Welcome to Donal's Blog
The Good Mood Food Blog started in 2007 after I moved in to my first apartment. I’ve always had an interest in photography so when I bought my lovely camera, I thought it was finally time to start documenting some dishes I was cooking and with that the blog was born! Most of the recipes on the blog try to include as many healthy ingredients as possible. I’m a big believer in the power of food and on our lives. I hope you enjoy the recipes and the bit of banter that goes with them.
About the Photos
All the photos featured on the blog are taken with my handy dandy Canon 400D camera which has seen me through the last few years. The food is all home cooked and barely tweaked before being shot.
Ok I know, I know, totally cheating the big traditional Turkey roast of it’s full glory but this year I wanted to come up with a Christmas dinner twist which was a bit more easy going on those who might be tackling a bird for the first time. I’m sure traditional Christmas dinner purists will be up in arms but while it might be old hat to them, stuffing, basting, and carving can all conjure up nightmare scenarios for wannabe turkey wranglers, but there is a short cut. By getting your butcher to bone, stuff and roll your turkey you...
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While all the focus is normally on the turkey and ham this time of year, spare a thought for the true heroes of Christmas dinner, the veggies! The Robin to Batman, the Planeteers to Captain Planet, and of course the Ant to the Dec, or is it the other way around? Either way the veggies complete any well cooked Christmas dinner but often they are regarded more as an after thought than one of the key components. Brussel sprouts normally come out the worst from this sort of conversation but I have to confess that they are one of my favourite...
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Stuck for the perfect Christmas present or stocking filler? Well look no further, this is the perfect gift for the whole family! Not just for Christmas, like puppies, this is the gift that just keeps giving!
For this week only, order both Good Mood Food and Kitchen Hero in a bundle for just €30!
But in true infomercial style, THAT’S NOT ALL! Both books will wing their way to you, personally signed!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Price Including Postage
Ireland €35.00 EUR
UK €36.50 EUR
Europe €37.00 EUR
Rest of the world €40.00...
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If you are a regular reader of the blog, you will know I’m a big fan of Leila Lindholm a Swedish cookbook author and TV Cook who I came across one of the first times I visited Sweden. As part of the Christmas special I got to film with Leila during our stay in Stockholm which I was really excited about. It was her attention to detail which first caught my eye, all her books are filled with the most beautiful photographs, all of which she styles herself. I guess it was no surprise that when we arrived at her test kitchen and office...
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What a total whirlwind of a weekend! Last Thursday myself, Sofie, David the producer, Billy the cameraman, Ray the soundman and Anne who looks after continuity all headed over to Stockholm, Sweden to begin filming for the Kitchen Hero Christmas Special episode which airs on the 21st of December on RTÉ One at 8.30pm. Why Sweden you might ask, well one of the first food related jobs I had was in a restaurant on an island off the coast of Goteborg. Myself and three others had the job of producing masses of traditional Swedish Christmas dishes...
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Baking and Christmas always went hand in hand when I was growing up and I used to love spending the weekends before the big day baking cookies and sweet treats! They always made great little presents for anyone who called to the house. There are a few recipes which I make every year without fail and they make great edible gifts. Cookies, Jam, Paté, Muffins, Truffles and Biscotti all keep well and are perfect to package up as pressies. You channel your inner Blue Peter and make up tags, ribbons, and personalised stickers to make your gifts...
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It’s another pumpkin recipe this week, but while last week’s was a savoury offering, this week’s is all about sweetness and the kitsch factor! I love collecting old recipes and one of my absolute favourite cookbooks is one I robbed from my aunt, a compilation of recipes from the backs of American packets and tins. Half the book is made up of recipes that would make the Masterchef inside you cry a little, but hidden amongst them are true gems which are not to be sniffed at.
This week’s retro recipe, a Ginger and...
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Hello there!
Tonight marks the last episode in the current series of my very first TV show… I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you so much for all the fantastic support over the past 12 episodes… It’s been an incredible little journey for me and I’ve learnt so much from traveling around the country giving cookery demos and meeting different people from all walks of life. From the women who take me by the hand in the shops to tell me they watch every week, to the burly looking fella in the pub who pulled me...
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Halloween is trundling towards us at a fairly alarming speed. I for one can’t wait, it’s always been one of the highlights of my year. Ireland has plenty of Halloween traditions and even my own family has lots of it’s own. When we were growing up we had a French visitor who showed us the light and convinced us to save those yucky seeds from the centre of our pumpkin, which, when cleaned and toasted with a little butter and salt, make the perfect little autumn snack.
Barmbrack always appeared in our lunch boxes around...
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That might be an extreme title but this seriously is a tasty broth! Chicken Noodle soup has always had a big place in my heart ever since I first started cooking with Asian ingredients in my teens. Assembling the soup was easy, using leftover chicken from the Sunday roast, noodles from the kitchen cupboard and homemade stock from the freezer. The resulting soup always went down well but I always knew it was missing a certain something. The true success of any authentic chicken noodle soup comes down one main factor… The broth! ...
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After a few weeks traveling up and down the country for cookery demonstration we finally have some time to spend at home and I could not be happier! It’s still not cold enough for jackets, hats and scarves but the dishes I’m cooking in the kitchen have definitely taken a turn towards warmth and comfort. Soups, stews and roasts are back on the weeknight menu in a big way and I’m beginning to think they are some of my favourite types of dishes to cook. I think secretly that many of us crave this sort of cooking throughout...
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The lovely Edd Kimber, winner of the first season of The Great British Bake Off, kindly agreed to answer a few questions for the blog. If you’re a fan of the show, he gives us a bit of info on just what goes on backstage and let’s us in on his favourite part of writing his new cookbook, The Boy Who Bakes, which has just been released in the UK and Ireland…
First off a massive congratulations on winning the first series of The Great British Bake Off, for anyone who doesn’t watch the show, can you tell us a little about...
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I’ve really been enjoying giving all the cookery demonstrations lately and this week I’m heading down to Cork to give a cooking demonstration at Dwyers. It’s really great to hear that people are enjoying Kitchen Hero and I’ve loved meeting everyone at the signings. There are lots of dishes on the menu for Thursday night, including lots of my favourite home cooking recipes like Aromatic Duck Salad, Fragrant Thai Chicken Stew and a new recipe which I shot during the summer and can now finally share with you, my Dark Chocolate...
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Now normally I don’t go for the competitive cookery shows which is probably why I missed The Great British Bake Off last year, but this year after watching one episode I have been absolutely hooked week by week as they whittle down the contestants after a series of different baking challenges. Refreshingly, rather than an intimidating chef doing the judging and reducing contestants to quivering jellies, on the Great British Bake Off, baking legend Mary Berry takes the lead on the search for the perfect bake, helped along by master baker...
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Hi Folks!
Pumpkin carving, monkey nuts, lots of comfort cooking and Autumn baking are all ahead of us in October. This month on the blog, I have lots of new recipes, competitions, and tips to make the best of all October has to offer.
After a very busy September which had me traveling up and down the country giving cookery demonstrations, I’m looking forward to settling down to start work on my third book which will be released next year.
October brings with it lots of seasonal produce to get excited about and in this month’s...
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This week on Four Live I’ll be cooking one of my favourite fish dishes and Martin McLoughlin from Nicky’s Plaice will be on to give his top tips of which types of fish to buy and what to look for!
Make sure to tune in from 4pm today onwards, and remember to tune in to Kitchen Hero tonight!
I’ll be cooking Harissa Fish with Carrot, Mint and Spring Onion Salad. Don’t miss it, it’s delicious!
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Kitchen Hero: Bringing Cooking Back Home!
December 16, 2010
Good Mood Food: Simple Healthy Homecooking!
December 16, 2010
