Clare’s Tasty Tapas

I am still in a summer sun kind of mood, so today I bring to you my Tasty Tapas

www.clarewiththehair.com
www.clarewiththehair.com

These are super as a main meal any evening, ideal for lunchtime leftovers and you will impress many a dinner guest if you were to sever mini ones of these as canapés.

Today we will give you the Black pudding, Potato & Prawn Bruschetta Tapas recipes, come back next week for the Tomato Bruschetta, Mushroom Bruschetta and Mango Salad.

www.clarewiththehair.com
www.clarewiththehair.com

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Total Time:  55 minutes

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Ingredients

Black Pudding:

  • 280g Black Pudding
  • 2tbs of tomato relish
  • 8 slices of Dry cure Streaky rashers

Potato & Chorizo 

  • 200g Baby sliced potato
  • 1 med onion
  • 1/2 glass of dry white wine
  • 1tbs olive oil
  • 100g Chorizo sausage

Prawn Bruschetta

  • 8 ,1cm thick slices of French stick
  • 2tbs olive oil
  • 150g of Prawns
  • Large handful of fresh chopped coriander
  • 1 finely chopped red chilli
  • 1 grated clove of garlic
  • 1/2tsp cracked black pepper
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www.clarewiththehair.com

PREPARATION

Potato: 1/ Place the potatoes into a pan of water, bring to the boil and cook until tender, drain and set to one side, While these cook place the sliced onions in a large frying pan with the olive oil, cook for 2-3 minutes, add the wine and reduce until this has almost disappeared, you really just want 1-2 tbs of wine left in the pan, add the sliced Chorizo, cook for 1-2 minutes, add the cooked potato and cook for a further 3-4 minutes. Then serve.

www.clarewiththehair.com
www.clarewiththehair.com

Black Pudding: 2/ Slice the black pudding, butter the relish onto the flat sides of the pudding, cut each rasher into 3 and wrap around the pudding and relish, place on a lined baking sheet and place in a moderate oven for 10-12 minutes. turning once.

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Prawn: 3/ Place the sliced bread on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and bake until golden and crunchy. Place the prawns, chilli, garlic and coriander in a pan, (if using fresh prawns cook until they turn pink, if using already cooked prawns, then you are just warming them through) try not to over cook. Place the Prawn’s onto the bread, finish with cracked black pepper and serve.

www.clarewiththehair.com
www.clarewiththehair.com

 ❤ Clare with the Hair ❤ 

The Top 5 DIY Beauty Treatments

Some of my top DIY treatments that anyone could try at home, Here are 5 seriously simple at home DIY Beauty Treatments that anyone can do 🙂

Need a relaxing bath , then mix 1/4 of a cup of Rosewater, 1/4 of a cup of Coconut milk, pour into your warm bath, swirl and lay into it and relax, it a such a treat for the skin and is incredible relaxing and smells pretty dam good to boot!! Try it!!!

Legend has it that the beautiful Egyptian queen Cleopatra who loved to emerge herself in milk and rose petal baths and insisted to have her bed covered with fresh roses every day, had carpeted her boudoir with petals of these flowers (to which she attributed aphrodisiac powers) when she first greeted and seduced Marc Antony.

Well known for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, rose water is excellent for cleansing, purifying, softening and toning the skin. Its pleasant fragrance makes it a nice, light and fresh cologne to wear especially in the summertime.

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2/ Need a great, yet very affordable Skin Moisturiser, then you need to mix 2 teaspoons of Honey with 2 teaspoons of Almond Oil. Apply , to make this a moisture packed mask then add . mashed up half an  avocado and mix in all the ingredients to form a pure, Apply to face, Leave on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with warm water and pat dry. This will improve skin complexion, retain glow, moisturize better and deeper, soothe skin irritation, nourish your skin while making it softer and smoother.Almond oil is rich in vitamin A, B and E, which are great for skin health. In fact, most skin care products have these vitamins loaded in them. The oil helps maintaining moisture levels of the skin and gets absorbed in a jiffy without blocking the pores. Mash the avocado and mix in all the ingredients to form a puree.

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3/ Important day? date? interview? or any other big day!! and skin is looking a little rough? then you need a quick, easy, DIY Facial Scrub!! Mix 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil with 1 tablespoon of Raw Sugar, mix to a rough paste , apply to clean skin using your finger tips, be gentle, this is more about quality of ingredients on your skin and technique, not brute force 🙂 apply with tips of your fingers in a light circular motion, do this for 2-3 minutes and rinse with warm water and pat dry.Your face will look bright, clean, and be glowing.

bt4/ Our poor feet get a battering in all the fabulous Shoe Shoes we wear but sometimes we need to treat our feet back!! it is only fair, I guess. So here we have the ultimate in simple yet effective Foot Pedicure‘s for you. Mix 1/4 of a cup of Almond Oil with 3 tablespoons of dried power milk. this will form a paste. Apply all over your feet, cover in cling film and socks, sit back for as long as you have or over night and wash off in the shower to reveal soft and supple looking feet 🙂

feet5/ My all time favorite DIY at home treatment is this Body Scrub, anyone who know me, know’s I obsess over super soft skin, It is a must for me and this is one of the treatments I use to keep it this soft!! Place the brown sugar and honey in a small bowl and mix together well. Store in a jar with an air tight lid if you want to make up more and have on the bathroom shelves. Apply a small amount of scrub to wet skin and massage gently in a circular motion. Rinse well.

bt

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Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Aroi Restaurant Limerick Review

If you are planning a trip to Limerick City, then find time to visit Aroi! This review is based on my personal experience in their Aroi’s Limerick restaurant but just to let you know, Aroi are also based in Cork City Center also.

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www.clarewiththehair.com

In Aroi’s words:

“Aroi is associated with the eating experience in Asia. Pronounced (Aroy) means delicious or tasty.

Aroi is a casual dining venue which offers a single course dining experience and service with the minimum of fuss.

Our ethos is to serve market fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Our healthy cuisine avoids the obscure chemicals and additives so common in our food today.

Aroi sources authentic herbs and spices and we do not use M.S.G. in any of our preparation.”

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www.clarewiththehair.com

In my words:

Aroi is one of my favorite places to visit for lunch in Limerick, they serve fresh, tasty, clean food at affordable prices with the bonus of a free ice cream afterwards.

I have tried many items on their menu but my favorites are (in order) the Pad Thai, Char-grilled Duck, Red Thai Curry and the must try for you all, their sticky rice, I love this with the Char-grilled Duck.

All main meals are just €10, which I really love, before you go in, regardless of what takes your fancy on the menu, it is always just €10!

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Aroi also have a large selection of soft drinks, wine, teas and Thai beers.

The ice cream I referred to is actually their homemade Gelato, they have tonnes of flavors, I have tried their Cherry, Lemon & Coconut, and I loved them all, I will have to return “just to try the others” and report back 🙂 

www.clarewiththehair.com (image from Aroi)
www.clarewiththehair.com (image from Aroi)

I am a big fan of Aroi and I am not alone, this year Aroi won the Best newcomer in Munster from Irish Restaurant association. Well done Aroi, this is a super achievement because as you know, Limerick and Munster is filled with some super places to dine.

www.clarewiththehair.com (image from Aroi)
www.clarewiththehair.com (image from Aroi)

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Top Tips to Get your Hair in Shape for Summer (Inspire Limerick May 2015)

www.clarewiththehair.com
www.clarewiththehair.com

Winter play’s havoc on your hair and if you want to get your hair  in tip top condition for summer and if  you want hair that shines, and  hair that feels super soft, you need to follow these hair tips:

Be gentle when washing.
Wash your hair please do not scrub your hair, be gentle when massaging the shampoo and conditioner in, let the product do the work and not brute force. Towel dry by patting/sqeezing and not rubbing with a towel. I always comb hair out with a detangling brush, there are many types and most are very good.

Avoid heat
Shiny hair is healthy hair – so don’t abuse it! Use heat-styling as infrequently as you can get away with, Using heat every day, or a few times a week will seriously affect the quality of your hair and if you have to use heat, use a heat protectant product but avoid products that contain alcohol, which can dry out your hair and strip its shine. Sounds simple but if your hair is in distress you will have to be very patient with it while you await the new hair growth that you will not expose to the drying elements.

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Hydrate your body. 

Drink plenty of water as this will ensure that your hair is properly moisturized from the inside out. About eight glasses a day is ideal. Keep a bottle by your side and sip from it often. Once you begin drinking 8+ glasses a day you will never look back, this not only helps your hair, but also improves the look of your skin and makes the whites of your eyes really bright. If your struggle with 8 glasses, begin at 4 this week and each week add a glass to your daily total, you will be at 8 glasses in no time.

Hair Rinse
Mix two tablespoons apple cider vinegar with one cup luke warm water, and use to douse your hair after washing. Rinse thoroughly, and follow with a light conditioner. The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar will remove residue from product buildup and help you get shiny, lustrous locks. Also rince the conditioner out with water a little cooler than you washed your hair in. I have used this tip since I was about 11 years old and when I have taken a break from this step I really see a difference.

www.clarewiththehair.com
www.clarewiththehair.com

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

The Clare Champion

Today my Blog was written about by The Clare Champion Newspaper and I could not be prouder, as a Blogger I work hard on creating a Blog I am proud of and most importantly, I work hard to create a Blog people will want to read and reading is what they are doing, at heading close to 9,000 readers per week this Blog is gaining a great following and for this I am so thankful and I feel blessed.

Blog
The Clare Champion Jan 2nd 2015

The Clare Champion wanted to talk to me after I became a Finalist in the National UK Blog Awards 2015, the awards ceremony will take place in April 2015. I honestly do not think I will win but I am very much looking forward to attending the ceremony and meeting many other finalist.

blog1
The Clare Champion 02/01/2015

Here is the pictures I took from today’s paper, It is not a great picture as I only had my phone but I will update with better ones I have it.

blog2
The Clare Champion 02/02/2015
blog3
The Clare Champion 02/01/2015

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare With The Hair ❤

RSVP Magazine with Claire’s Tasty Thursday

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 🙂

RSVP choose a super simple, super christmassy food blog to begin with and I was thrilled with this as it is currently the most viewed this week and the one I am receiving emails and enquiries about daily 🙂 Here is the link to view this http://rsvpmagazine.ie/blog-claires-smooth-silky-bake-christmas-chocolate-tart/

tart
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.

2015
The cover of Boudoir Darlings / Clare’s Wish 2015 Calender http://www.boudoirdarlings.ie/

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

National UK Blog Awards 2015

So here I am again, letting you all know that little old me has been nominated in the UK Blog Awards 2015.

profile
UK Blog Awards 2015 / Public voting is now on!! Free to vote, Please Vote for me 🙂 http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/claire-with-the-hair-mccarthy/

Right now the public voting is taken place and I need you, all of you to cast your vote for me (if you like my blog of coarse) It is free to cast your vote but only one vote per person, per email , per category counts.

I have been nominated in two categories, the Food & Drink Category and Lifestyle.

The link to vote in the Food category is http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/claire-with-the-hair-mccarthy/

There are a heap of great foodie blogs out there so I need all the votes I can get to make it to the next round 🙂 Please pass this to any of your friends , family or people you work with who love food blogs and might give me a little vote 🙂

The link to the Lifestyle category is http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/claire-with-the-hair-mccarthy-2/

All your votes are super and all the people who have voted already, I thank you bundles, this would be incredible, if I, little old me from Co Clare made it to the next round of the UK Blog Awards 2015!! I think I may burst from the excitement 🙂

Please share this, Please cast your vote and please pass this to all who may vote too 🙂

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

D.I.Y Beauty Treatments

1/ I have been posting beauty tips and tricks and some of you have asked me for DIY treatments that anyone could try at home, So here are 5 seriously simple at home DIY Beauty Treatments that anyone can do :-)Need a relaxing bath , then mix 1/4 of a cup of Rosewater, 1/4 of a cup of Coconut milk, pour into your warm bath, swirl and lay into it and relax, it a such a treat for the skin and is incredible relaxing and smells pretty dam good to boot!! Try it!!!

Legend has it that the beautiful Egyptian queen Cleopatra who loved to emerge herself in milk and rose petal baths and insisted to have her bed covered with fresh roses every day, had carpeted her boudoir with petals of these flowers (to which she attributed aphrodisiac powers) when she first greeted and seduced Marc Antony.

Well known for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, rose water is excellent for cleansing, purifying, softening and toning the skin. Its pleasant fragrance makes it a nice, light and fresh cologne to wear especially in the summertime.

bt

bt

bt4/ Our poor feet get a battering in all the fabulous Shoe Shoes we wear but sometimes we need to treat our feet back!! it is only fair, I guess. So here we have the ultimate in simple yet effective Foot Pedicure‘s for you. Mix 1/4 of a cup of Almond Oil with 3 tablespoons of dried power milk. this will form a paste. Apply all over your feet, cover in cling film and socks, sit back for as long as you have or over night and wash off in the shower to reveal soft and supple looking feet 🙂

feet5/ My all time favorite DIY at home treatment is this Body Scrub, anyone who know me, know’s I obsess over super soft skin, It is a must for me and this is one of the treatments I use to keep it this soft!! Place the brown sugar and honey in a small bowl and mix together well. Store in a jar with an air tight lid if you want to make up more and have on the bathroom shelves. Apply a small amount of scrub to wet skin and massage gently in a circular motion. Rinse well.

bt

bt

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤