Monday 30th August 2010

Weather has remained lovely all weekend although getting a little chilly in the evenings.  The evenings are also all of a sudden getting shorter with the sun setting around 8:30pm.

Yesterday Gwen checked out a 300 year old house that she wants to buy.  She took the girls and I past it later on that day and have to say it is a brilliant looking house in a great part of the town.  No plans on making an offer any time time soon but no harm in looking.

While in the town we took the girls for a pizza at Vista which is not that bad for Irish pizza and then wandered around the town enjoying the atmosphere and lovely sunny evening.   We got talking to a lovely Seattle couple (Matt and Sara) with their two year old boy who are using Kinsale as a stop off point while relocating from USA to Luxembourg.   We invited them to have a drink with us at the Greyhound and were duly impressed when both Sara and Matt asked for pints of Murphy's!   Sara and Matt, it was lovely meeting and talking to you,  good luck with he big move and please start a blog of your adventures in mainland Europe!  You going to have such a brilliant time over there with some many great places and countries at your doorstep.

Saturday - a day at the beach

How come no matter where you are the weather is always lovely right before the kids start back at school?!  This morning was so nice that Anna, Sarah and myself headed down to the Dock Beach.  Water is a bit too burr to get in without a wet suit buy the girls were happy enough making sand castles and new friends.  I lay on the sand and had a snooze!  Nice way to spend your Saturday morning!

Yesterday we met Steve Moore and his new wife Melissa in Kinsale.  They are in Ireland on their honeymoon and stopped at the town having lunch with us at Fishy Fishy on their way up to Dublin.  Steve and Melissa it was so nice to see you, congratulations again and we hope you enjoy your last few days in Dublin. 

Later on Saturday we all walked down into the town for ice cream (black ice cream for Gwen and me!).   Kids went to bed relatively early and Gwen and I finished off the day sitting outside, enjoying the peace and quite while keeping warm in front of a nice fire in our chiminea. 

Jessica yesterday morning in a dress that both Anna and Sarah wore at same age.  (courtesy of her Aunt Maria in Connecticut)

Me, Steve Moore and his new wife Melissa at Fishy Fishy Cafe.

Melissa, Steve, Jessica, Gwen and Anna (Sarah is hiding behind her mummy)

Anna and Gwen walking down to the town last night.

Ice Cream for the girls

Scootering around the Milk Market last night

A nice black ice cream for Gwen!

Normal living in Kinsale

It has been a really nice week.  We have been doing nothing other than just normal living.  There have been no parties,visitors or late nights since getting back from Carlow and we have just been mostly house bound hanging out with the girls, making meals, watching TV and basically all the normal stuff.   The girls had a big play date with other kids from their new school yesterday and it looks like there are a lovely bunch of kids attending   We hope now that their first day next Wednesday will be a lot less stressful for them as they now at least know most of their class.   I think however that myself and Gwen will be way more stressed about their first day then them!

Last night I made a superb Chicken Tikka Masala using the Indian spices that Rhodelle and Carl brought from Manchester.  The dish is so good I am posting here.  If you make it let me know how it turned out.  Enjoy!

Chicken Tikka Masala

This dish is best when prepared with whole-milk yogurt, but low-fat yogurt can be substituted. For a spicier dish, do not remove the ribs and seeds from the chile. If you prefer, substitute 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper for the garam masala. The sauce can be made ahead, refrigerated for up to 4 days in an airtight container, and gently reheated before adding the hot chicken. Serve with basmati rice.

Serves 4 to 6

Chicken Tikka
1/2	teaspoon ground cumin
1/2	teaspoon ground coriander
1/4	teaspoon cayenne pepper
1	teaspoon table salt
2	pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts , trimmed of fat
1	cup plain whole-milk yogurt (see note above)
2	tablespoons vegetable oil
2	medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
1	tablespoon grated fresh ginger
Masala Sauce
3	tablespoons vegetable oil
1	medium onion , diced fine (about 1 1/4 cups)
2	medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
2	teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1	fresh serrano chile , ribs and seeds removed, flesh minced (see note above)
1	tablespoon tomato paste
1	tablespoon garam masala (see note above)
1	(28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2	teaspoons sugar
1/2	teaspoon table salt
2/3	cup heavy cream
1/4	cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1. FOR THE CHICKEN: Combine cumin, coriander, cayenne, and salt in small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with spice mixture, pressing gently so mixture adheres. Place chicken on plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes. In large bowl, whisk together yogurt, oil, garlic, and ginger; set aside.

2. FOR THE SAUCE: Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until light golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, chile, tomato paste, and garam masala; cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, and salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cream and return to simmer. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm.

3. While sauce simmers, adjust oven rack to upper-middle position (about 6 inches from heating element) and heat broiler (or your "Grill" in Ireland!). Using tongs, dip chicken into yogurt mixture (chicken should be coated with thick layer of yogurt) and arrange on wire rack set in foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or broiler pan. Discard excess yogurt mixture. Broil chicken until thickest parts register 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer and exterior is lightly charred in spots, 10 to 18 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through cooking.

4. Let chicken rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1-inch chunks and stir into warm sauce (do not simmer chicken in sauce). Stir in cilantro, adjust seasoning with salt, and serve.

A day out in Dublin

We stayed in Dublin on Saturday on our way back from the great wedding in Carlow (see previous post!) on Friday.  We took the train (DART) from Glenageary to Pearse Street, walked around Trinity College, up Grafton Street and ate lunch on one of the lawns in Stephen's Green.  Lovely day out with the girls who enjoyed the buskers and feeding the ducks.

We drove back down to Kinsale on Sunday afternoon (2hrs 47mins) where we will be staying for as long as possible.  The summer and our shenanigans are well and truly over as the girls start school and I start working again on 1st September.  It was however some summer and one we will never forget.

Catching the DART into town.

Anna on the DART

Sarah on the DART

Sarah at Trinity College

Gwen and the girls at Trinity College

Statue Mimes on Grafton Street

Stephen's Green

Chasing Pigeons

A swan at Stephen's Green

Jessica at Stephen's Green

Wolfe Tone, the girls and me.

Gwen outside the Shelbourne Hotel (where we had our wedding reception eight years ago)

On the DART

Wedding in Tullow, Co. Carlow

Gwen and I were invited to Darren and Sharon's wedding at Mount Wolseley in Tullow, Co. Carlow on Friday the 20th August.  Both Darren and Sharon are from Ireland but they live in Dallas which is how we know them.  Darren and Sharon, congratulations again, you certainly gave us a great day out as your wedding was brilliant.  We both had a fantastic day and you and the rest of your family and guests certainly looked like they had a lot of fun.  It was also great seeing so many of our friends from Dallas again.

Gwen and Maria outside the Church of the Holy Rosary in Tullow.

Sharon and Darren

Darren, Sharon and the wedding party.

Gwen, Jane and Maria

Peter, Johno, Pat and Paul

Peter, Paul, Brian, Johno, Davey, Connor, Noel and Gerry

Connor, Jane, Pat and Susie

The ladies at the pub after the ceremony.

The groom (Darren) and Gwen

Gerry, me, Gwen, Darren, Noel and Maria

Gwen and me

Maria and Gwen

Irish Cowboys

Gerry and Maria

Keisha, Kevin, Arleen, Noel, Gerry and Maria

Wednesday 18th August and all is very quiet

Things are just about getting normal in the house now.  We have been visitorless since Sunday and we are trying to get the girls and ourselves back onto some type of normal schedule.  Still difficult getting the girls to bed at 8pm since it is still so bright outside but we only have a week and a bit before they start school so boot camp has commenced!

Nothing too much report other than the weather being lovely.  We all hiked around James Fort on Tuesday which was nice, had Chinese takeaway from local Chinese which was actually really good and did normal things like watching telly when the kids go to bed.  Today I did a big bike ride up and down some seriously steep hills while Gwen caught up on laundry.  Girls just enjoyed the freedom here running around and playing.  Gwen has been doing big walks around the town and countryside in the evenings getting in her exercise (you gotta see the hills in this town to understand - San Francisco looks tame compared to Kinsale!)

So all boring but all good.  We are catching up on much needed rest and normality after twelve weeks of madness.

The girls at James Fort

Mummy and the girls at James Fort

Kinsale Harbour

Gwen

Summercove view from James Fort

Gwen thinking "I cannot believe I live somewhere so beautiful!"