Tags: cookery school, cooking classes, Italian cooking, learn to cook, pasta making

Summer is finally here and we are eating a lot more outdoors and on the go. I love to have a box of treats in the fridge that we can have with a flask of coffee after our swim or bring for a snack when we go for a long walk.

The Strawberry & White Chocolate Squares are crumbly, oaty and nutty. A layer of shortbread baked with a layer of strawberry jam, fresh strawberry slices and white chocolate chips, then topped with an almond crumble mix.

The Magic Slice recipe is from my good friend Diana Dodog who used to have long queues at her food truck especially for her treats and Mikes coffee. A lot of people miss her food, us included!

White chocolate and strawberries on a brownie in a cake pan.
White chocolate and strawberries on a brownie in a cake pan.
Oaty Strawberry & White Chocolate Squares
  • 225g Plain Flour,
  • 1 tsp baking powder,
  • 100g Caster sugar,
  • 85g soft light brown sugar,
  • 225g butter,
  • 150g porridge oats,
  • 200g good strawberry jam (raspberry works great too!)
  • Fesh strawberries, sliced
  • 100g white choc chips,
  • 25g flaked almonds
Method:
  1. Pre-Heat oven to 180C / Gas mark 4. Line a 30cm x 20cm baking tin.
  2. Sift flour & baking powder in a large bowl or food processor. Add in sugars & mix well. Add butter & rub in until it resembles breadcrumbs (if using a bowl) or blitz in the food processor.
  3. Stir in the oats. Press 3/4 of the mixture into the tin then bake in oven for 10 mins.
  4. Take out then spread jam over base & sprinkle over the sliced strawberries and choc chips. Add almond flakes to the remaining crumb mixture then sprinkle evenly over the top. Press down gently.
  5. Bake for a further 20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool in tin before cutting into slices. Keep chilled in fridge.
Diana’s Magic Slices
  • 190g digestive biscuits
  • 90g butter, melted
  • 1 cup dessicated coconut
  • 1 cup mixed dried fruit (or whatever dried fruit you have)
  • 1 cup flaked amonds
  • 1 cup chocolate chips (white, milk, dark or a mix)
  • 1 tin condensed milk.
Method
  1. Preheat oven to 180C / Gas Mark 4. Line a 30cm x 20cm baking tin.
  2. Blitz the digestives in a food processor until they resemble breadcrumbs then pour in the melted butter. Blitz again until both combined. Press the crumbs into the base of the tin then chill in the fridge or freezer.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine all the other ingredients until well mixed together. Spread this onto the chilled base, leveling with a spatula or spoon.
  4. Bake in the oven for 20-25 mins until golden brown on top. Allow to cool fully before slicing – if you chill overnight in the fridge it’s easier to cut into the desired size pieces.

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

"A Dream Wedding Come to Life"

We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up