Thursday was my birthday. Gwen had no foreign trips planned for me but I will let that pass as it was not a big milestone like hers. She took me on a surprise trip to New Orleans last year for my big one so I cannot be complaining. I did have a lovely birthday though which started with the best breakfast in Kinsale at Cucina after which we picked up a nice bottle of wine and some steaks at Barretts butcher for that nights dinner. I should mention that the weather is still amazing here so still cooking outside on the grill/BBQ. With the steaks we did some nice mash potatoes with kerrygold butter, sauted fresh spinach and mushrooms and a home made very amateur "demi-glace" that I did as per Anthony Bourdain in Kitchen Confidential which is the book I am currently reading. He suggests a quick and easy home version by just reducing equal portions of good beef or veal stock and red wine down and then thickening at the end with some good butter. He has a few other other simple tips in his book about making professionally looking meals at home that I am driving Gwen nuts with at the moment. This morning when making French toast for the girls she asked if I was going to garnish it with finely chopped parsley! I didn't but it did look (and taste) really good dusted with powered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup.
The girls are now on mid term break from school so on Friday they were allowed wear their Halloween costumes in as part of a national uniform free day for Unicef. (each child donates a euro). Here is a picture of the two of them heading out that morning.
