ONE FOR ST PATRICK'S DAY

GUINNESS & HONEY GLAZED PORK LOIN
300ml guinness
250g light muscovado sugar
100ml clear honey
2kg skinless,boneless loin of pork
splash white wine
few sprigs flat leaf parsley

To make the glaze,put the guinness,honey and sugar in a pan.Reduce by almost half to form a sweet syrupy glaze,then allow to cool.

Heat oven to 200c,fan 180c,gas 6.Season the pork.Place on a baking tray and roast for 20mins.Then turn the heat down to 160c,fan 140c,gas 3.Remove the pork from the oven and brush all over with most of the glaze (save 2tbsp) cook for a further 40-45mins,brushing and basting the pork as it cooks until it's beauifully caramelised and glazed.Remove the pork from the roasting tray and rest.Pour the remaining glaze into the roasting tray,then add the wine.Place the pan on the heat and bring to the boil,simmer for a few mins until you have a thick gravy.Carve the pork and serve with the gravy.

COLCANNON

1kg potatoes,peeled and cut
100g butter
140g slices back bacon,finely sliced
1 small savoy cabbage,finely shredded
150ml double cream

Put potatoes in a pan and boil until tender.Meanwhile,heat quarter of the butter in a saucepan,then fry the back and half the cabbage for 5mins.Turn off the heat and set aside.Drain potatoes and mash until smooth.Heat the cream with remaining butter and,when almost boiling,beat into the potato.Add bacon and cabbage and mix well,season and serve.

BLACK VELVET BABY CAKES

100g softened butter,plus some for greasing
175g light brown soft sugar
1 egg
100g self-raising flour
50g ground almonds
1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
5 tbsp cocoa,plus some for decorating
150ml guinness

for the cream:

200ml double cream
25g icing sugar

Heat oven to 180c,fan160c,gas 4.Grease and line the bases of 6 cake moulds with baking parchment.Put the butter,sugar,egg,flour,ground almonds,bicarb,cocoa and guinness in a mixing bowl.Beat together until smooth with no lumps.Divide between the tins and bake for 20-25mins.Then remove from the tin and cool.Whip cream with icing sugar until thick.Pipe on top of each cake and dust with the cocoa.Serve,