Food & Drink
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Harvesting a Summer Herb Bonanza
Tomatoes and basil; potatoes and rosemary; salmon and dill. Perfect partners in summer dishes, of course, so grab as many fresh herbs as you can to pair with the last of summer’s bounty. Herbs are the easiest of all edible plants to grow — whether in a small pot on your windowsill, in a container on your patio, or tucked in-between other vegetables or flowers in garden — so grab all you can to embellish […] Read More
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Christmas in July! (August, Too!
Depending on when you read this, there are about 150 days until Christmas! Shocking, I know, but you can get a head start on shopping for all the cooks in your family by taking advantage of the “Christmas in July” preview of my holiday cookbook Festive Flavors of Ireland. However, if you’re barely surviving the current heat wave and think it’s too early to start thinking about Christmas (shopping or eating), here’s a recipe from […] Read More
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A Tasty Journey in “Ireland’s Ancient East”
I recently spend 10 days visiting “Ireland’s Ancient East,” a touring region tapping 5,000 years of history in the south and eastern area of the country. Described as a touring region rather than a specific route, it was designed to offer a “relaxing, compact journey of discovery” stretching from the Boyne Valley through the Midlands and down to East Cork. Launched in 2015 as a follow-up to the popular west coast “Wild Atlantic Way,” a journey here […] Read More
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It’s Asparagus Time!
Imported asparagus are available year-round, but there’s nothing like those locally grown in its short spring season: in Ireland, traditionally beginning on April 23 and ending on Midsummer Day. Although its delicate flavor and seasonality makes it highly desirable in the kitchen, asparagus is much more than just a pretty vegetable and has long been recognized as high in antioxidants and a good source of dietary fiber. Delicious steamed, grilled, or baked, it’s also a […] Read More
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Welcome Spring With a Raspberry-Rhubarb Tray Bake
Meteorological spring, the season determined by annual temperature cycles, begins March 1 in the Northern Hemisphere. Those of us who live in the Northeast really can’t complain about dreadful winter weather this year, but the idea that spring has officially arrived is exciting, nonetheless. And now that it’s here, we have some lovely things to look forward to — longer days, warmer weather, and for cooks, baking with traditional spring fruits and vegetables, rhubarb in particular, […] Read More
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How to be Irish in Philly This Month, Part One
You know you’re Irish when you hear a patron in a pub ask the bartender, “Are you all ready for March Madness?” and you’re pretty sure he’s not talking about basketball. While there will be plenty of college hoops in March, the real madness for the Delaware Valley’s millions of Irish, Irish-Americans, and Irish wannabes will be in the pubs, on stage, and in streets as dozens of Irish performers big and small fill every […] Read More