Chef’s Tip

What do you like to do with your leftover mash? For me, there’s nothing nicer than making a crisp-on-the-outside; soft-on-the-inside, savoury potato pancake.

In some parts of Ireland, farl is the leftover potato dish of choice but it’s a recipe I never fully mastered. Instead, I think back to my time in Asia when I make potato pancakes - specifically, to South Korean gamjajeon, which are deliciously spicy and served with a salty, zingy dipping sauce made of rice wine vinegar and light soy sauce. To make these gamjajeon, just take some chopped or sliced green and red chilli, some freshly grated ginger and garlic and mix these into the leftover mash. Season with salt and pepper, then add an egg and 200g of plain flour. Using oiled hands, shape into pancakes and fry in hot oil until crisp on both sides. The perfect side dish.

Rural Rhymes

Welcome release

By Paddy Egan

Restrictions lifted, no more lockdown,

Freedom to move, we can go to town.

Four months cocoon, it wasn’t nice,

We had no choice, but pay the price.

We look forward now our friends to meet

In shop, or church or on the street

We missed our friends when all alone

T’was not the same to use the phone

Free to call to the barber’s shop

To give the old head of hair a chop

For the ladies too, not a day too soon

Overdue a call their hair saloon

Doors open to each restaurant

We’ll enjoy a coffee in our favourite haunt

For thirsty folk who enjoy a jar

Can soon relax in their local bar

But we have been warned,

do take care

The virus bug is still out there

Keep your distance, the

advisers ask

And don’t forget to wear your mask

Tweet of the week

Growing wild

with Dr Catherine Keena, Teagasc countryside management specialist

Look out for Lady’s smock or Cuckoo-flower with pink or white flowers in damp fields or roadsides. The lady refers to the Virgin Mary, while clusters of flowers in a meadow resemble a smock laid out. It is often covered in foam known as ‘cuckoo-spit’, as it flowers when the cuckoo begins to call, giving its alternative name, Cuckoo-flower, despite the fact that the foam is caused by froghopper nymphs who live in its stems. The flowers are pollinated by bees, flies, beetles, moths and butterflies. This is a favourite food plant of Orange-tip and Green-veined white butterflies.

Quote of the week

He was a very good walker. I love a good walker and I just said at the price, he was the same price as a cow.

– Shark Hanlon on what attracted him to buy Hewick as a young horse P13

Number of the week

Photo of the week

Starting young: Alex Peavoy helping with the lambs at David Quinn and Fiona Kemmys farm at Ballycarnan, Portlaoise.