A must-have for any food-lover, Blasta Books has a superb range of cookbooks in their beloved series, from Filipino to tacos, tapas and fermentation. Their latest release (lucky no.13 in the series), is LARDER by Orla McAndrew, which is published on 30th January.
With 100 quick and easy recipes, BLASTA BOOKS #13: LARDER will help you fill your pantry, fridge and freezer with the useful staples you need to make good food fast.
LARDER provides inspiration for 30 hero ingredients, including ways to get the most out of them and reduce food waste too


From a colourful Chickpea, watermelon & feta salad, adding texture to stews with a comforting Pearl barley, bacon & leek casserole, using canned goods for fun canapés such as Spicy deep-fried artichoke hearts and getting the freshest fish from your tins to make delicious Sardine fishcakes with lemon mayo, Orla’s ideas cover family favourites, carb-loading delights, additions that pack a flavour punch plus sweet treats for all.
Alongside helpful mind-maps and plenty of dinner in 10 minutes fixes, this short and sweet reference guide is for those who want to learn how to cook more intuitively, have busy work schedules, need to feed a family or are on a tight budget.
Since starting a zero-waste wedding and catering event company, Orla McAndrew understands that time is a precious commodity. As a busy working mum of three who loves to cook but still needs to feed her family while spinning lots of other plates, a well-stocked larder is her secret weapon.
Orla’s tried-and-tested recipes are tasty and nutritious, perfect for reducing stress and adding more variety to your kitchen repertoire.
Blasta Books has several other exciting new releases to look forward to in 2025:

TANGO
Facundo Rodulfo and Pam Neumann are the dynamic duo behind Tango Street Food, Ireland’s first and only Argentinian food market. Born in Buenos Aires, Facundo and Pam wanted to share not only the flavours of their homeland, but also their love of fostering cultural awareness and togetherness through food.
In BLASTA BOOKS #14: TANGO [May], Facundo and Pam showcase a fusion of Argentine and Italian street food-style dishes. Each recipe is a testament to the power of food to transcend borders, connect people and create community.
From their famous beef empanadas and stuffed pizzas to family favourites such as Argentine shepherd’s pie and sweet Quince pie, TANGO brings a fresh new way of sharing Argentinian food culture to everyone’s table.
JIBRIN
Nestled amongst the southern streets and river walls of Cork City is the award-winning Palestinian Café Izz, run by beloved couple Izz and Eman Alkarajeh. Serving top-quality, organic Palestinian food, including the always popular manaeesh, steaming fresh pittas, traditional homemade desserts and rich coffee, Café Izz has become a much-loved destination in the heart of Cork’s food community.
In #15: JIBRIN [July], named after Eman’s family hometown in Palestine, Izz and Eman share recipes that will take you on a culinary journey of their homeland, with recipes including stuffed pickled aubergines (makdous), perfectly tender roast chicken (musakhan), bite-size dumplings (shishbarak) and the syrupy, cheese-stuffed pastry cake nabulsi kunafa.
MESSY
Blasta Books’ final release of the year, food writer Aoife McElwain shows how even the messiest cook can go from chaos to craic in the kitchen. With two dozen simple recipes interspersed with musings on how to harness the joy of cooking, #16: MESSY [November] is for anyone who’s tired of striving for perfection on a plate, who naturally finds order in disorder or whose inner critic follows them into the kitchen. There really is no need to be stress-y when you can embrace the MESSY.
LARDER by Orla McAndrew (Blasta Books, €17) Cover illustration: Ciara Coogan / Inside illustrations: Nicky Hooper
Author photo: Kirsty Lyons