Ballymaloe Balloons
07 Feb 2012I know, I know, yet another sinfully caloric, overly indulgent, sugary, post. Yes, but this time I have an excuse: Kiddos! We made these up on a Saturday morning after a little farmer’s sleepover and they went down a storm.
While my experiments in Irish baking seem to know no bounds, I like to think they are for the greater good as the fruits of my baking are ultimately bestowed upon hungry farmer bellies. While my amazing mother-in-law, Peggy, still prefers to prepare the large daily dinner feast for the men on the farm each afternoon, I contribute by way of baked goods and puddings. A win-win for all. We get to nibble a bit and then share with others. I have become convinced that baking and sharing is the key to a happy life.
These “Ballymaloe Balloons” were originally created by legendary Myrtle Allen of Ballymaloe House. They have since made their way into to both Darina and Rachel Allen’s kitchens + cookery book repertoires. They are quick and easy to make as they don’t include yeast so no need to raise dough, plus you don’t need a deep fryer, you can simply use a frying pan and flip them when golden. Roll em’ in sugar & cinnamon and serve immediately.
I am super excited to announce another fun giveaway, perfectly suited for this wintery time of year. A new Irish brand that I find innovative, creative annnnnnnd practical: Slugs & Snails tights for boys! I stumbled upon these beauties a few months ago and they made me wish I had a baby boy again. Slugs & Snails are a small family run business, which started in 2008 with the birth of their son, Noah. Living in an old house, atop a cold windy hill on the west coast of Ireland, keeping Kat’s newborn baby boy warm was a priority, and tights were the obvious solution, yet she simply couldn’t find any tights designed for little boys.
No stranger to farm living either, Kat and her family bought a farm in 2007 and have raised a pig, chickens and look after their vibrant veggie patch. Couple her country living background with the fact that she has used PacMan ghosts for one of her designs, and I immediately had to order a pair for my nephew-in-law!
Simply said, they ROCK.
PS. Girls can wear em too =)
Leave a comment below to win two free pairs of Slugs & Snails tights for boys, perfect for your baby boy or for a baby shower gift. Kat will ship internationally.
Slan Abhaile,
Imen
Photo by Imen. Styling by Geoffrey McDonnell and his sweet little hand 2012.
Tags: American, Balloons, Ballymaloe, boy tights, darina allen, farm, Farming, I Married An Irish Farmer, Imen McDonnell, Irish country living, irish food, Irish food photography, irish foodies, kids, Myrtle Allen, rachel allen, Slugs & Snails
oh my gosh…could those look any more delicious?!? and they sound pretty easy too…they just may grace my weekend breakfast table soon.
They are pretty amazing and far too easy to whip up! Thanks for your comment xx
[…] streak continued in my everyday life. I got a double egg yolk in my salad at Fresco Bistro, won a blog giveaway on Modern Farmette of a Slugs & Snails prize, and even won a Valentine’s Tulip bouquet (shown below) from […]
[…] streak continued in my everyday life. I got a double egg yolk in my salad at Fresco Bistro, won a blog giveaway on Modern Farmette of a Slugs & Snails prize, and even won a Valentine’s Tulip bouquet (shown below) from […]
[…] streak continued in my everyday life. I got a double egg yolk in my salad at Fresco Bistro, won a blog giveaway on Modern Farmette of a Slugs & Snails prize, and even won a Valentine’s Tulip bouquet (shown below) from […]
such lovely, sugary, fried delights. this is exactly what blogs are for- for indulging is- i know there are a lot of blogs out there which teach us how to eat healthy – but those arent the ones i frequent 🙂 love yours, with all its sugar, cream, butter. x s
PS love the off-farming post, too, such gorgeous pics of your travels
Hi,
I am an American living in Wexford and I stumbled upon your blog. I really enjoy it!!! I made the balloons this afternoon. They were a hit with my three kids and my husband.
ahhhh my little guy would look deadly in these and be snug as a slug.
You’re in the draw! Whoo hoo! x
Yummy yummy to both the balloons and the tights!
Thanks for your comment =) xx
I just love your website. I currently work with an irish lady and I can actually talk to her about irish food…lol. I work/live in NY and I do not know how I end up in your blog but I just love it and I plan to bake some of your lovely recipes.
And I just love the tights for boys…they will be wonderful for my nephews.
Thank you so much, it’s a labour of love! I will put your name in the hat =) xx
I love these sugary little bundles of badness. 🙂 Sometimes you just NEED a little decadence – especially when kidlets are running about. 🙂
Yes, indeed Krista! How is OZ? x
I love the look (and no doubt taste) of your Ballymaloe balloons – they remind me of the delectable beignets from Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans http://www.cafedumonde.com/beignet.html
As for the tights genius idea, so obvious and yet I have never come across them for boys before. Would LOVE a pair. It’s my bday today – seriously – and my little one has been sick all night so need some positive luck;o)
Omg god, they are like a beignet! Love that =) Thanks for your comment and will put you in the draw! x
Oh my – they look yummy – they might need to go on my ‘Farmette waiting list’ of goodies to bake/make 😉 Re. boys tights – a revelation – count me in if it’s not too late. Take care Sinéad
OH YES to those balloons. Making them (and I might not be able to share them they look so good). And OH YES YES to those gorgeous tights. It’s always nice to see boys getting awesome clothes just for them!
I just love the photograph of the little man in his tights. His little hand gestures let you know how happy he is to be alive. Just precious.
I made these a few years ago, i got the recipe either from Rachel or Darina’s book. I’d recommend them, next time i’ll make some strawberry coulis to go with it!
I worked in Ballymaloe House back in the 80’s and Balloons were the most requested treat by the children for their evening meal. We the staff were also fond of taking a sneak at them too. They are delicious 🙂
Omg, I BET! I’d love to do the Ballymaloe course….but how to get away. Did you like your work experience? xx
These would be perfect for my 3mth old nephew, Lewis. He arrived at 11lbs 5oz & 16 days late so is quite the bruiser & practically big enough to start school. 🙂
Congratulations on your nephew! Will put your name in the hat! xx
I love the Balloon recipe! And the tights for boys – very cute!
It sounds like ‘Slugs n’ Snails’ are on to a winner for sure x
Oh my!! Those tights would be perfect for my son for these chilly Connemara days!!!
Yay! Aren’t they the best???????! Your name is in the draw Jennifer! x
I have never seen boy tights before; what a great idea!
And scrummy fried dough balls…mmm! Wonder if I could make them GF….
The tights are just darling…really cute under a pair of denim shorts too! Thanks for your comment. x
They look delicious. And it’s good you can bake sweet things and don’t worry about calories crap. I agree that sharing is the best option for sweet things.
Well, I worry about the calories, but then I give it away!! Thanks Magda…I sent some pals over to your blog a few weeks ago =)
Thank you. I need to try be more organised post more often. Tomorrow I’m finally planning Polish doughnuts!
Did you make the Polish doughnuts for Pancake Tuesday? Yummmmm!
Those tights are lovely. My daughter spends the entire winter in tights and in Vienna all the little boys wear tights…. since being back in Dublin, I have been amazed at how uncommon tights are, on girls or boys!! Girls only seem to wear them with a skirt or dress. There is nothing worse than a pair of cold legs! 🙂 I hope Slugs and Snails do some for girls! Girls like slugs, snails and puppy dog’s tails too! 🙂
Well, if I had a girl she would def be wearing those pacman ghosts! Or any of them really….they are all super cute! xx
~Yet again you serve up another delicious treat for us to try… spotted these a few years ago on a cooking show, and thought what naughtiness yet absolutely scrumpdillyicious!! Thank you for sharing this recipe Imen.. I always enjoy reading your blog..
Slugs and Snails tights are ideal for little boys…I always find it so hard to find these types of clothes for my 3 year old..
Thanks Siobhan! Aren’t they fun….really yum and yes, sinful but oh well, you only live once! Imen xx
These look delicious! I’m trying next week for when my niece and nephew visit. Scrumptious! Thanks for sharing.
Those look dreamy! What a fun post-sleepover breakfast. And the tights are so fun and vibrant. Perfect for chilly Irish weather too.
Awww Evin, the tights would be perfect for your little bub! Thanks for your comment, hope mommyhood is treating you well =) xx
great tights for boys. ive had my two littlemonkeys in them all winter. if we win we can throw all the pink ones away.
Thanks for your comment Clare…they are adorable! xx
tights for boys are the best. i have had my boys in them all winter and its soo hard to get ones for boys. if we win we can throw all the pink ones away.
These look fabulous! Tight for boys how sensible!
Oh these look fabulous! Tights for boys how sensible!
What a great idea for boys! Would love to win these as a gift for our friends whose baby boy was born 3 weeks ago … they’d keep out the chills!
Aren’t they great? I just got so excited when I stumbled upon them…hadn’t seen them before even in the USA. Will put you in the hat!
wow i never knew that these were around but what an amazing product and the designs are fab and i am loving all the recipes am a sugar lover x
Thanks Emily! Your name is in the draw! xx
I remember these from Ballymaloe – YUM!
On a different note my sister was looking for the Slugs & Snails tights for my nephew and would be delighted with me were I to win them for him!
I am sure they looked different at Ballymaloe…mine are not very “balloon-y” looking, ha! Yes, the tights would make a great gift! I’ve put your name in Yvonne! xx