My name in lights - Feelgood Organic Hampers first video.

We've just made our first video starring... Me! I promise not to get all big headed and abandon my friends!

It's produced by Hedgehog Productions and is designed to promote the newest hamper in the Feelgood Organic Hampers range: "The Snack In A Box"

Keep an eye on our brand new YouTube channel for further videos.

Recipe - Blackberry Fool

It's been very difficult to choose a recipe of the month for September. There is so much in season and I found it hard to choose between two of my favorites, blackberries and mushrooms. In the end I plumped for blackberries as there seems to be a never-ending supply of them at the moment. After much experimenting I came up with two mouthwatering desserts, both different and both deserving of the September slot. The solution was to give one to Organic Yum-Yum and one to the recipe of the month. So for blog readers here's my Blackberry Fool.

If you would like the second recipe 'Blackberry Cranachan' sign up to our mailing list on the right hand side of this page.

Ingredients

• 300g Blackberries
• 75g Sugar
• 125ml Cream
• 50g Marscapone

Method

• Reserve a handful of berries for the garnish and puree the rest with the sugar in a blender until smooth.
• Push the mixture through a sieve to remove all the seeds
• Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks, take care not to over-whip.
• Soften the Marscapone and whip into the cream, again take care not to over-whip, if you find the mixture is too thick add some extra cream.
• Stir in the blackberry puree mixture, reserving approximately a third of it for garnish.
• Place a few blackberries in the base of 4 wine glasses, layer in the cream mixture keeping a little back for decoration.
• Top with the left over puree.
• Place a dollop of the cream mixture to the top of the puree and top with the rest of the blackberries.
• Refrigerate for at least two hours.

Regaining the Freedom of Dublin on two wheels.

As anyone who knows me will know I have been slightly overexcited about the new Dublin bikes scheme. I moved from Dublin just over 3 years ago and really have missed cycling around the city so I signed up for the scheme at the first available opportunity. Last week I had several meetings scheduled across the city and was really looking forward to trying them out. It was the day after the Luas/Bus crash so my tram in from the Red Cow park and ride was only running as far as Smithfield. Luckily there is a bike station right next to the Luas station there.

So I picked up a bike and was able to complete my journey to Connolly Station on two wheels. The bikes themselves are quite bulky and heavy, there is a largish basket on the front which is handy, it also has some sort of security lock on it that you can thread through the handles of your bags so that no one can snatch it when you're stopped at the lights. The handlebars seemed strangely thin, in fact they surprised me with their thinness every time I got on one. I felt steadier on this bike than my own, possibly due to it's sturdiness and weight, this is not a bike you would want to cycle long distances on but is perfect for short city trips. There are only three gears and they are all pretty easy to pedal in. During my whole day I only felt a need to change down to second one time. This also means that you can't go that fast and you will need to get used to other cyclists overtaking you.

My second journey between Baggot Street and the IFSC was great, usually you would either need to get a bus into town and a Luas out to the IFSC or walk which takes quite a while. I was at the IFSC in about 15 minutes and had plenty of time for coffee before my meeting. It was dark for my return journey, the bikes have built in lights which come on automatically as soon as you pick them up but I did feel that as I was wearing dark clothes my visibility wasn't the best. Next time I'll be sure to remember my fluorescent vest. I was quite chuffed to hear some pedestrians making comment on the bike as I cycled past, apparently they are 'quite cool' I like to think that I looked pretty cool cycling it as well!

My last journey of the day was back to the Luas. The Internet told me that trams were still only running from Smithfield so I cycled up there only to find the bike station full. I checked their computer which gave me another 20 minutes of free cycling time but I must have read it wrong as when I arrived at the next station it too was full. Third time I was lucky and finally managed to get a spot at Jervis Street. Luckily the Internet had been lying and trams were running the full route again so I was able to hop on a Luas almost immediately.

I was pretty happy with the experience and I'll definitely be using them a lot more. There are a few disadvantages that are worth a mention.

1. Bring your own safety equipment. As I mentioned fluorescent vests and cycle helmets aren't provided. It would also be a good idea to bring a quality bike lock if you need to stop your journey at any point. Cycle clips are not required, as I discovered after cycling around with my trousers rolled up for half a day, there is a very good chain guard provided so there is no chance of getting your boot cuts caught up.

2. Check the availability of parking space at your destination before leaving. The bike stations have a display of what spaces are available at what stations across the city. If I hadn't found a space at Jervis centre I could have had to face a cycle back up the very steep hill next to Christchurch so checking where to park in advance of my journey would have been a good idea. The council moves the bikes during the day to ensure maximum availability but by 9.30pm they had obviously stopped this service, there were only two bikes to hire at Wilton Terrace and as I mentioned the stations at my destination were full. If you have an iPhone or similar there is a handy app which allows you to access information whilst on the road. Find it here.

3. One way systems. Bring a city street guide with you so you can make sense of how to get around the one ways. I'm used to navigating the city by foot so I found myself scuppered by one way streets a number of times.

You can buy a one year subscription to Dublin bikes online for €10 or, if you are in Dublin and fancy giving it a go right now you can get a three day subscription for €2. For full information check out the DublinBikes.ie website.

Organic Week - What to do today 19th September 2009

National Organic Week draws to a close this weekend, it's been one of the busiest and best that I can remember with a wide variety of events happening all over the country. If you attended one of the events let us know, we'd love to hear about your experience.

Today is the busiest day yet:

Carlow Farmers Market is having a spit roast barbecue, if it's anything like the one at the Slow Food stand at the Electric Picnic it should be worth visiting (being a vegetarian I didn't get to try it myself but all reports were good).

At the Wild Honey Inn in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare there is the Clare and South Galway Organic Producers event.

The Dublin Food Co-op hosts a cookery demo with Chef Marc Moissard and Organic Wine and local cheese tasting from Moon shine dairy farm.

The Shanakill/Rahoonane Community Organic Garden in Tralee, Co. Kerry has it's annual Harvest Fair.

At Moyleabbey Organic Farm, Ballitore, Co. Kildare there is a Healthy Eating Workshop.

Also in Kildare at Castlefarm, Athy there is an organic Farm Walk and vegetable harvesting as well as an organic cooking demonstration.

Sligo Farmers market has a Cookery Demonstration and tasting featuring recipes from 'The Seaweed Kitchen'.

James Whelan Butchers in The Oakville Shopping Centre, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary are hosting an organic barbecue.

Another barbecue in Clonmel, this time provided by Omega Beef at Clonmel Farmers Market.

For a full listing of events check out the Bord Bia website.

Organic Week - What to do today 18th September 2009

Only 3 days left to celebrate national organic week. Here's a run down of some of today's events:

At 2pm today the Wexford Organic Centre are having a farm walk so get your wellies on!

Blastra Wholefoods in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford continue their organic food tastings as does New Vistas Healthcare in the Crescent Shopping Centre, Limerick, The Organic Supermarket in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ecologic in Windy Arbour, Dundrum and Cavistons in Sandycove.

In 'The Kitchen', Hynds Square, Portlaoise they will have organic produce on the menu and cookery demonstrations.

It's also your final day to grab a free organic yogurt from Glenisk at your local Dart station if your in Dublin or at your local supplier countrywide.

For a full list of events near you check out the Bord Bia website.

Organic Week - What to do today 17th September 2009

It's another busy day with plenty to do to celebrate National Organic Week.

If you haven't tried the fabulous Inagh Farmhouse Cheese and you happen to be in or passing through Co. Clare, drop in for their Farm Open Day and Organic Cheese Tasting.

In Clonakilty, Co. Cork. Scally's SuperValu is having an organic lunch sampling of Dee's Organic Omega Burger with organic pitta, organic mixed leaves and organic relish.

The Dublin Food Co-op will have it's regular organic food market between 12noon and 8pm. If you've not been before organic week is a great excuse to make your visit.

In Ballinasloe, Co. Galway there's a farm walk at Beechlawn Organic Farm.

The Organic Centre in Leitrim has another big event with their Annual Harvest Celebration.

In Louth at Grounswell on the Coolery Peninsula there is an introductory workshop on growing and using herbs.

The Mayo Organic Group are hosting an evening with guest speaker Lynda Huxley including organic food tastings and food sale.

Sligo's 'Grow Your Own' market will have a Community Garden Open day.

And the Eyre Square Centre launches it's outdoor food market.

We'll be back tomorrow with our pick of things to do to celebrate.

For a full list of events check out the Bord Bia website.

Organic Week - What to do today 16th September 2009

There's plenty to do across the country today to celebrate National Organic Week:

Burren Smoke House & Roadside Tavern in Lisdonvarna, Co. Clare are having a tasting of Smoked Organic Irish Salmon.

The Nano Nagle Centre, Balgriffin, Mallow, Co. Cork are having an organic farm open day including cookery demo from Clodagh McKenna and a Farmers market.

In the Shannon Key West Hotel, Rooskey, Co. Leitrim there will be an organic information evening which invites you to 'Meet your local Organic Producers'.

Also in Leitrim, at The Organic Centre, Rossinver it's womens day hosted by 'Women in Organic Horticultural Training' (WOHT). The day includes talks, workshops, displays and information.

In Limerick, The Organic College, Dromcollogher has an Open Afternoon and Information on Organic courses & practices for Autumn growers.

We'll be back tomorrow with more events.

For a full list of what's going on this National Organic Week check out the Bord Bia website.

Organic Week - What to do today 15th September 2009

To celebrate organic week Organic Yum-Yum is going to keep you up to date with things to do around the country.

Tonight at the Hudson Bay Hotel, Athlone there is an organic information evening, inviting you to 'Meet your local organic producers'. Call the hotel on 090 6442000 for more information.

If your in or near Bandon, Co. Cork pop into An Tobairin/ Finnuise on South Main Street who have a number of events planned including an 'Organic Veggie Hunt' and a 'Veggie Art Exhibition' which is to be judged by a local celebrity.

you can find a full list of Organic Week events on the Bord Bia Website.

We'll be back to give you our picks again tomorrow.

Organic Week and The Harvest Festival

Organic week is almost upon us again and it's going to be a good one. Bord Bia are going full pelt with the marketing and this year they've embraced social media with pages both on Facebook and Twitter.

The biggest event of the week is once again going to be 'The Harvest Feast' in Leitrim. Running from the 11th to the 13th of September 2009 it's packed with events, talks and demonstrations.

Reading about the feast sparked memories of the Harvest Festivals we celebrated when I was a child. The longer I've been away from Essex the more I've realised how rural it was, country walks were a standard part of a family weekend, the smell of rape seed, the sound of the wind blowing through corn and wheat fields which in later years used to provide good hiding places. I suppose it was natural that the harvest festival would be a big part of our year. Like everything when you are young, living in a small suburban town in Essex harvest festival was heavily linked into the church and school. We were asked to bring something into school for the feast, ironically, most of us seemed to bring tinned food, I guess this was a symbol of the 80's, this food would be distributed to the needy. Church, which I was forced to attend sporadically always looked really pretty, the isle and alter adorned with piles of fresh produce, and corn dollies hung from the pews. My friends Mother was an expert in making plaited bread and harvest loaves that hung tantalisingly from their walls, these are a tradition of the festival, baked from the first grains from the harvest. It's lucky that I never had a sleepover there, it was everything I could do when I visited to stop myself from chomping into the loaves... I mean why would you hang them on a wall?

As with so many Christian celebrations the Harvest Festival was originally a pagan festival.. Lammas the festival of the first fruits of the harvest was celebrated on the 1st or 2nd of August, the bread baking was part of the tradition and it seems by eating this bread you were eating the bread of the gods. It's easy to see how this translated into the Christian faith so well.

In Ireland the festival was called Lughnasad after the sun-king god Lugh and was also celebrated on the 1st of August. Lugh had a feast to morn the death of his Mother Tailtiu who is said to have cleared the land for agriculture. Lughnasad translates as 'marriage of Lugh' as Lugh was believed to be married to the land.

It may be a bit late in the year to celebrate Lughnasad but the Harvest Feast in Leitrim is a great substitute. Leitrum has, in my mind at least, long been the home of organics in Ireland. With food, cookery demos, country walks and even a blackberry jam competition it is definitely the place to be this organic week.

More about Organic Week Ireland soon...

More on Lammas and Lughnasad:

School Of The Seasons

Lestout

Organic Week

Critical Mass comes to Dublin

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If you've ever been in central London during critical mass you will have witnessed the streets filling with bicycles. It's a strange site to see as the cars, buses and taxis get pushed aside to make way for hundreds of bicycles.

Critical Mass has it's roots in San Fransisco. On September 25th 1992 48 cyclists attended the first ride. The numbers grew steadily and by January 1993 there were 500 cyclists attending. Other cities began to take notice and the movement has now spread worldwide.

17 years later to the day Dublin is to see it's first Critical Mass. Meeting at the gates of Stephens Green, (Grafton Street end) at 6pm the ride will take a scenic route around the city and along the canal. It promises to be a relaxed ride and that all are welcome even grandparents! If the weather is good there's going to be a picnic in the park afterwards.

We all know Dublin is a great cycling hub, since I've moved away I've missed the freedom of the city that cycling gave me. And luckily for all of us living in the country the Dublin Bike Scheme is launching almost 2 weeks before hand so we will be able to rent a bike for as little as €2!

I look forward to seeing some of you there.

For more information of the Critical Mass movement:
Wiki
Critical Mass Info

*photos by Iain Cognito