Hidden Ireland Accommodatation Bed and Breakfast Cottage Rental

Plan the perfect Irish Christmas break

Who doesn’t love to open a Christmas card and see a delightful scene of a cosy room decorated with fresh garlands, glorious countryside views out of the window and stockings set out by the fireplace?

You can picture yourself enjoying a rural Christmas, surrounded by thoughtfully selected gifts, deliciously festive food and drink and a general celebration of friends, family and fun.

After lunch, you might step out for a walk to clear away the cobwebs in stunning Irish countryside that has been gently dusted with frost and snow.

We may not be able to guarantee snow in Ireland this year but the rest of this beguiling scene can be yours by booking a festive getaway with one of the beautiful country house hotels, cottages and other holiday accommodation available through Hidden Ireland.

Our hosts are busily working behind the scenes, preparing to welcome guests seeking seek sanctuary from hectic Christmas planning in December, or looking to enjoy a few days away at New Year (click here to check availability).

Enjoy an Irish Christmas

Ireland has some beautiful Christmas traditions that you can enjoy – and take inspiration from – during an early December visit to a Hidden Ireland property. Many Irish homes are beautifully decorated with fresh holly and ivy alongside the main Christmas tree adorned with baubles and lights. A candle is also placed in the window to guide Mary and Joseph. Why not explore the decorated rooms in your holiday accommodation and introduce some of the finishing touches you find there into your own Christmas decorations at home?

Festive food and drink

Food and drink are a key element of any pre-Christmas break or New Year getaway. Again, Ireland has a rich and copious choicer of amazing festive fare to sample during your stay. The type of food and drink available will vary, depending on where you choose to stay. However, many Hidden Ireland hosts cook their own delicious meals and serve them to their guests in the welcoming surroundings of their holiday accommodation. Alternatively, many of the cottages, B&Bs and hotels are located close to villages, towns and cities brimming with amazing restaurants, cafes and eateries serving festive food throughout December and January.

Christmas shopping

For some people, no pre-Christmas break would be complete without the chance to do a spot of Christmas shopping. Choose between smaller towns offering local delicacies and locally made, artisan gifts and busy, vibrant cities hosting fun Christmas markets and tempting high street sales. To help with your Christmas shopping plans, write out a list before you set off from home with the names of all those for whom you need to get presents – plus some suggestions about what to buy. Lists can also help if you plan to purchase food, decorations and other festive trimmings while you are away.

If you need to contact Hidden Ireland to find out more about our country houses, cottage or properties please click HERE

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Hidden Ireland delicious food and drink locally sourced country house accommodation

Calling all foodies: enjoy amazing August fare, right across Ireland

We believe that great summer holidays are made even better by making sure that they involve lots of delicious food and drink – the more locally sourced, the better!

Foodies will find much to enjoy in Ireland, home to wonderful main courses, tasty side dishes, decadent desserts and boozy beverages to enjoy at one’s leisure in the company of cherished friends and family members.

Several Hidden Ireland properties serve amazing, home-cooked meals on site. Others are situated within easy reach of some of Ireland’s best restaurants, pubs, cafes and eateries.

Whatever you like to eat and drink, you can be sure that there will be plenty to keep you satisfied during your visit to the Emerald Isle this summer.

Famous foods

Ireland is well-known around the globe for a number of fabulous food and beverages that must be sampled and enjoyed.Hidden Ireland delcious food country house accommodation cottage rental bed and breakfast

Some favourites include Guinness stew, seafood chowder, treacle soda bread and, for those brave enough, black pudding.

For dessert, there is a slice or three of whiskey-laced cake or a brilliantly boozy sherry trifle.

Summer eating

In the summer, staying cool is the order of the day and this is made possible thanks to treats like brown-bread ice cream, Wexford strawberries & clotted cream or just a Baileys on ice for when the sun shines on the glorious countryside and vibrant towns of Ireland.

If your accommodation does not serve home-cooked meals, look out for cafes and restaurants on your travels, or check out reviews online for ideas of where to go to enjoy Ireland’s best-known dishes. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, find a local food market and whip up some delicious Irish treats of your own.

Local fare

A key reason why so many guests enjoy home-cooked food served at Hidden Ireland accommodation is the fact that so many ingredients are sourced within just a few miles of the property.

Local butchers provide grass-fed lamb and beef and locally reared free-range chicken and pork. Vegetables are grown in local soil and berries plucked out of nearby country lanes.

Local artisans supply essential extras such as cheeses, jams, chutneys, yoghurts and porridge oats.

Coastal properties benefit from proximity to local fishing sites, where, during some seasons, sea food can be prepared and eaten on the same day that it is caught.

August alcohol

Ireland is just as lauded for its alcoholic beverages as it is for its delicious food.

Everyone has heard of the world-famous Guinness, plus the country is famous for its rich, earthy whiskeys, just waiting to be sipped gently with or without a cube of ice.

Irish alcohol is a crucial ingredient for many other well-known drinks.

These include the comforting post-dinner drink, the Irish coffee.

The perfect Irish coffee contains just the right mix of black coffee, cream, whiskey and sugar.

Then, there is the equally smooth Irish cream liquor, which combines whiskey with cream, chocolate and vanilla flavourings. Irish cream can be enjoyed as it comes, or added to a cocktail for an intense, unforgettable base note.

If you need to contact Hidden Ireland to find out more about our country houses, cottage or properties please click HERE

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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.

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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.

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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