You like cheesecake. Your mother likes carrot cake. Your son likes brownies. If you’ve ever faced a dessert dilemma — or just looking for a fresh idea for your next special occasion meal or afternoon tea — dessert in a jar is your solution. In addition to making an impressive presentation, these…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on April 21, 2021 at 8:00am — No Comments
The March equinox (this year Saturday, March 20, at 5:37 a.m. EDT) marks the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator, the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth's equator, from south to north. In simpler terms, it marks the official start of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere, a…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on March 19, 2021 at 11:30am — No Comments
Ever since the early 1980s when I first discovered carrot cake, I’ve been intrigued by the many iterations the little sweetie assumes. I thought about it again recently and dug out my carrot cake “file” filled with recipes shared by friends, neighbors, and chefs — no two were…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on February 21, 2021 at 10:30am — No Comments
In Ireland, February 1 is the feast day of Saint Brigid, a woman whom many believe should be granted equal billing with Saint Patrick as Ireland’s female patron saint and that her feast day should be declared a national holiday. Saint Brigid’s…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on February 1, 2021 at 9:30am — No Comments
For obvious reasons, Christmas 2020 will be scaled back a bit, so for many the “big Christmas cake” won’t happen this year. Not to worry: for those like me who still love holiday baking, these mini fruitcakes will fill the bill. Same great flavor, same great taste, just sized down to fit the “new…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on December 7, 2020 at 3:00pm — No Comments
Cranberries take center stage this month in both sweet and savory dishes. One of my favorites is this quick bread, sweet enough for dessert but not-too-sweet for breakfast or afternoon tea. The versatile little berry is widely available in markets this month and next, so buy a few…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on November 12, 2020 at 12:00pm — No Comments
While pumpkins are not native to Ireland, they are in great demand during the autumn, from Halloween straight through to Christmas. In the U.S., we use pumpkins and other winter squash varieties in many sweet and savory dishes, always enticed by the look of a supermarket display or a roadside…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on October 29, 2020 at 12:30pm — No Comments
Fresh or dried, figs are it! While not native to Ireland, they’re no longer considered “exotic” and are widely available to use in dishes ranging from teatime sandwiches to appetizers and. Christmas bakers have probably already started to stockpile dried ones for holidays sweets, but, in…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on September 4, 2020 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment
As August comes to a close, the fruits of summer show no signs of slowing down — lots of peaches, blackberries, plums, and nectarines available for snacking and baking. This tart recipe starts with a shortbread-like crust and is then filled with peaches and blackberries. (You can substitute…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on August 16, 2020 at 10:00am — No Comments
A fruit “fool” – the word supposedly derives from the French fouler, meaning “to crush”—calls for combining puréed fruit with beaten eggs and sugar, whipped cream, sour cream, or yogurt for a virtually “foolproof” dessert. This recipe, which pays homage to the fraughan (also known as…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on July 29, 2020 at 7:30am — No Comments
What could be sweeter (and easier) than a big bowl of fresh berries for a summer dessert? A trifle, perhaps? A cobbler? A summer pudding? A bit more effort, I agree, but the rewards are greater too. You'll find recipes for other delicious summer recipes in my new cookbook Teatime in…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on July 21, 2020 at 8:30am — No Comments
Long before gluten free was a food phenomenon, a friend gave me this recipe for an unusual, flourless — thus gluten free — cornmeal cake that became my go-to summer dessert. The original recipe suggested a fruity wine syrup topping, but I also love it as an…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on June 28, 2020 at 11:00am — No Comments
When friends and families get together these days to (responsibly) celebrate, you might want to add this rich pound cake to the menu. Grand Marnier and citrus are the perfect aromatics to flavor it, and olive oil makes it moist and delicious. It’s a perfect recipe for summer entertaining,…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on May 20, 2020 at 9:00am — No Comments
By definition, chutney is a relish-like sauce made with fruit, sugar, spices, and vinegar. It was often made to give late summer and autumn fruits a long shelf life and was used to add contrasting flavor to meats, especially poultry and game. It’s also a great — make that fabulous — addition to a…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on March 4, 2020 at 7:00am — 1 Comment
I haven’t posted in a month and my Irish guilt is gnawing at me! So it’s back to business this week as “that time of year” is fast approaching. I’ve already started plumping my fruit for the several varieties of fruitcake that I make, but not for this one because the fruit is boiled! I’ve had the…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on November 9, 2019 at 3:30pm — 2 Comments
Strawberry season has just arrived where I live in the Northeast. The season is over almost as quickly as it arrives, so I grab as many as possible and eat, bake, or freeze them as fast as I can. As the Fourth of July approaches, they’re especially colorful in red, white and blue scones, treats you…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on June 20, 2019 at 8:30am — No Comments
While locally grown berries are not quite in-season yet in most parts of the U.S., their wide availability makes them popular year-round. For a quick and delicious Easter dessert, you might want to serve this easy-to-assemble berries-and-cream dish known as Eton Mess. Despite its rather inelegant…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on April 16, 2019 at 2:30pm — No Comments
Who doesn’t love carrot cake? I sure do, and when I learned there was actually a day devoted to celebrating it, I couldn’t wait to make one in its honor. For the record, food historians suggest modern carrot cake probably descended from carrot puddings popular during the Middle Ages when sugar and other sweeteners…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on January 30, 2018 at 8:30am — 3 Comments
Mincemeat, a mixture of chopped dried fruits, spices, and spirits, is a favorite holiday ingredient most often found in pies and tarts. It was developed more than 500 years ago as a way of preserving meat without salting or smoking, and gradually cooks sweetened it by adding ingredients like apples, oranges, and…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on December 11, 2017 at 3:30pm — No Comments
If you’ve already run out of ideas for what to serve at your holiday drinks party, think “biscuits” — not your average breakfast biscuits, but these yummy bites from Kerrygold. Laden with sage and walnuts, these buttery bites are a sophisticated alternative to crackers and cheese. The recipe suggests cutting them…
ContinueAdded by Margaret M. Johnson on December 4, 2017 at 8:00am — 1 Comment
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