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Iris Robinson's chocolate balls to melt our hearts
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Left to right. Kieran McCarthy MLA, Margaret Ritchie, Social Development Minister, Simon Hamilton MLA and Catriona Ruane, Education Minister, at a photocall for a new Stormont recipe cookbook
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Food lovers across Northern Ireland are being given the chance to nibble on Iris Robinson's chocolate balls, included in a new charity cookbook.
Around 80 Assembly members have contributed their favourite recipes to the novel collection, which has been put together to raise money for Cancer Research.
The MLA's offerings range from the complex to the most basic.
Sinn Fein MLA Pat Doherty's fruity porridge, for instance, is unlikely to overly test readers, involving as it does cooking some porridge, cutting up some fruit and putting them together.
Alliance Deputy leader Naomi Long's chicken jambalaya, on the other hand, could get cooks in a stew all across the country with her extensive list of instructions.
There are some less well known concoctions too, as well as Mrs Robinson's chocolate balls Jim Shannon's intriguingly named hedgehog cake will no doubt get some asking whether the DUP Strangford member and avid hunter bought or shot his ingredients.
Junior Ministers Jeffrey Donaldson and Gerry Kelly, who offered up chocolate profiteroles and fried scallop borlotti respectively, joined Health Minister Michael McGimpsey (thai green chicken curry), Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie (tomato and basil lasagne) and Education Minister Caitriona Ruane (chicken kebabs with vegetable paella) at the launch of the book - an Assembly of Recipes - at Stormont today.
"I have cooked it a couple of times and the people who ate it thought it was okay but I suppose you would have to ask how much did they know about scallops," said Sinn Fein's Mr Kelly.
"It isn't cooked too often in the Kelly household as the kids aren't really up for scallops but my wife and a few friends are very partial to them."
DUP Minister Jeffrey Donaldson admitted when it came to his favourite pudding he didn't quite possess the culinary skills required to cook it himself.
"I'm afraid the best I can do is Scotch broth soup or beans on toast but I daren't send that into the recipe book or I'd be called in front of the Assembly Commission," he said.
"It's for Cancer Research and we're delighted to support this and I would just ask everyone in Northern Ireland coming up to Christmas to support this worthy cause some really good recipes and it's a bit of fun."
The book is the brainchild of the Portaferry Branch of Cancer Research UK and was officially launched at reception hosted by Strangford MLAs Kieran McCarthy (Alliance) and Simon Hamilton (DUP) in the Long Gallery.
Editor Allison Murphy said: "Over the many years that the Portaferry Branch has been fundraising, it has received phenomenal support from all our local politicians, so it is no surprise that nearly 80 of them sent me their favourite recipe to be included in our book.
"We are absolutely delighted with the end product and are extremely optimistic that the sale of the book will raise nearly £25,000 of much needed funds to help in the fight against cancer."
Other notable entries include:
- Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams' oven baked wild Irish salmon
- Enterprise Minister and mum of three Arlene Foster's children's veggie pizza.
- Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy's thai prawn curry.
- Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew's local seafood chowder.
- Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Gregory Campbell's sweet and spicy pineapple chicken.
While First Minister Peter Robinson did reply to the charity's request it was to advise them that he was referring the letter to his wife Iris.
An Assembly of Recipes is available from Allison Murphy on 07834539566; Beatrice Kennedy Restaurant, 44 University Road, Belfast Tel: 0289020 2290; and selected Cancer Research UK shops.
It costs £5 with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK Portaferry Branch.
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Comments
21 Comments
11+ decision - no. solving dispute in movilla - no. sending a message that violence in not acceptable in schools - no.
writing a recipe for chicken kebabs and vegetable paella - yes. get real caitriona. give your whole salary to cancer research as you havent been doing your job for 146 days.
typical politicians. public displays for charity. i wonder how many gave a donation in private???
Posted by GET BACK TO WORK MLAS | 14.11.08, 15:08 GMT
It must be good that MLA's are cooking up something even if they cannot agree on the way forward for education and justice...
Posted by Micheal | 14.11.08, 14:53 GMT
I would love to taste " Sinn Fein humble pie " as they now work for the Northern Ireland government . What is the recipe ?
Posted by JOHN | 13.11.08, 16:50 GMT
Even the chocolate balls are bitter in this country.
Posted by Finn | 12.11.08, 22:05 GMT
ChrisW and others have made some excellent comments. Come on then. Put your cash where your greedy mouths are and donate a fraction of your salary to charity. ChrisW suggests £231 per MLA. I say round it up to £250. Come on then. Perhaps there is some company out there that will pledge to match each donation with a donation of their own. Come on!! It will take some balls - indeed.
Posted by NuttyProf | 12.11.08, 17:45 GMT
Well said ChrisW......salary probably doubles by the time "expenses" are added!!
Incidentally I think our politicians milk the old bipartisan politics of Northern Ireland (or North of Ireland...before this message board goes the way of most others here!!) Because of this people tend to vote for the party and not the man/woman....hence we end of with this shower of work shy MLAs.
I refuse to vote at all given the current choices but I would welcome a united Ireland given the shambles of government we have (and when I did vote years ago I voted unionist!!)
Posted by bannside | 12.11.08, 16:02 GMT
MLA Salary : £42,000
No. of MLA's: 108
Days since Executive last met: 146 days
That comes to a staggering £1,814,400 for doing nothing, ignoring expenses for themselves and their families/hangers-on, and the public is expected to boost their egos by buying this book?! By all means please do contribute to Cancer Research but not by buying this book!
Incidentally the £25,000 Cancer Research is trying to raise comes to £231 per MLA, personally I think the MLA's should be giving this to Cancer Research themselves, with tax relief this will only cost them £139 each. Come on MLA's: do the right thing and cough up!!
Posted by ChrisW | 12.11.08, 15:19 GMT
I suggest their next charity stunt should be it's a knockout, afterall, they're a bunch of idiots earning big bucks for doing nothing to help the people of N.Ireland. Still, if you're on a Housing executive waiting list, you can always get a luxury apartment, maybe the MLA's will throw in a cookbook and the Sally Army can bring round the ingredients at Christmas. But hold on, Sinn Fein might object to the Salavation Army going anywhere. Am I losing the plot or are we living in some world from a Lewis Carroll novel.
Next thing you know Gerry will be in Castle Court handing out Xmas pressies dressed as Santa.
All I want from Santa is a real Politician who'll represent the people and get things done -not this useless shower of ......................
Posted by Paulo | 12.11.08, 14:52 GMT
Charity is all well and fine but we're paying these people to make decisions - the Maze Stadium, 11+ etc.
Seriously you layabouts - GET BACK TO WORK.
Posted by Keith | 12.11.08, 13:48 GMT
Beyond belief. They are laughing at us. Remember all this next time you have to vote people.
Remember by voting you are saying "yes I agree to this person who is less smart than me earning much more money than me for doing no work".
Not in my name!
Posted by Ben | 12.11.08, 13:42 GMT
Well it's no surprise...we're used to them all talking balls anyhow! Happy Xmas Mrs. Robinson. Bet you're not feeling the effects of the recession!
Posted by Mike | 12.11.08, 12:35 GMT
Strange how the Education Minister cannot turn up to do her work or meet her Education Committee but has found the time to dress up and have her photograph taken.
Posted by johnh | 12.11.08, 11:49 GMT
wonderful communities bipolar involment
Posted by angus | 12.11.08, 11:09 GMT
I hope that this Cancer research fundings not going to unethical research that destroys embryo's, we were all embryo's once.
Posted by fiona | 12.11.08, 10:56 GMT
Iris Robinson's chocolate balls? Is Iris finally reaching out to the gay community?
Posted by Barry | 12.11.08, 10:15 GMT
Iris trying to get in Belfast's good books again? Fat chance of that happening following her comments about homosexuals.
Posted by clare | 12.11.08, 10:05 GMT
Absolutly disgusted by the attitudes of these politicians, to say we're being laughed at is an understatment. Recession looms and they are promoting a cookery book? Fair enough this is for a good cause, but there are far more important issues on the agenda. I'd dare say that bar Zimbabwe, there is no government in the world doing less for their economy at the moment.
Posted by john mcd | 12.11.08, 09:29 GMT
Its amazing that the recipes can live with each other in the one book! and that the Assembly didn't walk out because one MLA's recipe was on a better page than some others. My goodness what a minefield of political debate. I suppose when they're finished they can clear off for their months holiday with piece of mind they did a good job!
Posted by Neil | 12.11.08, 09:22 GMT
Does Mr Robinson like the balls?
Posted by mickey | 12.11.08, 09:15 GMT
It's a wonder the MLAs could actually agree on a recipie, but then I guess they are very experienced at making a balls out of things even though they are not all chocolate. Perhaps they could also donate some of their fat salaries to charity!
Posted by Delia Smith | 12.11.08, 07:24 GMT
21 Comments