When I think of super easy starters, cucumber and shrimp appetizers immediately spring to mind. When it comes to party finger foods, these are fantastic. They also taste wonderful with brunch, or served as low-fat snacks. Shrimp and cucumber starters are so easy to assemble I make them for many occasions – summer barbecues, Christmas […]
Archives for July 2014
Memories Of Secret Coves, Hidden Steps and Pirate Queens
On the hill of Howth in north County Dublin a secret pirate cove awaits would-be explorers, daring enough to descend one hundred and ninety-nine steps carved out of the sheer cliff face. In my post today, I once again hope to take you off the beaten path, and help you discover some of Ireland’s hidden […]
Nectarine and Blackcurrant Galette
Galette is a French term for an open, free-form, rustic tart. It’s a perfect summer treat to use and display the beautiful fruits of summer in a totally delicious way. The pastry crust in a galette can take many forms, but one of my favorite ways to build a galette is with a sheet of […]
Irish Fireside – A Wonderful Website For Planning A Trip To Ireland
Irish Fireside is a warm and welcoming website, where you can explore all that Ireland has to offer from the comfort of your own home. From Ireland’s ancient past to current day festivals and fairs, Irish Fireside provides a wealth of information, especially about some of Ireland’s lesser known sites. Image Credit Irish Fireside’s Creators: […]
Reader Recipe – Modified Irish Sponge Cake
Aimee, a reader from Lexington, Kentucky used my Irish sponge recipe to bake a delicious birthday cake. She modified my recipe in the most amazing ways. Home ground whole wheat pastry flour replaces cake flour, a substitution I would never have dreamed of making. Sucanat replaces refined processed sugar. Maple syrup sweetens the whipping cream, […]
Oreo – Our Soccer Loving Border Collie
I love border collies. Their intensity, energy, loyalty and intelligence simply amazes me. In a previous post I introduced my love of these amazing canine companions, but I have failed to update everyone on how our very own border collie puppy, Oreo has become a really important part of our family. And here she is! […]
To Ireland’s Far-Flung Exiles / A Poem By Irish American Mom
Ruined stone cottages lie dotted across the Irish landscape, permanent reminders of Ireland’s emigrants, forced to leave their homes by famine, and eviction. Over one million people left Ireland in the years of the Great Hunger from 1845 to 1850, and in the decades after many more followed. Every time I see the old shell […]
The Wily O’Reilly: Irish Country Stories by Patrick Taylor – Book Review & Giveaway
The Wily O’Reilly: Irish Country Stories by Patrick Taylor is a collection of warm and amusing short stories centering around Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly as he tends to his patients in the quaint, whimsical village of Ballybucklebo. This cozy Ulster village is home to a vast array of quirky, humorous and thoroughly entertaining characters. These […]
Summer Pudding
Summer pudding, packed with juicy fresh berries, is one of my all time favorite desserts of the summer. This pudding looks spectacular when plated, giving the impression it’s a pretty complicated recipe, but making this classically English dessert is so much easier than it looks. It’s so easy in fact, I think it’s a perfect […]
