Happy Holiday Hosting
Crackers and cheese, cheese and wine, cheese and fruit: dynamic duos for any gathering, holiday or otherwise. Successful hosts rarely bring cheese ...
December 15, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
The Essence of Christmas
Gingerbread men, gingerbread houses, even the smell of ginger signals Christmas is upon us. Made from sugars and spices brought back from the Middl...
December 08, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
Let the Baking Begin!
Spiced, sweet desserts like this cake have been a part of Irish holiday celebrations for centuries and were highly prized because they included spices and dried fruits, once difficult and expensive to obtain. Irish cooking legend Darina Allen, founder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School, called it “the cake of the year”
November 23, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
Squash for Thanksgiving: Let Us Count the Ways
Chances are you’re in the home stretch of your Thanksgiving dinner shopping, and another good bet is that you’ve already grabbed one of more types ...
November 18, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
Worth Repeating: Fig Season is Here!
Fresh figs are thought to have been used as early as 2000 B.C. One of the first fruits to be dried and stored, figs appear regularly in both the Ol...
November 02, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
Counting Down to Christmas
A few years ago, I gave a book talk/cooking demonstration on Irish holiday foods at a local library. One of my personal favorites is mincemeat, an ...
October 13, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
Autumn Leaves & Loaves
There’s something very special about autumn, the season that officially begins on September 22 in the northern hemisphere. By definition, the autum...
September 21, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
Tomatoes: Grab 'Em While You Can
It’s safe to say, I never met a tomato I didn’t like — red, yellow, green, plum, beef stake, big boy, grape, cherry, heirloom — the list is endless...
September 09, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
Sojourn in the Kingdom, Part 2
rIreland has thirty-two counties and four ancient provinces, but only one kingdom — The Kingdom of Kerry! Renowned for its gorgeous coastline wrapp...
August 22, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
Sojourn in the Kingdom: Part 1
Ireland has thirty-two counties, four ancient provinces, but only one kingdom — The Kingdom of Kerry! Locals might suggest there are actually two (...
August 17, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
Cool & Colorful Soups for Summer Meals
When you’re planning a summer menu, make sure you consider serving soup shooters as an hors d’oeuvres or starter. Garden vegetables like zucchini a...
July 29, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson
Christmas in July, Part 2: Sneak Peak at Holiday Recipes
Let me be the first to remind you that, depending on when you read this, there are about 156 days until Christmas! Shocking, I know, but you can ge...
July 22, 2022
by Margaret M. Johnson