Holidays

St. Patrick’s Day is a party day enjoyed by Irish and Irish-wannabes alike. From coast to coast, at the core of the celebration is satisfying, easy-to-prepare fare. It’s the corned beef and cabbage that first comes to mind. The briny classic’s origin is a subject of great debate, but whether it was the Emerald Isle or the New World doesn’t…

These Fourth of July treats showcase fresh plums and nectarines, blueberries and apples in holiday finales that are as delicious as well as beautiful. Forget canned pineapple rings. These upside-down beauties showcase fresh fruit in eye-popping holiday sweets. Don’t get the idea that I have anything against a good pineapple upside-down cake. My grandmother made a luscious version. She nested…

An easy Easter brunch. Ahhhh, sounds good. To my way of thinking, eggs are an essential part of any Easter brunch or breakfast. A symbol of new beginnings, eggs make delicious, no-hassle entrees. For years I’ve been tinkering with one strata recipe after the next, cooking up different versions of the ubiquitous egg-based casserole. I love the strata-in-a-skillet devised by…

I remember the potatoes. Two weeks spent on the Emerald Isle in my twenties left me with a lasting impression of Irish potato-centric meals. Potatoes at breakfast, yes, and again at noon. Dinner, too. I’m not complaining,  I love potatoes. A lot of people must agree with me because the National Potato Council reports that potatoes are the second most…