Paula McIntyre's Rare Breed Pork Ragu with Gnudie This recipe takes time but is well worth it. Start the ricotta process the night before – either make your own, or drain excess liquid out of shop bought ricotta, full details below. The Ragu requires long, slow...

  My Perfect Sourdough Making sourdough bread is a two day process so I have included timings for the actual work involved. I use a cast iron round casserole dish, like Le Creuset, but a Pyrex style glass dish with lid would work just as well. 600 g strong...

BrookLodge Wild Garlic Pesto 50 g wild garlic leaves25 g nuts (pine, cashew, hazel or chestnuts)200 ml organic olive oil (or Irish organic rapeseed oil)400 g parmigiano-reggiano (or really mature hard Irish farmhouse cheese grated)organic black pepper and sea salt...

Moules Marinière Unlike other solid ingredients, mussels are measured by volume rather than weight. A normal serving would be 1/2 litre mussels per person. This is a cheap and satisfying dish. 2 l mussels1 onion (finely chopped)4 tbsps white wine50 g butter1 tsp...

Mary’s Buckeye Fudge “My Mom grew up on a donkey farm in Pickaway County, Ohio, and Buckeye balls are reminiscent of her Thanksgiving on the farm. These are somewhat more elegant” 225 g butter800 g castor sugar1 small can evaporated milk200 ml water¼ tsp vanilla...

Pears Poached in a Saffron Syrup Most exotic of all the fruit compotes, pears cooked this way turn a wonderful deep golden colour and are delicately infused with the flavours of saffron and cardamom - two of the world’s most precious spices. We use Conference and...

Mini Cheese Scones with Chilli Jam and Ardsallagh Goats Cheese This zingy Chilli Jam is great with everything from fried eggs to cold meat. Terrific on a piece of chicken breast or fish or spread on bruschetta with goat’s cheese and rocket leaves. Scones175 g Self...

Zoe Schiffer’s Latke’s 4 large floury potatoes2 medium onions1 egg2 tbsp matzo meal or breadcrumbsOil for fryingSaltPepperTo serve:Hot smoked salmonHorseradishDillSour cream Grate potatoes and onions.Place in a cheese cloth over a sieve and squeeze ALL the liquid out...

Tim Slater’s Arancini and Greenhouse Pesto This canapé pays homage to Ballymaloe's six-week Herb and Salad exam using the ingredients fresh from the glasshouse to make a tasty pesto to top the arancini made from the Ballymaloe Cookery School Risotto ala...

Pears in Red Wine A tasty way to use up any of that leftover red wine from Christmas. 4 hard pears50 g Demerara sugar250 ml red winecream (whipped) Heat oven to 180C.Peel the pears, halve lengthwise and remove the core.Place in a single layer in an oven-proof dish and...

Meringue à la Reine Said to be a favourite of Marie Antoinette, these meringue boats would make a luxurious dessert for Christmas. Save the egg yolks to make the Lobster Newburg 3 egg whitessalt75 g granulated sugar75 g caster sugar25 g lightly toasted nibbed...

Lobster Newburg This would make a luxurious starter for Christmas. Save the egg whites to make the Meringue à la Reine 2 large cooked lobsters125 g butter (melted)6 large slices white bread50 g butter150 ml sherry or Madeira1 tbsp brandy3 egg yolks300 ml...