Hidden Ireland Christmas Competition

The Hidden Ireland Christmas Competition is back! Take in the aromas of cinnamon, baked ham and Christmas Pudding. The Christmas tree is up and we are all ready to celebrate. If like us you are rapidly getting in the Christmas spirit this year we have a fantastic opportunity for you to share that Christmas spirit! Hidden Ireland is delighted to offer a fantastic competition to start the Christmas season!

To be in with a chance to win a €500 Hidden Ireland Gift Voucher all you need to do is purchase one of our Hidden Ireland Vouchers before Tuesday 21st December 2021, and your name will automatically be entered into the draw to win.

Just imagine…on arrival at the house of your choice being welcomed and invited to relax and unwind, simply because the house will be your home during your stay. Take a stroll through the gardens and enjoy some of the most breath-taking scenery that each house has to offer. Sit and relax in the library by the open fire and get lost in a good book. Enjoy the peace and quiet and erase all memories of the nine to five for the duration of your stay! Just visit our website and choose which house you would like to stay in.

Hidden Ireland vouchers are an ideal stocking filler for Christmas, Anniversary or Birthday present. All our Gift Vouchers are valid for 5 years and we can email or post them directly to you or the recipient! Happy shopping from the comfort of your own house!

Hidden Ireland will announce the winner on Wednesday 22nd December 2021. Do not delay; get your name in that draw now!

Click here to buy your Hidden Ireland Gift Voucher.

 

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter!

Black Friday Sale 2021

Black Friday Sale 2021

Here at Hidden Ireland we believe in great value! This year we have an amazing offer for anyone who purchases a Hidden Ireland Gift Voucher!
Black Friday is only one day! Here at Hidden Ireland we are making this offer available for 5 days! From the 25th November until the 30th November 2021 anyone who buys a €100 gift voucher, Hidden Ireland will gift you back €10
With a Hidden Ireland Hotel Gift Voucher you, or your recipients, can choose from over 30 top quality, luxury, Country Houses, Manor Houses, B&Bs, Gate Houses and Lodges. All our houses are Award-Winning Properties throughout Ireland boasting all the best that Irish hospitality can give! Pamper someone special with a voucher for a stay at one of our idyllic properties! Click here to see a map of all our properties. Relax and enjoy some time away in luxury accommodation where you set the pace of your stay from a waterfront stay in Clifden or Castletownshend to a breath taking stay in Co Down or Co Louth.
Remember, the Hidden Ireland Black Friday Sale for 2021 is not just one day! The Black Friday Sale starts on Thursday 25th November 2021 for 5 days and finishes on the 30th November 2021.
To avail of this amazing offer this Black Friday click here to get your Hidden Ireland Gift Vouchers.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter!
Hidden Ireland Gift Vouchers

Hidden Ireland Gift Vouchers

Are you looking for that perfect gift to say thank you? Maybe even someone you love is getting married and you want to wish them well. Hidden Ireland Gift Vouchers are the perfect gift for any occasion.

With a Hidden Ireland Gift Voucher you, or a friend, can choose from over 30 Irish Country Houses, B&Bs or Gate Houses and Lodges. A hidden Ireland experience includes luxury accommodation, fine foods and wines, cosy fires and great company.

A leisurely stroll before dinner to take in some of the breath-taking scenery before returning to a warm welcome and some amazing aromas coming from the kitchen. Enjoy a great night’s sleep! Then in the morning enjoy a fantastic selection for breakfast to set you up for the day ahead!

Dinner at Clonalis Hidden Ireland Gift VouchersBoat House at Ballynatray Hidden Ireland Gift VouchersBreakfast at Kiltariff Hall Hidden Ireland Gift Vouchers

Hidden Ireland Gift Vouchers are available in a variety of values, so you can choose the right one for you.

All you need to do is choose the amount you want the voucher for and how you would like to deliver it and we are happy to look after the rest for you! Hidden Ireland Gift Vouchers can be used in any Hidden Ireland property.  From our Country House Hotels to our Self-catering cottages & Gate Lodges.

Click here to buy your Hidden Ireland Gift Voucher

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!

Irish Tarte Tatin Hidden Ireland

Irish Tarte Tatin

This is delicious recipe for Irish Tarte Tatin.  One of our house recipes on the site.

Ingredients

  • Butter
  • Caster sugar
  • Several large Braeburn or Cox apples
  • 500g pack of puff pastry

Method

  1. Cover the base of a deep ovenproof pan with a thin layer of soft butter
  2. Add a thin layer of caster sugar
  3. Peel the apples, cut each apple into 4 pieces and remove the core
  4. Arrange the apples pieces in circles to fill the pan
  5. Place the pan on a high heat to caramelise the butter and sugar
  6. While this is happening, roll out the pastry and prick it all over with a fork
  7. When the apples are ready, remove from the heat and place the pastry on top, making sure to tuck the edges in and ensure all gaps are filled
  8. Place in an oven at 200 C for 15 to 20 minutes until the pastry is cooked. Remove the pan from the oven.
  9. Get a large flat tray or plate (larger than the pan). Place it, face downwards, over the top of the pan. Carefully turn the whole lot over and turn out the Tarte Tatin onto the tray. Take great care as the contents will be very hot and the caramel will be liquid

Slice and serve this delicious Irish Tarte Tatin with Crème Fraiche or Caramel ice-cream, or a topping of your choice.

It’s simply delicious!

Griddle Scones Roundwood House

Roundwood House Griddle Scones

These scones are an all-time favourite at Roundwood House, says Hannah Flynn.

The guests love them but so do our kids. They make a great healthy lunchbox alternative to white bread and are so quick and easy to make.

We cook them on our Aga, starting on the hot plate and moving to the cooler plate, but they can also be done on a gas stove.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup wholemeal flour
  • Small handful porridge oats
  • Teaspoon Bread Soda
  • Pinch of Salt
  • Buttermilk

Method

Mix dry ingredients and stir in buttermilk until it is a sticky (not too wet, not too dry) consistency.

Melt a small amount of butter on a hot pan (preferably a griddle or cast iron pan) and drop scones on to it.

You should get approximately eight scones.

Flip scones and reduce heat.

Cook for another five minutes or until scones are golden on the outside and cooked through.

Serve warm with butter, and if you’re like me and can’t resist something sweet, they’re great with raspberry jam.

Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

This delicious rhubarb upside down cake is a classic desert recipe.

Ingredients

* 480g rhubarb
* 60g soft brown sugar
* 60g butter
* grated zest of 1 orange
* 125g unsalted butter
* 175g caster sugar
* 3 eggs
* 175g flour
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1/2 tsp salt-
* 1 tbsp milk
* toasted flaked almonds
* icing sugar, for dusting
* crème fraiche & demerara sugar, to serve

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4.

Cut the rhubarb at an angle into slices about 5cm long.

Melt the brown sugar with the butter in a 26cm frying pan with an ovenproof or removable handle.

Add the orange zest and remove from the heat.

Cover the base of the pan with the rhubarb.

Cream the butter and sugar until whitish.

Gradually add the eggs, one at a time, while still beating.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt, and fold into the mixture.

Add the milk and mix well.

Spread the mixture over the rhubarb with a spatula.

Bake in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes, until the cake mixture is firm to the touch.

Leave to cool for about 20 minutes in the pan and then invert on to a large flat serving plate.

Sprinkle with the toasted flaked almonds and dust with icing sugar.

Serve warm with crème fraiche.

Roast loin of Salter’s pork with an Irishman’s caramelised apple sauce

Roast loin of Salter’s pork with an Irishman’s & caramelised apple sauce

Rebecca of Lorum Old Rectory, Co Carlow located in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East, shares one of Lorum’s signature recipes. Serves 4.

Ingredients

  • Loin of Salter’s pork (about 1.5kg, we normally just ask our butcher Charlie Nolan in Borris for enough for 4. He’s right every time!)
  • 2 large eating apples (sliced into approx 12 pieces)
  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Irishman’s whiskey

Method

Allow 25 minutes per 450g of pork at 190 degrees.

About 2 hours before you cook the pork, take it out of the fridge and rub salt on to the crackling. (Your butcher may have scored the skin already but if necessary score it yourself aiming for 2.5cm square diamond shapes.)

Dry the skin with a paper towel and season with pepper before putting in oven.

When the pork is cooked let it rest for about 15 minutes in a warm place while you make the sauce.

Melt the butter in a frying pan and coat the apples in it. Then sprinkle the apples with the sugar and allow to caramelise.

When the apples are starting to soften add the whiskey.

Give a quick stir, then flambé (stand well back and make sure nothing flammable nearby).

Carve the pork in to thin slices then place slices of apple and syrup on the top and serve with potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Granola Temple House Recipe Hidden Ireland

Temple House Granola

Roderick & Helena at Temple House share with us their recipe for Temple House Granola

This granola is easy to make and a delicious treat each morning on the breakfast table!

Ingredients for the granola

  • 450g rolled oats
  • 250g whole of flaked almonds
  • 120g sunflower seeds
  • 120g white sesame seeds
  • 100g light brown sugar
  • 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon Maldon sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
  • 120g golden syrup
  • 4 tablespoons runny honey
  • 2 eating apples, peeled and grated

Method

  1. Mix together in a large bowl.
  2. Spread mixture over baking trays
  3. Add the golden syrup and honey over the top.
  4. Place in oven for 10 mins then mix the granola again thoroughly
  5. Bake in oven at 170 oC for about 40 minutes.
  6. Turn it over after about 20 minutes.
  7. Should be evenly golden. Watch it closely.
  8. Enjoy and think of Temple House.

Full of goodness and flavour.  This makes our Granola a breakfast favourite.

Irish Recipes Hidden Ireland

Aunt Bessie’s Irish Wheaten Bread

Irish Recipes – from Hidden Ireland

Catherine from Kiltariff Hall shares with us a one of Ireland’s nicest Irish recipes, which never stops to impress all her guests!

It is often the main topic of conversation as guests sit to their breakfast in the dining room. It is so good that you get up from breakfast eager to arrive down for breakfast again tomorrow morning!

The perfect partner for your Ulster fry!

This is my Auntie Bessie’s recipe for Irish Wheaten Bread . There are many Irish recipes but this is a favourite for taste and texture.  Many people call this Soda Bread, probably because it contains Baking Soda, however it is definitely Wheaten Bread, which is made with course wholemeal flour.

Ingredients

  • 700g Coarse Wholemeal flour ( you can also use half medium wholemeal and half coarse wholemeal)
  • 3 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
  • Handful of porridge oats
  • 1 pint (500ml) buttermilk

Method

Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl, add the buttermilk and mix until it becomes a sticky consistency.

There is enough to make 2 loaves so divide the mixture into 2 loaf tins and bake in the oven at 200C, 400F or Gas Mark 6 for 45 mins

Leave to cool

Slice or cut, serve and enjoy!

Surely one of Irelands best Irish Recipes.

See more about Kiltariff Hall HERE