thick and fluffy and dying for butter and maple syrup... and *gasp* perhaps a side of fried pig!

Plain and Simple Buttermilk Pancakes
Ingredients
2 cups AP flour
2 tbsp sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
2 cups of buttermilk (or if you have no buttermilk, add 1 tbsp vinegar per cup of regular milk and let sit for 5 minutes)
4 tbsp of melted butter
1 tsp of vanilla
2 large eggs, beaten

Directions

Begin to heat a lightly greased skillet to medium heat, favor the low side (out of 6 settings I use setting 3).

Sift dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt) into a large bowl.

In a seperate bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, melted better and vanilla.

Combine by slowly mixing the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, folding slowly to avoid overmixing.

Using an ice cream scoop or ladle, scoop approximately 1/2 cup of batter out per pancake.

Leave to cook until the top side forms a bubble surface, and then flip.

Keep warm until eating, or eat immediately. Sometimes I preheat the oven to a low temp so I can stick them in there to keep them warm. Pancakes are best eaten hot!

Smear in butter and maple syrup (even if its that Lyle's maple flavored stuff) and consume immediately. Happily wrap around a sausage or a few strips of streaky bacon first. nom nom nom!

Color swirls

Looking for something fun for your next party? Color swirls!

Cupcakes! and the 1M swirl

I recently had an order of four dozen cupcakes for a 30th birthday. I was thrilled as I've just received my 1M wilton tip and I wanted to see how wonderful these swirls would turn out. The hype turned out to be worth indulging!

Beautiful. I look forward to icing cupcakes with this tip on site at upcoming markets!

A traditional, simple wedding cake

Firstly, sorry for the lack of recipes lately. I promise some pancakes this week. I found the best buttermilk pancake recipe to make for breakfast this morning. You see, my firstborn bouncing baby girl turned 3 today. Yes, 3. I'll refrain from saying "terrible three" even though the last few weeks have given some truth to that nickname. Two was easy. However, all the things that make three hard are what make three beautiful, and what make Jane a funny, clever, and intelligent individual.

Anywho, enough about my personal life, on to what I know you care about most. Cake.
I recently did three cakes and an additional individual gluten free cake for a friend's boyfriend's brother's wedding (get that?). I didn't place the cake on the stand but did deliver to the mother of the groom in the beautiful Maryborough House in Douglas, Cork.

I will always take wedding cake orders. I don't do cakes for a flawless appearance-- before that comes out wrong, I only mean to warn off brides would would wish to purchase a flawless, expensive, but tasteless cake easily carved into a perfect block. It's important to be that my cakes are delicious and moist. My wedding cakes are delicious and reasonably priced.

Topper was provided by the bride and groom.






The top tier was chocolate, the middle vanilla and the larger bottom cake was a traditional fruit cake. All but the fruit cake were layered with buttercream and then crumbcoated in white chocolate ganache. The fruit cake was covered in almond paste and all cakes had a final layer of marshmallow fondant.
Each cake is wrapped in ribbon chosen by the client with flat bows and topped with handmade ribbon roses provided by me and placed on the cake by the client.

Dunmore East Food, Fish and Fun Festival

I've been neglecting my followers but I have to admit, its been a busy month. We've finished the remodel on our kitchen, and just in time for an incredibly sucessful run at the Dunmore East Food, Fish and Fun Festival. We set up as the sun broke through the clouds and spent the whole day meeting lots of interesting people and making new friends through the sinful spread of fudge brownies, white chocolate and pecan blondies, cupcakes freshly iced, chocolate chip and sugar cookies and cherry crumble bars. Can't wait for our next day out under the gazebo. By then we're hoping to have a more flashy set up! Big thanks to Nancy Cox, a fellow US expat who helped me out all day for the price of a delicious plate of paella from Azzuro.

I wish I could update better on the festival but I was so busy spreading sweet treat love that my only views were on a single bathroom trip and waiting in line for my lunch! I'm ashamed I missed out on all the great other vendors out on the day.

One of our cakes here from The Boho Kitchen was also seen recently in an issue of the Waterford News and Star for the grand opening of An Croch Amach, a new youth cafe in Kilmacthomas, County Waterford.

We've had quite a few cakes in the last few weeks, check them out at picasa.

Bloom 2010

Just a reminder that Bloom is here! Not sure if I'll get out there myself even though I'll be in Dublin for the Flora Mini Marathon-- but it sounds like an event not to be missed!

Bloom, Ireland’s largest gardening, food and family event, returns to the Phoenix Park Dublin this June bank holiday weekend for 5 days (Thursday 3rd – Monday 7th June). This year’s event will include over 20 spectacular showgardens, 50 floral displays and a large scale artisan farmers market. With something for everyone, visitors to Bloom 2010 can also look forward to live cookery and craft demonstrations, free gardening advice / workshops and kids go free!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bloominthepark/


Also, Taste of Dublin, Ireland's restaurant festival, is back for its fifth year in the stunning location of Dublin's Iveagh Gardens from 10th - 13th June, sponsored by Superquinn.



Sample the best local and international food and drink and pick up some great tips from world famous chefs. Join over 30,000 foodies in the must-do social event of the summer! Delight in gourmet distinction, a stunning location, truly great company and fantastic live entertainment. Get your tickets now!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tasteofdub

We Can Fix It!

Handy Manny Sugar Cookies!

Are cookies more fun than cake for birthdays? Maybe!

Woman's Best Friend, too!

Cookie Promotion!

Promotion time! Want some free treats to arrive straight to you in the post? The Boho Kitchen wants to build up some reviews. In order to do this, we're offering to send you a free treat in exchange for a review here on the site! To participate, send The Boho Kitchen an email at bohokitchen@gmail.com with your name and... address. Ireland only (any further and I don't think I could guarantee freshness!), offer ends May 21st, 2010.

My kitchen to your postbox!
this:

becomes this:

Tortilla Pinto Bean Soup

I have another confession to make. I love soup. I'd eat soup for every meal of every day. I'm probably the only member of my household who can say that, so, needless to say I don't find myself whipping up soup all too often. Top that off with the little bit of sunshine we've finally began to see and soup seems to be the last thing on anyone's mind. Except me, of course! So, I figured it was time to spice things up. If only there was a margarita along side this bowl of soup today... one can dream.

I would have topped this with coriander and yogurt... had our coriander plant not been dying and my daughter hadn't hogged all the yogurt, le sigh!

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 can plum or diced tomatoes (if plum drain and chop the tomatoes, retain the juice)
2 cups chicken stock
1 can pinto beans (or black beans, I was just out and delighted to find out that pinto beans worked wonderfully)

1 tsp dried oregano (or throw in fresh at the end)
1 tsp dried coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional)

top with freshly cut coriander leaves

Directions

Heat the olive oil over medium heat and saute the red pepper chunks and onion. After a few minutes, throw in the garlic and cover for a few minutes.

Add the can of tomatoes.
Stir in your choice of beans, chicken stock, oregano, coriander, cumin, salt, white pepper, and cayenne.

Allow to simmer stirring occasionally for 30 minutes.

Remove roughly half of the soup to a blender and whiz it up, then add it back to the pot of soup. It'll give it a little smoothness. Simmer for another 10 or so minutes.

Serve with tortillas for dipping (ooo if you let the tortilla get soggy and then eat it together, its soo tasty), a dollop of sour cream or yogurt, and top with fresh coriander. I used basil, which was also delicious.

Now that's a summery soup.

Apple Streusel Bars

Cormac loves things with apples. If it were just myself-- I'd live on chocolate chip cookies and blondies but, hey, its good to have someone to push the variety. I saw this recipe pop up on a blog I enjoy reading a while back and filed it to memory for the next time "I dunno, something with apples would be nice *slurping of saliva noise Homer-style*" was requested for dessert.
These are tasty-- at first, they came out lacking in bar-form until I realized we are impatient piggies who didn't wait long enough for the bars to cool down. If you do, they cut out perfectly. I used a 9x9 but next time I will use a 9x13 so the spread will be thinner. Also, the glaze isn't necessary (although it looks pretty)-- even with less-than-sweet apples this can manage just fine without the added sweetness of the glaze. Cup of tea?

Apple Streusel Bars
adapted from Lovin' From the Oven

Ingredients
STREUSEL CRUST:
2 cups AP flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 egg, beaten

FILLING:
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup AP flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2tsp vanilla
4 cups (about 3 medium) baking apples, sliced thinly.

GLAZE:
1 cup icing sugar
1-2 tbsp whole milk
1 tsp vanilla

Directions
Preheat your oven to 180C /350F.

To prepare pastry crust, dice cold butter into small cubes. Add to mixer and beat together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder under you have pea sized bits. Slowly add in beaten egg. If you have a large food processor that would work well, too.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Gently pat about 2/3 of the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the dish. Preheat oven to 350 and set aside.
Apple filling: combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Toss with apples and spread apples out on prepared crust. I kind of stacked them like I'm making a fancy tartin.

Sprinkle reserved streusel mixture over apples evenly, sprinkle with cinnamon if you want (I loves me some cinnamon!)

Bake 40-45 minutes. Allow to cool completely (I was too impatient and dug straight in, which means its less bar-like and more gooey delicious.

Glaze: whisk icing sugar, vanilla, and roughly 2 tbsp milk. You might need more milk to get it to the desired thinness. Drizzle glaze over cooled bars-- I used a fork and that worked perfectly. Allow to harden. If you can!

Food Festival and Farmer's Market Fun!

The Boho Kitchen is working hard to bring her delicious treats to the farmer's market near you. We're aiming for a stall coming soon to the Ardkeen Market in Waterford and finger crossed applications will be received in time to set up at the upcoming Dunmore East Festival of Food set to run June 25th, 26th and 27th!

The Boho Kitchen was out and about at the recent Waterford Festival of Food in Dungarvan handing out fliers. Please let us know if you'd like to place an order or even if you like what you see! Hopefully we'll be able to nab a stall at the next Festival of Food. A fantastic weekend sampling of local food producers and talent!

On a non-food related note: CONSIGNMENT!
First, adults:

Smoking Lily Boutique is opening soon in Kilkenny on Kieran Street. Get your consignments in today! Visit the shop on facebook:

Now, children's:

A shout out for you local mama's who might be interested in getting a little more out of your children's old clothes. We're all a little guilty of spending a bit more during the boom and now is your chance to cash in on those name brands you bought for your kids. Almost anything but Penny's is accepted by The Clothes Line in good condition for consignment. That means, you trade in your clothes for credits to buy other clothes from the website. Maternity clothes being accepted as well. She's located in Passage East and accepts clothes by post and will post items to you-- no need to consign, either, buy these cheap deals outright!


More delicious treats and recipes to come! Summer is just around the corner-- any requests?

Banana Crunch Muffins

Sometimes those days arrive when you have a craving for a delicious sweet and in the corner of the kitchen you see some bananas getting a bit too ripe. Those days never happen to me because I absolutely love overripe bananas, but this time I sacrificed my bananas to make a nice treat for the family.

Now, I'll intro that I messed these up. Not really as they were still incredible, but my add-in didn't work the way I would have liked. I decided to use up old granola bars I made last week instead of making some granola or using pre-made granola. Next time I'll make some or just add in oats and nuts. Ooo, I bet a crunchy oats and nuts type of cereal would be fantastic!

On to the recipe.

Banana Crunch Muffins
adapted from Ina Garten, my hero

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
3 medium or large eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 large mashed bananas (if you want some chunks of banana in the muffin, dice one of the bananas)

2-3 cups add-in. Vary it. Granola, pecans, walnuts. I used a seed mix from Lidl. It had sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, raisins, cranberries... some other bits. I also broke up 2 homemade granola bars. Go crazy. Anything you think might be tasty with banana.

Direction

Preheat the oven 350F/180C.

Now, use muffin liners. Did you read that? Check it off in your mind? USE THE PAPERS. These muffins will stick to a muffin pan. You need those cupcake/fairycake/muffin cases.

Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl.

Add the melted butter and blend it together well with the dry ingredients.

Combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, and mashed bananas.

Gently fold them into the flour mixture until its combined. Don't overmix. Stop when it all starts to look wet.

Use an ice cream or cookie dough scoop if you want, to put the batter into the cases. This will give you even muffins with the exact same amount of batter in each muffin. Top with granola and sugar if you'd like!

Fold in your add-in. Gently. DON'T OVERMIX.


Bake for 25- 30 minutes. Let them cool before you eat them.

Easter

I hope everyone had a nice Easter with their families, or perhaps a non-religious regular relaxing long weekend. Either way, I want to share a few pictures of the nearly half-inch thick sugar cookies decorated for Easter with royal icing I made as gifts. They are tender and buttery. These make great party favors! More information under 'What We Offer' if you are interested for your next event.

Unconventional Christening Cake

Your baby's cake needs no frills or pastels, go bold!

Cupcakes for your next occasion?

Next time a birthday or special event rolls around, consider a dozen or more decorated cupcakes. You can keep them as simple as these, or we can personalize them with whatever you'd like! The most important thing, these American-style cupcakes are moist and delicious, topped with vanilla buttercream.

A whole spread of cupcakes, instead of cake!