Ballymaloefudge Food

BALLYMALOE IRISH STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut the chops in 1/2 and trim off some of the excess fat. Set aside. Render down the fat on a gentle heat in a heavy pan (discard the rendered-down pieces).
• Peel the onions and scrape or thinly peel the carrots (if they are young you could leave some of the green stalk on the onion and carrot). Cut the carrots into large chunks, or if they are young leave them whole. If the onions are large, cut them small, if they are small they are best left whole.
• Toss the meat in the hot fat in a saucepan until it is slightly brown. Transfer the meat into a casserole, then quickly toss the onions and carrots in the fat. Build the meat, carrots and onions up in layers in the casserole, carefully season each layer with freshly ground pepper and salt. Deglaze the pan with lamb stock and pour it into the casserole. Peel the potatoes and lay them on top of the casserole, so they will steam while the stew cooks. Season the potatoes. Add a sprig of thyme, bring to a boil on top of the stove, cover and transfer to a moderate oven or allow to simmer on top of the stove until the stew is cooked, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• When the stew is cooked, pour off the cooking liquid, degrease and reheat in another saucepan. Slightly thicken it with a little roux if you like. Check seasoning, then add chopped parsley and chives and pour it back over the stew. Bring it back up to boiling point and serve from the pot or in a large pottery dish.
• Melt the butter and cook the flour in it for 2 minutes on a low heat, stirring occasionally. Use as required. Roux can be stored in a cool place and used as required or it can be made up on the spot if preferred. It will keep 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

BALLYMALOE IRISH STEW

Steps:

• Season the lamb chops with salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven, over medium heat, add the oil. When the oil is hot, but not smoking add the chops. Sear for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Remove the chops from the pan and set aside. Add the beer and continue to cook for 1 minute, scraping any brown particles off the bottom of the pan. Add the lamb back to the pan. In a mixing bowl, toss the vegetables with salt and pepper. Add the vegetables to the pan. Cover with the stock. Bring the liquid to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to medium low. Simmer for about 2 hours or until the lamb falls off the bone. Stir in the roux and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the parsley and spoon into serving bowls.

BALLYMALOE FUDGE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a heavy bottomed saucepan over low heat.
• Add milk, water, sugar and vanilla.
• Stir with a whisk until the sugar dissolves.
• Turn up the heat and simmer, stirring constantly until it reaches the soft ball stage (test it by putting a little fudge in a cup of cold water if it forms a ball it's ready or use a thermometer and it reaches 236F) Pull the pan off the heat and stir until the fudge thickens.
• Pour into a 9x13"pan and smooth out with a spatula.
• Allow to cool before cutting.

BALLYMALOE BROWN BREAD

Steps:

• Grease an 8in x 2 1/2in (20cm x 10cm x 6cm) loaf pan and warm it in a preheated oven 250¿F/120¿C, for 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle the yeast into 2/3 cup (150ml) of the water in a bowl. Leave for 5 minutes; stir to dissolve. Add the molasses. Leave for 10 minutes, until frothy. Add the remaining water and stir.
• Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the dissolved yeast. Stir in the flour to form a thick batter.
• Use your hands to mix the batter gently in the bowl for 1 minute, until it begins to leave the sides of the bowl clean and forms a soft, sticky dough.
• Place the dough in the prepared pan and cover with a dish towel. Proof until the dough is 1/2in (1 cm) above the top of the pan, about 25-30 minutes.
• Bake in the preheated oven at 425¿F/220¿C for 30 minutes, then lower the oven to 400¿F/200¿C and bake for 15 minutes.
• Turn the loaf out of the pan and onto a baking sheet. Return the bread, bottom side up, to the oven. Bake for a further 10 minutes, until golden and hollow sounding when tapped underneath. Let cool on a wire rack.
• Proofing: 25-30 minutes. Oven temperature: 425¿F/220¿C. Baking: 55 minutes Yeast alternative: 1oz (30g) cake yeast