I have found the perfect cupcake if you want that sneaky leprechaun to reveal where he’s hiding his stash of gold. He’ll sing when he has Guinness in him, along with that sweet, sweet treasure that is chocolate after eating “Chocolate Stout Cupcakes.” The recipe by Food Network’s Dave Lieberman, yields 24 of these Irish delights, so your guests can have one or two as well. There’s even extra icing (and Guinness) to go around. Only one bottle (and an additional splash or two) of the Irish stout is necessary to cast its spell. I took some sips while I was baking as well, just to get in the spiri ..read more

I wanted to do something special for St. Patrick’s Day this year and I thought baking would be comforting, especially during these scary times. My criteria were that it had to be an Irish recipe by an Irish baker. So, I Googled and found Donal Skehan’s friendly, smiling face. According to Mr. Skehan’s bio on his website, he grew up in Howth, Co. Dublin and he’s living there again with his family, after spending time in Los Angeles. He’s also quite accomplished. “After Starting one of Ireland’s first food blogs in 2007, he was catapulted to stardom with hit TV series on BBC, Food Network, RTE ..read more

Stephanie and I crossed an ocean to get to Ireland, but when we arrived in Dublin I told her that I also wanted to cross a bridge. We took a taxi to the picturesque landmark. The overcast sky did nothing to diminish the bounce in my step. Steph jokingly suggested that I skip across because this was not just any pedestrian pathway. This was the Ha’penny Bridge. The DK Eyewitness Travel 2018 Ireland edition explains why it is so special. “Linking the Temple Bar area…and Liffey Street, this high-arched cast-iron footbridge is used by thousands of people every day. It was built by John Windsor, an ..read more

When I close my eyes and picture the Temple Bar neighborhood, which is located between the Bank of Ireland and Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, it’s before the pandemic and I am meandering down cobbled streets. The nightlife is starting to awaken and restaurants are spilling over with live music and revelers. I am spent after a day of sightseeing and am eager for a good meal as Steph and I head to the Gallagher’s Boxty House. The restaurant, named after a traditional Irish potato dish, has an international reputation for great Irish food and it is packed. Steph graciously lets me sit down in ..read more

A simply delicious cake … threatened by an almost overwhelming abundance of whipped cream! This sponge cake is moist, airy and easy to make. The recipe calls for only seven simple ingredients and the most challenging step is beating the eggs to the right consistency. Yet, the result is heavenly. Many recipes for sponge cake include butter; this one does not and I did not miss it. Butter in the batter combined with the whipped cream filling would have been too rich, I think. This is the first time I have made a sponge cake. While researching the baking method, I learned that it's importan ..read more

Traditional irish apple cake Traditional irish apple cake cooling on the kitchen counter. Baking an apple cake, I believe, puts me in touch with my ancestors. While following a traditional recipe, imitating what generations of women in my family have done - although likely by heart and more often, I think of them. I imagine their hands as I look at my own peeling the apples, measuring a pinch of salt, adding just a bit more of the ground gloves, and pressing the final mixture into the buttered cake pan. And, I hope. I hope that I am doing it well and in a way that is almost ancestra ..read more

Potato Soup Garnished with Bacon and Cabbage The "Potato Soup" recipe in the cookbook,“The Very Best of Traditional Irish Cooking,” by Biddy White Lennon and Georgina Campbell calls for a floury potato such as Golden Wonder. The Irish Potato Federation describes Golden Wonder as the most floury variety available in Ireland. According to the United States Potato Board, more than 100 varieties of potatoes are sold in the United States. Floury potatoes are low in moisture and high in starch - and, I needed to find a floury variety sold in the United States. The Cal-Organics golden potato va ..read more