Plasterer turned cook produces recipe book

'Calso Cooks - Real Food Made Easy'  is a no-nonsense guide to producing delicious, nutritious meals. Paul O'Callaghan (Calso) came late to the discovery that real food can be produced with very little effort and be tastier and healthier than the convenience foods he'd survived on up until then. He is now making up for lost time and is spreading the word through his blog, Calso Cooks from the Sustainable Larder.

Paul has an extensive following and is keen to share his brand of hearty, rustic cooking and his enthusiasm for the mental and physical benefits of real food with the wider community. The book includes lots of delicious ideas for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts and treats including: cherry tomato and herb heart-healthy omlette; courgette carbonara; pork, beetroot and orange salad; beef and Guinness pie; fruity oat-crusted chicken; smoked haddock lasagne; After Eight cheescake; and guilt-free panna cotta.

Paul O'Callaghan ran his own plastering business in his native Armagh until the recession hit and he lost everything. He moved to Co Clare for a new start and struggled at first with depression and feelings of helplessness. However, when he rented a house with some land attached and decided to try growing some of his own food, he became hooked on cooking (and eating!) the ingredients he produced. He started his blog in 2011 and now runs his own food business. He also has a column in 'EasyFood' magazine, and contributes to the Breakfast Show on 2fm as well as Clare FM.

Calso Cooks: Real Food Made Easy is published in paperback at €19.99 by Mercier Press.