Organic Product Review - Ariosa Organic Guatamala Blend

I like a strong flavored coffee and have been stocking two that I am particularly fond of in my hampers for the last few years. Recently one of them has been discontinued and I was keen to find a replacement. 

I discovered this product at 'The Organic Supermarket' and was immediately delighted to find an Irish roasted and blended organic coffee. I was even more delighted by the lovely aroma which wafted tantalisingly from the bag. I took it home and at the first available opportunity brewed myself a cup, the taste lived up to the smell, a lovely rich flavor, smooth and very drinkable. There was a hint of bitterness but it wasn't overwhelming. 

Ariosa boast that they bring their coffee to their customers within a week of roasting and this would somewhat account for the wonderful flavor, I don't drink a lot of coffee however and the bag has been sitting open in my fridge for the last two weeks and it still tastes great.

So It's a big thumbs up for Ariosa Coffee. It is available to buy either ground or as beans from 'The Organic Supermarket' in Blackrock and direct from Ariosa at the Temple Bar Market. Very soon it will also be available in my hampers and at my stall at the Naas Farmers Market.

Ariosa Organic Guatamala Blend is certified organic by The Organic Trust.

Recipe: Beetroot Hummus

Over the last couple of years I have acquired a taste for beetroot and when I see the fresh bunches arrive at the farmers market I am always delighted to pick them up. If you have only tasted the pickled kind I would encourage you to give fresh beetroot a try. It's lovely roasted or made into soup. If you are a subscriber to my recipe of the month you will already have one recipe for beetroot.

This recipe utilises the organic pre-cooked beetroot that is available in the supermarkets. If you want to start from fresh simply skin and roast the beetroot until soft. I also play with the quantities until it tastes perfect. Due to the pinkness of the end product it goes down well with my young niece.

Ingredients

1 tin of chick peas drained
2 cloves of garlic crushed
2 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp light tahini
6 tbsp lemon juice
1 vacuum packed beetroot
salt and pepper.

Chop the beetroot into small cubes
Place the rest of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth
Adjust the seasoning to taste
Add the beetroot and blend until smooth.

Organic Restaurant Review - The Strawberry Tree

When I imagine an organic restaurant I always have a certain picture in my head of a place decked out in wood, with large, no nonsense wooden tables and hearty but unglamorous food.

The Strawberry Tree based in the Brooke Lodge Hotel, McCreddin Village, Co. Wicklow is the antithesis of this. The restaurant is the first certified organic restaurant in Ireland and it is one that I have wanted to visit for a very long time. I had been given varying reviews from friends and acquaintances and was keen to see how it would live up to my expectations.

Arriving at the door I was surprised to find the low lit interior was more akin to an old country house than the barn I was expecting. The floor was carpeted and the walls were decorated with flock wallpaper which always brings back fond memories my granny's house. The tables were elegant and well worn as were the chairs.

The menu proudly listed all of the restaurants suppliers which is something I always like to see.

There were two vegetarian starters on the menu which can throw me into a bit of a panic. I am so used to only having to glance at the menu to see what the veggie option is that choice often confuses me. In the end I plumped for the warm buffalo mozzarella salad which was nice, not terribly exciting but the ingredients were fresh and tasty. My companion had the scallops, it was the first time she had ever tasted them and although she wasn't sold on them, we will never know if this was because she doesn't like scallops or because the ones on offer weren't that good. 

For the main course I had the butternut squash risotto. I've been making a lot of my own risotto recently and I like to have it in restaurants to see if mine is up to scratch. My companion had the Duck. We both really enjoyed the main course which was served with seasonal vegetables including to my delight lots of beetroot which has recently become one of my favorite vegetables. The roasted sweet potatoes which came as a side were absolutely divine. The risotto was reassuringly slightly better than mine which led me to spend the week after our visit perfecting my dish.

Somehow we managed to find enough room for pudding. We went for the chocolate based desert which was beautifully dark and rich.

I enjoyed the experience of being in the Strawberry Tree. I found it refreshing to be in such eloquent surroundings and was only disappointed that due to having to drive there I was unable to sample the wine list. Maybe next time I'll treat myself to an overnight stay.

Celebrate Organic Week

Organic Week is on it's way. This year Bord Bia have decided to run the event earlier and it will fall between the 15th and 21st of September. This means that it will co-inside with Organic Fortnight in the UK, it also means that there will be far more opportunity for you to enjoy farm walks and seasonal produce.

For a full list of the events scheduled throughout the week log onto the Bord Bia website.

At Feelgood Organic Hampers we are running our own event in collaboration with Healthy Living Health Food Store and Wellness Centre, Vendemia Organic Wines and Moyleabbey Organic Kitchen.

Have you ever wanted to know more about organic wine?
Have you ever been unsure of what to cook for a guest who is Vegan or has allergies?
Do you want to taste some of the foods that Feelgood Organic Hampers has to offer?

Then join us at Healthy Living, 54 Leinster Street, Athy, Co. Kildare on Friday 19th of September at 7pm.

The evening will combine organic wine tasting, organic antipasti, organic, macrobiotic, vegan, wheat free and sugar free cookery demonstrations, a three course meal, entertainment and a chance to win a Feelgood Organic Hamper.

Tickets priced at €25 are available by
- Calling me at Feelgood Organic Hampers on 059 863 8999
or from
- Healthy Living, 54 Leinster Street, Athy, Co. Kildare,
- The Moyleabbey Organic Farm Stall at the Athy Farmers Market
- Café del Vino, The Butterslip, Kilkenny
- The Feelgood Organic Hampers Stall at the Naas Farmers Market

Tickets to this event are very limited so please make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Can your favorite recipe make it onto TV and the Supermarket shelves?

Everyone has a favorite dish, one which they have created and adapted over the years until it has reached perfection. My Mum makes the best trifle ever (subscribers to recipe of the month will get the recipe this Christmas), and I like my Sheepless Shepherds Pie the best. 

So what's your best dish? If you have a crowd pleasing recipe, RTE's newest television show 'Recipe For Success' is giving you the opportunity to turn it into a moneyspinner. So if you believe that your dish can stand up to the competition and if you dream of seeing it on the Supermarket shelves, log onto the RTE Recipe For Success website or write to them at: Recipe For Success, RTE, Father Matthew Street, Cork.

I'll look forward to watching some of you on the show!