My close friends and family already know that I am a big Crystals & Co fan but for some reason I have never blogged about them and why I love them so much, my bad! So today I am going to share with you what makes them my go to brand for my accessories.
I have many items from Crystals & Co, some are pictured here:
What makes this brand a super brand in my opinion is the quality of their items, the style and the affordability, this is a winning combination for me. It amazes me that they can deliver such incredible quality at such keen pricing and no matter what the season, Crystals & Co always looks amazing!
I 1st began my love affair with Crystals & Co Christmas 4 years ago and my daughter treated me to a pair of their studs, they were and still are only €16, and honest to god they sparkle today like they sparkled on day one when I opened the pretty pink pouch they came in. Since then I have had bangles, pendants and many other pairs of earrings. All of them have remained in top condition from the day they arrived with me.
Crystals & Go send out your new items in very pretty packaging and all items arrive in a little chiffon pouch, I keep mine and store them in these.
I think as a communion gift their stud earrings would make a super gift, their larger pieces are exceptionally bridesmaids gifts, their entire range is perfect for any bride to be and as I mammy I can say, us mammy’s would love any of the items as gifts, any time 🙂
Another day another Christmas Food post and with only 7 sleep to the big day we should be posting twice a daily 🙂
Today is a super Christmas starter, it is my Cheesy Christmas Tartlets (but feel fee to eat them any time of the year) and it is super because it is so easy, it is quick to cook, you can make these in advance and store in the fridge until you need them and really super because I have yet to fed these to someone who did not love them.
x x x x x Clare’s Cheesy Christmas Tartlets x x x x x
Makes: 4 servings
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes (plus chilling time and thawing time if using frozen puff pastry)
Ingredients
1/2 pack of ready roll puff pastry
120g of Camembert Cheese
8-10 Cherry tomamoes
6 tbs of good quality Basil pesto
A pinch of Sugar
A pinch of fresh ground black pepper
2tbs of extra virgin Olive oil
2tbs Fresh chopped Parsley
I beaten egg for glazing
Plain flour for dusting baking sheet
x x x before and after x x x
PREPARATION
1/ Remove your pastry from the freezer, following the packet instruction for thawing. Chop your tomatoes into 4’s, place in a bowl and sprinkle with the sugar, pepper and half the olive oil, do this 30 minutes or more before you need them.
2/ When the puff pastry is thawed, unroll on a floured board and roll out a little more, not much more then 2 inches more on all sides, cut into 8 pieces and lay on your floured baking sheet. Once in place, cut but not the whole way through a border as you can see in the pictures and lay the pesto, cheese, tomatoes, chopped parsley in the centre, egg wash the exposed edge and pop back in the fridge for 20 minutes to allow the pastry to go cold again. Keep 2tbs of pesto and 1tsp of oil to one side for drizzling afterwards.
3/ remove from the fridge and place in a hot oven 180 for 13-16 minutes, depending on your oven so you will need to keep an eye, remove once golden brown and serve straight away with a drizzle of the pesto and oil.
Enjoy!
x x x x x Clare’s Cheesy Christmas Tartlets x x x x x
Top Tip: Don’t like Camembert, we use Brie, Goats Cheese or any cheese you like, same with the Basil pesto, swap it for a tomatoe pesto, add some garlic, drizzle with some balsamic glaze, the options with this really are endless. Make little ones as party nibbles. Perfect!
Shopping list: (all other items are likely to be in your store cupboard)
>One packet of ready roll Puff Pastry
>Basil pesto
>Cherry Tomatoes
>Camembert Cheese
(all other items are likely to be in your store cupboard) (Sugar, Pepper, Parsley, Olive Oil, Egg, Plain Flour)
I am a big fan of Christmas for many reasons but one of my favorite times over the Christmas holiday’s is when we all sit down for the Christmas dinner and the hero on the table is the Turkey and today I bring you Clare’s Perfect Roast Turkey, It is perfect for so many reason’s, one being the taste, two being the moistness and three being the reduced cooking time needed. Once you cook you’r Christmas Turkey like this there will be no going back!! Below is the details for the Turkey , my incredible tasty Sausage meat Stuffing and the most delicious gravy of the year!
x x Clare’s Perfect Roast Turkey / Sausage Meat Stuffing / Gravy x x
Based on a 4,5kg Turkey
Makes: 6 servings
Preparation Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 4 hours
x x x x x Sausage Meat Stuffing x x x x x
Ingredients
4.5kg Turkey
16 streaky rashers
Pepper
1lb Sausage meat
200g Breadcrumbs
1 large Onion
Hand full of semi dried Cranberries
Hand full of semi dried Apricots
10-15 Fresh Sage leaves
80g of Butter
Hand full of fresh chopped Parsley
Glass of White Wine
3-4 onions
3-4 carrots
Turkey Gibblets
and any other vegetable trimmings you have
1tbs of flour
1ltr of good quality Chicken stock
x x x x x x Clare’s Perfect Roast Turkey x x x x x x
PREPARATION
TURKEY 1: If using a frozen Turkey make sure to allow the correct time to defrost, for my 4,5kg I left this out for 48 hours. I begin by double lining my roasting tray with a good quality foil, remove the giblets from the bird and place in the try and chop the vegetables for the base of the tray, The carrots, Onions, and other vegetables you are using on the day, use the off cuts from your sprouts, parsnips etc
2: I remove the legs from the Turkey prior to cooking, this reduces the cooking time which in turn results in a moist bird! then place the Sausage stuffing in the neck end and use the excess skin to seal, cover the legs and breast with the streaky rashers and place on the trivet of vegetables in your roasting pan.
3: Put one glass of white wine plus one pint of water in the base of the oven tray and cover the whole bird with more foil.
4: Cook for 2 1/2 hours on 180 , remove foil, add a little more water and place back in the oven to crisp the rashers and brown the Turkey. Check all juices are running clear, remove from the tray, place a sheet of foil over the top and let to rest for 1 hours.
Sausage Meat Stuffing 1: Finely dice the onion and cook this in a pan on a med heat until soft, 5-6 minutes, add the fruit, butter and chopped herbs to this and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes.
2: Put the bread crumbs and sausage meat in a bowl and when the onion mix is cool add this and mix well. Place in the neck end of the Turkey.
Gravy 1: With the juices, wine, water, giblets and vegetables in the base of the try, place over a cooking ring, turn onto medium and begin scraping from the bottom with a wooden spoon , skim off the majority of the fat and add one tablespoon of flour.
2: Cook the flour for 1-2 minutes and add the chicken stock, reduce for a few minutes.
3: Place a colander over a large saucepan and pour the juices and vegetables into this, small pieces of veg will get through and this is perfect, continue to keep warm on a low heat until serving.
Top Tip: Resting the Turkey is a step not to be missed and fell free to swap in different semi dried fruits and if you like a stuffing that crumbles more then double up on the bread crumbs.
Today #TastyThursday was launched with RSVP Magazine featuring my food blogs 🙂 Look out for this today and every Thursday x
I initially began speaking with RSVP and a few other publications at the beginning of October and many telephone calls, emails and meetings later the decision was made to work with RSVP and today this went live for the world to see 🙂
I am beaming, I could not be happier with how this blog is going, Being nominated in the food category for a UK Blog Award 2015 (no news yet as to weather I have made the next round) was incredible and if I get to the next round I think I may actually burst with excitement and now this, My food in a real life national publication for the world to enjoy 🙂
x x x Claire’s Smooth and Silky No bake Christmas Chocolate Tart x x x
It is a scrummy treat any time of the year but with the addition of Baileys and the lushness of this I think it should be saved for a super time treat 🙂
2014 has been an incredible year, I am actually emotional looking back at it and all the amazing moments and I can’t wait to see what 2015 brings 🙂 This year I began working with TV3, began my own weekly Radio show, Started this my new baby Clare with the Hair, became ‘The Face’ of Boudoir Darlings and we created a Charity Calender with monies raised going to Clare’s Wish Foundation (a charity who grant wishes to adults with life limiting illnesses), Nominated in the UK Blog Awards and now working with RSVP. So many changes, so many new ventures yet all enjoyed and loved so much.
Wow it has been a whole 3 day’s since I last blogged 🙂 Shame on me!!
Today we bring you a Christmas treat that everyone can enjoy and best of all you can get this ready in advance and it is so simple and easy for anyone to attempt to make , I love ‘Clare’s Boozy Banana Trifles’ and for the kiddies you can leave out the booze and add more toffee sauce 🙂 Its a winner in home x
x x x x x Clare’s Boozy Banana Trifles x x x x
Makes: 6 servings
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
300g pot double cream
7 tbsp Baileys (use the home made one I showed you last week)
250g chocolate brownies (about 6 pieces/9oz)
3 bananas
500g pot custard
6 tbsp toffee sauce
25g Dark chocolate
PREPARATION
Whisk the cream with 1 tbsp Baileys, leave to one side. Divide the brownie pieces between 6 glasses, breaking them up to fit nicely, then drizzle each with 1 tbsp Baileys. Slice the bananas and place on top, follow with the custard and Baileys cream, dividing equally, then drizzle with toffee sauce and finish with the grated chocolate.
Top Tip: Make this booze free, just use more toffee sauce. Use other cakes on the base and even swap the fruit. Imagine a Madeira cake base, some desert wine as the booze with strawberries. Same idea with a twist x
Chicken is probably the most consumed meat in my home and I suspect it is a major feature of many others home cook meals, it is easy to cook and it is versatile.
Today I bring you my Roast Chicken with Claire’s Twist, I use roast chicken for many dishes but today’s is one I love to do when I want serious flavor yet I do not have time to spend hours in the kitchen. It is good mid week or a a lighter Sunday lunch.
❤ Tasty Roast Chicken with Claire’s Twist ❤
Makes: 4 servings
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
1 medium chicken (Jointed)
350g of baby potatoes
4 slices of lean back rashers
90g Baby Spinach
1 tsp of fresh ground Black Pepper
2 tsp of fresh chopped Parsley
1 Clove of minced Garlic
70g low fat natural yogurt
2 tsp Olive Oil
20g of finely grated Parmesan Cheese
Juice of 1 a Lemon (half for roasting the chicken , half for the dressing)
PREPARATION
Put the Chicken pieces skin side down into a large pan on a medium to high heat until golden in color, turning to brown all of each piece. (there is no need to add oil if you add the chicken to a cold pan and let the heat build and as this down the chicken will release oil into the pan) Browning should take 6-7 minutes, transfer into an oven proof dish and pour over half the lemon juice and a pinch of black pepper. Cook for 25-30 making sure the chicken is fully cooked through. (one cooked leave to rest under a sheet of foil for 10-12 minutes)
Wash but do not peel the baby potatoes, slice into 1/2 inch thick slices and place in a pan of lightly salted water, bring to the boil and then turn the heat down to medium until the potatoes are cooked. Remove, toss in 1 tsp of olive oil, ground pepper and parsley
Place the Rashers on another baking tray and pop into the oven, turning one until golden and crisp. once cooked slice and leave to one side.
For the dressing, mix the Lemon, Cheese, Olive Oil, Yogurt and minced Garlic in a bowl and leave to one side.
Place the baby spinach on your plate, sprinkle some of the sliced Rasher on top, followed by the potatoes, top with the Chicken and pour the dressing on top
Top Tip: Make half the amount and serve as a warm winter salad or Change this up with many different dressings, add some cherry tomatoes or sun dried tomatoes . Yum!! Enjoy!!
It is officially ok to talk all things Christmas and the other day I brought you a Chocolate tart that required zero cooking, well today I bring you a classic Christmas drink that you can make at home in about one minute 🙂 Sounds too easy, well read on!! it is actually a one minute super tasty classic Christmas drink that anyone can make at home.
For years my mum would make this every single Christmas and long before the brands were adding almond , hazelnut or all the other flavours, my mum was doing this. Looking back on Christmas of yester-year and remembering the hours and days and months of work that went into making a great family Christmas, I find it mad now when people say, shopping before Halloween is too early, seeing Christmas things too early spoils Christmas but in my home as a child and I know I am not the only one, The Christmas cake was started months in advance of the big day, many homes made their own beers and wines and this Irish cream liqueur 🙂 and all this was started in the summer time!! I have not made this for years and my mum kept her version a very well kept secret 🙂 but today here is mine and trust me , it is so simple and make for great Christmas gifts.
Love this and Enjoy with or without the chocolate swirl x
Why, you might ask, would one choose to make this iconic liqueur instead of buying it off the shelf ? Because 1) it’s incredibly easy 2) it’s cheaper, and 3) once you try it, you’ll never go back to shop-bought. And plus is that you can control the ingredients: ease up on vanilla extract; go heavy on the chocolate syrup, or lighten the sugar and/or fat content if you’re watching calories.
In a cute bottle, some fancy ribbons and you have home made Christmas gifts anyone would be happy to receive
This makes lots x
Ingredients
2 cans of Evaporated Milk
2 cans of Condensed Milk
1 can of Irish Whiskey (use the Condensed milk for a lighter mix and a can of Evaporated milk for a real punch of whiskey flavour)
1tsp Instant Coffee
2 tsp Chocolate Syrup
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Method
Put all ingredients into a large bowl and with a hand held mixer, mix well for 2-3 minutes. Pour into sterile bottles and store for up to three months.
I love to swirl chocolate syrup in a glass and pour this in, or add some grated dark chocolate to the top.
I for one would love a white Christmas but Snow is not what we are due 😦 but We are due a lot of Rain, Gusty winds but now Snow this festive season 😦 the experts tell us 😦
Experts have said : we are set for a wet and windy festive season, Thanks experts!!
With the prospect of snow falling on the 25th is as low as 16% for much of the Ireland.
Weather Outlook forecasters predicted strong winds and a considerable amount of rain over Christmas and New Year.
Last night we saw some some places frozen over this morning and that will end the mild conditions with the autumn having been one of the warmest on record.
Over the coming days much of the country will be struck by polar conditions which are being blown in from Iceland. Snow may arrive in the north, with temperatures across much of the north an icy -2C.
The Met Office said unsettled weather would strike at Christmas but the outlook is still more for rain and sleet than snowstorms.
It is Christmas so forget calorie counting, pointing, adding up syncs or any other way you look after your waist line 🙂 It is the season of complete, guilt free over indulgence, Honest!!
Like me are you the one cooking the Christmas dinner? if so you know that the cooker in under super pressure trying to get the bird cooked, the million and one vegetable accompaniments cooked and all the other loveliness you are serving your family this Christmas so today I bring you a tried, love and tested Claire’s Smooth and Silky No Bake Christmas Chocolate Tart. I tested and tried this with berries, orange and my favorite and the one we will be having on Christmas day, The tart flavored with Irish Creme liqueur, after all, is there a home in the country without a bottle of two open over the Christmas season.
Makes: 8 servings
Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
200g pack all-butter biscuits
100g butter
1 tbsp golden syrup
100g dark chocolate (Good quality, not cooking etc)
100g milk chocolate (Good quality, not cooking etc)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp icing sugar
200ml whipping cream
2 tbsp Irish Cream Liqueur of choice and a large glass for drinking (it is Christmas after all)
PREPARATION
Crush the biscuits by putting them in a large, strong, plastic food bag and bashing with a rolling pin. Melt the butter with the syrup in the microwave, then stir in the biscuits. Press onto the base and up the sides of a 12 x 36cm rectangular tin (or 23-25cm round flan tin) and pop into the fridge while you make the filling.
Break up the chocolate and put in a large bowl. Melt in a bowel over a pan of water on Medium, stirring halfway through. Stir in the Creme Liqueur, vanilla extract, then sift in the icing sugar. Whip the cream until it just holds its shape, then fold into the melted but slightly cooled chocolate. Pour into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Chill for at least 2 hrs but you can keep this in this for up to 2 days.
Just before serving, remove the tart from the tin and slide it onto a flat plate (loosen edges first with the tip of a small pointed knife). You will find it easier to remove the tart if you leave it at room temperature for 30 mins.
Top Tip: Warm your knife in hot water before slicing for a nice smooth finish. If using other flavors such as orange zest or another flavored liqueur’s then add these at the time we added the Irish Creme Liqueur.
Serve with some crushed amaretti biscuits on whipped cream, fresh fruit or a scoop of ice cream with a drizzle of Irish Cream Liqueur. Enjoy!
For the serious Make up lover’s we bring you the ultimate Christmas 2014 Gift Set, here is Urban Decay Naked Vault, released TOMORROW in the USA and on wait lists in Europe, this will be the most requested Make Up gift of 2014!!
It’s the Naked arsenal you’ve been begging for! Experiment with a DOZEN of our most-coveted Naked products—all in one ultra-luxe, limited-edition set.
Urban Decay have loaded our Naked Vault with a huge range of neutral shades for eyes, cheeks and lips. First up: ALL THREE of their bestselling Naked palettes—loaded with bronze, taupe and rose shades in an insane range of textures—along with the three coordinating 24/7 Glide-On Double-Ended Eye Pencils.
Finish the look with Naked Flushed in Naked (medium pink), Native (light pink) or Streak (medium peach) and one of three shades of Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss: Nooner (a gorgeous light neutral nude), Rule34 (a beautiful brown-nude) or Streak (the perfect coral-peach).
The box of gorgeousness is stacked with three, full-sized Naked palettes, three matching eye-liners, three palettes of Naked Flushed, and three Naked Lip glosses. But, before you have a total meltdown and leave whatever it is you’re doing to go buy one, take note. This is only available on wait lists across Europe and in the USA The vault retails for $280. Now, that’s a pretty hefty sum but if you love the Naked pallets and lets face it!! Who doesn’t!!? after I crunched the numbers, I saw if you were to go and buy these items on their own, out of kit, it would come out to about $372. So, Urban Decay is saving you roughly $92. That is like their gift to us!! these of coarse are based on USA pricing because as yet there are no pricing advertised here. But you can compare and see what you reckon it may cost, if of coarse you manage to get your hands on this!!
Everybody wants to look good NAKED! Far from a group of boring beige shadows, Naked Palette’s long, lean, seductive case is packed with TWELVE gorgeous bronze-hued neutrals, and includes the pro-quality Good Karma Shadow Brush. You can look great NAKED! This long, lean, seductive case is packed with TWELVE gorgeous neutrals. Shades range from delicate champagnes to dark, gritty gunmetal, with names like Darkhorse, Virgin and Buck. They also included a range of textures: everything from glitter to shimmer to matte. (this is the Naked original pallet) there are 2 more in this Vault 🙂
If you know anything about our past Vault releases, then we don’t have to tell you that they have a history of selling out FAST. So if you want in on this all-Naked edition, don’t blink or you’ll miss out!
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