EACH WEEK, WE ask a home cook about the dishes they’ve been whipping up of late – from simple suppers to lavish lunches.
This week, family cook and food stylist Caitriona Barron (@caitriona_barron) shared five recipes for homemade meals and treats, from classic potato and leek soup to refreshing iced tea.
Caitriona’s love for food began with her upbringing on a farm in Wexford, where her family “lived off the land,” so to speak. After a finishing a diploma in interior design, Caitriona taught herself food styling and photography, and ran farmers’ markets. “I took a break to be a stay at home mother, so I cook all my meals from scratch and like a mix of cuisines using the freshest of ingredients,” says Caitriona.
“My style and approach to cooking is to eat seasonal fresh local food as much as possible and all in moderation. I studied nutrition on weekends to further help with my recipe creations.”
1. Classic potato and leek soup: Potato and leek soup is my son’s favourite. We grow our own potatoes for eateries in Wexford but also for our home. This is a simple soup of mainly two ingredients that most have in their larder, so it’s easy to whip up and wholesome as well.
I use a floury British queen potato (when in season) or golden wonders for this soup. Trust me, choosing the right potato makes such a difference. Leeks and onion and garlic blend with vegetable stock, cream and créme fraiche, for a soup that’s perfect for a winter day.
2. Chilli mince with enough for leftovers: This is chilli spicy mince using chicken mince, we love this and it makes enough for two days. I make it in the slow cooker. I pop all my ingredients in that morning and it’s ready that evening. I serve it with baked potatoes one day and rice the next. It’s one of those dishes with lots of flavours and goodness that you never bore of.
3. Sweet banana bread: Banana bread is our teatime fave and my bring-along treat when meeting up with friends. I buy bunches of bananas, so there’s always a few that become overripe, which is perfect for banana bread. I use unrefined sugar and organic flour, then add nuts and chocolate chips for more flavours.
4. Refreshing iced tea: I first tasted this iced tea in Lanzarote, where my mother lives in the winter months. It’s perfect and refreshing for summer. I just add Irish tea to cold water, honey, and lemon, and chill overnight. Add a little mint and ice the next day.
5. Spicy garlic prawns: Another dish that hails from Lanzarote is spicy garlic prawns. Using fresh langoustines, I like to garnish with shrimp in the shell. The trick here is to use a light olive oil and mix with a little rapeseed oil, fresh organic garlic as it’s sweeter and adds a better flavour, and lots of chilis. Then finish it with a splash of sherry, a knob of butter and a squeeze of lemon. All mopped up with fresh crusty bread.
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