Then, present them however you like. I had cellophane and Christmas ribbon handy so packed them up in groups of four and they weren’t squished in transit or marked the wrapping.

So, that’s it. Messy, but easy and very, very tasty! If you plan to give these as presents, I’d recommend gifting them in small numbers, maybe six per pack, as they’re very rich.

Reposted and edited from my old blog Where’s My Parade?! Originally posted July 2013.

With the weather being so warm, I wanted to finally break out the Pimm’s and try a food match with it. Something refreshing, tasty and of course, easy. Who wants to be in the kitchen, or indeed, hovering over a BBQ in this heat? Fuggetaboudit.

A quick Google of lemon, ginger and chicken brought me to the Rustic Garden Bistro blog.

Recipe jackpot. Easy, simple and fabulously fragrant, dahlings.

 Serves 2-3

Directions (taken from the Rustic Garden Bistro blog)

You can leave the chicken to marinate for an hour, I left mine overnight. The meat was very juicy and had plenty of flavour. Even with the ginger and jalapeno pepper, it didn’t quite have the kick I expected. Which in fairness is not what I was looking for in this heat, after all, making something refreshing was the original M.O. But it’s worth noting for those who like a good punch of heat in their dishes. Either add extra ginger in or chop up an extra green or red small chilli to bring an extra hit of heat.

This recipe is the Rustic Garden Bistro blogger’s first generation Vietnamese-American mother’s recipe, so for the full info and Kim’s original post, check it out here.

Food done, lets not forget the Pimm’s! For me, it’s the ultimate refreshing summer drink. It was a good day to mix up a batch as it’s synonymous with Wimbledon, and today of course being the men’s final. Hooray for Andy Murray! You’d miss aul goo at Rafa though, eh?

Reposting from my old blog Where’s My Parade?! Since I seem to have access to the posts but not the site. Mwah ha haaa. Also, I need easier access to the recipes again, because yum. Originally posted November 2013

(vid: CherieO/ YouTube)

You will take my mid-week joy from my cold, dead paws.

Poor Lisa Scott-Lee. This was a great song. The reality show following its launch was great for all the wrong reasons. She vowed to give up on her solo career if it didn’t make the top ten. It charted at number 13. AWKS. Imagine if Kylie released this song, it would’ve been massive! Even Dannii might’ve broken the top ten. Even Bouncer might’ve cracked it. Oh well..

Speaking of Neighbours, during our shifts in Golden Discs way back at the turn of the century *pulls at greys*, we had the Lucy Pearl album on repeat. I’m pretty sure the only other people who heard it as much as us were our neighbours in Boots and the Pound Shop. So lets have a dance-off with Lisa’s retirement jingle and another unfortunate short-lived wonder and fabulous line-up including Raphael Saadiq and (fleetingly) En Vogue’s Dawn Robinson.

Culture Night takes place on Friday 19^th September when 36 regions, towns and cities around Ireland will buzz with events and live performances as the nation’s most popular cultural extravaganza returns for 2014. There is a diverse mix of FREE events with something to suit every age and interest from live music to interactive tours in the more than 900 venues participating around the country, with each county showcasing the very best of its cultural talents and creativity. Building on last year’s estimated 350,000 participants record crowds are expected for 2014 as the country connects for this one night a year in a national movement of exploration, experience and enjoyment. An incredible blend of cultural events will take place with museums, galleries, cathedrals, studios, observatories, libraries, parks, government buildings and theatres in each corner of the country opening late to create an inimitable celebratory night-time atmosphere.

§  National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology

In the National Museum of Ireland Archaeology on Kildare Street visitors can join Regina Sexton, culinary and food historian, and Jessica de Búrca of Montague Heritage Services for ‘The Food of Viking Towns and Gaelic Countryside: Tastes of Early Medieval Ireland’ from 6.30-7.30pm and learn about and see what foods were enjoyed in Ireland over 1000 years ago.

§  The Mendicity Institution

                Visitors to Dublin’s oldest working charity on Culture Night can watch actors recreate the life of the institution in its heyday of the 1820s and taste the food which was served there at the time.

§  Waterways Ireland

Waterways Ireland will have a night exploring sugar and its many yummy forms in the Grand Canal Quay centre. Visitors can enjoy love demonstrations, sample delicious desserts from home and abroad and discover our canals sugar heritage.

§  Cork Butter Museum

This unique institution in Shandon celebrates one of the great success stories of Ireland, the butter trade. Culture Night visitors will learn of the central role of dairy culture in Ireland and the internationally important Butter Exchange in nineteenth century Cork, the traditional craft of home butter making and the modern success of the Kerrygold brand.

The full national programme is available on www.culturenight.ie

Pics from Culture Night Facebook

Like that extra glass or two too many during the week. Like picking between your teeth with a straightened paper clip. Like that smarmy randomer after aforementioned glass too many. Like the coleslaw technically still in date but the mayo has curdled. But enough about my week, and possible Alanis Morrisette-esque lyric attempts.

Have you seen this impressive looking yoke? The wine contraption, not the woman.

Good news, fellow lushies-It exists!

But then, much like the curdled mayo coleslaw….I figured it might not be worth it. I couldn’t find a price guide apart from one very passionate article mentioning a price scale from $10k to over $100k. Hmm, it sure was impressive looking but how much wine would you be drinking to justify spending thousands on managing and preserving your splishysplashy? It would have to be a household of wine nerds. Ones who don’t use the emptying of bottle as a timer alert for bed time. I’m presuming it’s for those who spend a pretty penny on their booze and savour it for weeks. I wonder what that’s like….

Anywho, it sure is pretty. Along with the fancy plate warming drawer I saw on Come Dine With Me, it’s on the list for the day I have more money than sense.

In the meantime, I’ll keep my box of wine where it belongs; beside me on the couch *kissyfaces*.

(pic from here)

Join Airfield Dundrum this August for a dining experience like no other. Visitors to Overends restaurant on August 8th, 15th and 22nd can enjoy a two or three course meal at Overends restaurant followed by after dinner entertainment with a difference and a special wildlife twist; a walking tour through the estate to learn about some of Airfield’s less well known inhabitants, curious little beasts who take to the air around the estate each night around the time most of us are getting ready for bed … bats.

The sheep, cows, pigs, goats and hens might be the animals that provide the most entertainment to Airfield visitors during the day but bats are also some of our favourite and most useful inhabitants. Very few of us are aware of their presence and even fewer of us will be going out of our way to look for them – bats. These animals are amazing navigators and fascinating members of our native Irish fauna. This August Airfield celebrates the aerial acrobats with a dinner and walking tour package. Enjoy a two or three course meal at Overends restaurant (€30 and €36 respectively), available to book from 6pm, followed by a walking tour at 9pm with Paul Scott of Bat Conservation Ireland. Airfield will make a donation to Bat Conservation Ireland on visitors’ behalf.

(image via here)

Held late in the evening when the estate is normally closed to the public, a lucky few will be guided by Paul through the food gardens over to the wild pond which provides a smorgasbord of insects for the local bat population to feed on. Standing on the boardwalk across the pond will be like watching bats from their dining table. Visitors are likely to see the Leisler’s bat, Ireland’s largest bat and the early riser in the bat world; it emerges as soon as the sun goes down and can be seen swooping down to catch insects from up to 30m up in the air. Next up is the Soprano Pipistrelle bat which feed on thousands of midges and mosquitoes every night, and so small it could sit on the end of your thumb.

‘Sup, Common Pipistrell?

(pic via here)

The Common Pipistrelle will join the rest of the bats foraging over the pond and the aptly-named Brown Long-eared bat, with enormous long ears and surprisingly large black eyes, is a regular visitor to woods and hedgerows in suburbs.

Look at the little face!

(pic via here)

Airfield is a great place for bats due to the range of woodland, water and grassland that is found on the estate. Bats thrive where there are dark, undisturbed areas with lots of insect life, exactly what Airfield provides after dark. So when you next tuck into the home-grown peas, cabbages, carrots or beetroot, think of the Airfield bats that stopped the pesky flies from eating it first!

(pic via here)

To reserve a place on the Bat Walk & Dinner package please call Overends restaurant on 01 969 6666.

For further information log onto http://www.airfield.ie or follow Airfield @airfielddundrum or https://www.facebook.com/airfielddublin