Loves

Food and, to be more specific, chocolate. I can come up with hundreds of ways to include chocolate in a healthy diet. From the usual hot chocolate with orange to chicken with chocolate and chilli sauce, from chocolate beetroot cake to chocolate and wasabi fondue. I am sure it is one of the daily five.

Sharp knives A sharp knife just glides through the work. The trick is to keep your fingers out of the way, using your knuckles as a buffer. It is the safest way to use a knife. I start every cookery class here at Ballyknocken with a masterclass in knife skills and the very first thing I teach is how to sharpen a knife.

Old things My husband does not like when I say this. As our farm guesthouse dates from the 1850s, old things look good in it, so I spend time browsing at car boot sales for the likes of old serving bowls, glasses, crockery and cutlery. Then I use these for display and for plating the food for photoshoots.

High heels It bothers me that my seven-year-old daughter keeps saying that she is up to my chin. As I am not very tall, I love the feeling that high heels give me. Although I do limit myself to four inches or under, otherwise I would topple.

Being Irish I love our Irish sense of fun, our warmth and friendliness. I love Irish ingredients – I think the quality is superb. I love our climate – it is so easy to grow herbs, fruit and vegetables in our weather. I love our scenery and I especially love that anywhere you go in the world, you are welcomed with open arms once people learn that you are from Ireland.

Loathes

Inferior and cheap frying pans Lured by the magic of the words "non-stick", you take the pan home and everything is great. By your second omelette, you are scraping the egg from the bottom of the pan. But the worst ones are the ones that warp when heated. If they can't hold their shape and are stick, rather than non-stick, then why are they manufactured in the first place?

Anything electronic Just give it to me with an on/off button please. I think I get confused when I have too many options. I am trying to be a 21st century girl with Twitter and Facebook, but I still have my L plates on in that department.

Ironing And now that I've said that, I'll probably get fingers pointing at my creases. But one of my few luxuries in life is to pay to have my ironing done. I know some people say that ironing is relaxing. Sorry to burst the bubble, but having a glass of wine is relaxing.

Over-brewed coffee The type of coffee that is made in the morning and left sitting all day simmering away on the hot plate of the coffee machine, until it has evaporated so much that the local council could use it for tarring the roads. And it is so bitter. Ugh!

Scary movies What is the point of making yourself watch something that will keep you awake all night thinking that it will come and get you? Or watching the movie with your eyes closed, if ever there was a paradox. Give me a romantic comedy any day.

Catherine runs Ballyknocken Cookery School in Co Wicklow