Ballyowen Farm

Yesterday was a perfect afternoon for baking. Aside from bread which is always on the go here, I haven't made many cakes of late for the house.
Last year I made hundreds of cakes and pastries at scale, which I love and its warms me when customers love them too (cinnamon rolls!). But its nice during this market downtime to bake at leisure for family and friends.

These were coffee cardamom & walnut cakes, with a deliciously espresso glaze. Perfect for a cuppa, but yummy as a breakfast or mid morning treat. My best advice for baking is use the best quality ingredients- real butter & organic eggs are non negotiables for me.

Sourdough Class dates for November are now open for booking. These 1:1 classes are limited so if this is a skill you want to invest in, then book your slot!.

Booking link in profile.

No experience necessary,  and no specialised equipment needed. They are one on one, but if you'd like to do with a friend or family member/ small group, DM me to arrange.

Introducing our gift boxes! We've were overwhelmed by the lovely response to our Christmas gift boxes, so we're thrilled to announce our food hampers are here to stay! 🥳 Filled with your favourite Ballyowen sweet and savoury treats, they're the perfect gift for any occasion (or a delicious pantry boost!). Our packaging is fully compostable , and jars /lids fully recyclable.

You will find us every week or you can order these online (link in bio!) or as follows for nationwide delivery:
https://ballyowen-farm.sumupstore.com/product/food-gift-hamper

In fact we can ship all your non-perishable favourites up to 8kg! 🚚 Shop the full range in our online store, link in bio.
As always, we make everything in small batches (and are always restocking), ensuring quality. Don't miss out! ❤️

Couple of Spots Left on this Group Cooking Class Sun Mar 2nd - Back to Basics Kitchen Confidence. Master pantry staples and gain confidence in the kitchen! With a focus on reducing waste and eating less processed foods - this 1/2 day class is a fun way to upskill and meet like minded food loving individuals. Secure your place now and start your journey to a more confident and sustainable kitchen. Wexford Daisy Chain of New Friends (might be some folks interested in a local activity?)
Booking Link here: https://ballyowen-farm.sumupstore.com/product/back-to-basics-kitchen-confidence-cooking-class-march-2nd-2025?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaalqF9mvnrc7ZKnQEnD-6taQUYlPcHgvlWObjkKNLz-1D_6CIpUV_Om_ws_aem_yG7KvZrQ70dQSJQwQjl9Sg

Some pics from a recent cooking class - "Elevate the Everyday".

I'm desperate at remembering to take pics from my classes...namely because I'm enjoying being in the moment, and the time flies & the phone is put away for a few hours.

This class was all about elegant everyday, using simple but fab quality local seasonal ingredients to create a starter, main dessert, bread & salad.

What we cooked realtime in class:
- Rosemary & focaccia
- Smoked mackerel & dill pate, served with cucumber pickle & toast.
- Spatchcocked herbed chicken
- Summer Couscous
- Salsa Verde (All from the garden!)
- Green salad & dressing
- Strawberry & buttermilk ice cream .

Simple but tasty local ingredients,  when plated up make a beautiful family meal or elegant dinner party.

Do you want to learn to make your own sourdough?

Did you know that a sourdough loaf contains only 3 ingredients - water , flour & salt. There's a bit of magic that happens as well in the form of healthy bacteria & wild yeast in the air. 💫 So in addition to being incredibly tasty it's also healthier than ordinary bread.

I am absolutely passionate about the benefits of making & eating your own bread! So I keep a few slots each month to offer 1:1 private Sourdough Masterclasses (in Wexford). During this 2.5hour session I cover in simple terms the 'science' and instructions behind the starter - key to making a sourdough.
- We make a dough together hands on
- We bake a fresh sourdough bread (which you can take home)
- You will get a step by step guide to making and baking sourdough
- Your own 'starter'; to take home (essentially enabling you to make sourdough straight away).
- Support with follow up Q&A.
DM if you are interested and I can send more details as I have a little August and September availability. 😉.

Sourdough is a 'prebiotic' which helps to support the gut microbiome. It is a fermented food which has proven health benefits & the lactic acid, also produced during fermentation, helps promote the growth of healthy flora in the intestines. It is unprocessed. It lasts longer than most store bought bread as well.

Unfortunately most commercial sourdough bread sold in the large supermarkets & convenience stores is not the real deal & made using a tiny amount of synthetic sourdough. Recently I picked up a 'sourdough bread mix” in the baking aisle and it contained over 20 ingredients and artificial additives. 🤷 Time to make your own!!