Apple cakes like this one are the traditional sweet in Ireland. It would originally have been baked in a pot beside an open fire and later in the oven on tin or enamel plates.

Songs have been sung and poems have been written about Colcannon. It’s one of Ireland‘s most famous traditional potato dishes. It’s comfort food at its very best and terrific for a party.

450g (1lb) flour, preferably unbleached 1 level tsp bread soda, sieved 1 level tsp salt 2 tsp sugar 50g (2oz) dark chocolate roughly chopped 50g (2oz) raisins 400ml (14fl oz) buttermilk or 350ml (12fl oz) + 1 egg

This delicious tea brack recipe was given to me by Lana Pringle, who lives in Shanagarry. Lana makes her delicious cakes by hand and cooks them in her old Aga.

Makes 35-40 biscuits.

Makes 2 loaves.

* Pig Out Day Courses with Frank Krawczyk.

Recipe for Butterscotch Sauce

Duchy Originals Cookbook by Johnny Acton and Nick Sandler, Kyle Cathie; €37

THESE much-loved biscuits, sometimes called millionaire’s squares, are fiddly to make, so get the maximum flavour for your effort by making them with butter and best-quality chocolate.