Waking up after a bad dream is never easy, and starting off with a feeling of gloom is not a good start! Perhaps reflected in the weather, I woke up today in slightly low spirits. Still in Knockadoon, and slightly confused by the clocks going back, I hauled myself out of bed and forced myself …
Ballymaloe Day 41: Knocking around Knockadoon
Following the highs of getting through exams, I was excited to spend the bank holiday away from campus and somewhere less intense! And so here I am in Knockadoon camp, cooking and helping feed nearly 60 people – I must have caught kitchen fever. Situated near Ballymacoda in Cork, Knockadoon Camp hosts weeks of fun …
Ballymaloe Day 40: “How to get a well-browned bottom”
I tossed and turned all night, waking up at stupid hours. Even though I didn’t feel too nervous about my mid-terms, there was still exam fever in the air. Last night I had gone through a few techniques to keep them fresh in mind but there were definitely a few that I wasn’t 100% comfortable …
Ballymaloe Day 36: “A pan of water to a furious boil”
Muttering mild expletives under my breath, I sliced the apple into thin slivers and placed them onto my tart. Back in the kitchen for the start of week six, I felt quite drained and my energy levels were far from their peak. I’m back in Kitchen 2 for the week and though tired, I was …
Ballymaloe Day 26: “Here at Buttermaloe”
With a long wooden spoon in one hand and a spatula in the other, I started today’s cooking with determination in mind. The end of week four was just in my grasp and I wanted to go out of Kitchen 2 on a high note. I had a blackberry, apple and sweet geranium tart, strawberry …
Ballymaloe Day 7: Lazing on a Sunday afternoon…
Opening an eye slowly to take in the early morning rays, I completely forgot that I wasn’t at home in Kerry. Last night we had a communal feast where people made dishes and brought them along to the courtyard. Along with generous glasses of wine and beer, the partying went on well into the night …
Ballymaloe Day 4: “It’s a moment in a glass”
As I stared at the limp body in my lap, with my fingers plucking away at its torso, I realised that everyday some kind-of randomness happens here at Ballymaloe. I had an early start today and got up at 7am to head off to our optional gardening class. About 14 of us trudged around the …
Ballymaloe Day 0: “Leave your Prada and Gucci at home!”
As I’m writing this, I’m tucked away in the comfort of my cottage-esque home for the next three months – That’s right folks I’m finally here at Ballymaloe Cookery School! Apart from the occasional mumblings from people outside in the courtyard, everything is pretty quiet – even the chickens are hushed in their coup. I …
Pre-panic: More preparation underway for Ballymaloe Cookery School
It’s been a crazy few days, so I apologise for the lack of updates on site. I’m currently doing mountains of research for Ballymaloe and trying to do some extra studying. I have this intense fear that I’m going to make an arse of myself during the first week of the course so I’m desperately …
Nerves, stress and excitement: preparing for Ballymaloe Cookery School
There are just 28 days to go until I embark on a life-changing new adventure… This year I left my full-time job as a staff writer with Her.ie to pursue a passion that had been bubbling in me for the past few years. Ballymaloe Cookery School, a three-month intensive course that would hopefully propel myself …