Margaret M. Johnson's Blog (154)

Fabulous Figs . . . From Teatime to Cheeseboards

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…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on September 4, 2020 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment

A Delicious Tart That's, Well, Just Peachy!

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…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on August 16, 2020 at 10:00am — No Comments

Blueberry Fool -- A 'Foolproof' Summer Dessert

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…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on July 29, 2020 at 7:30am — No Comments

A Berry Merry Summer Pudding

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…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on July 21, 2020 at 8:30am — No Comments

Very Berry Summer Cake

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…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on June 28, 2020 at 11:00am — No Comments

Celebrate the Season with a Berry Salad

It’s strawberry season in Ireland, especially in County Wicklow, where the luscious berries are grown in great number at places like Green’s Berry Farm in Gorey.  Delicious in shortcakes, jams, and quick beads, of course, but for a change of pace toss them in a salad with cheese and…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on June 3, 2020 at 3:30pm — No Comments

All-American Holiday Dessert

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,…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on May 20, 2020 at 9:00am — No Comments

Asparagus Time!

Imported asparagus are available all year round, but there’s nothing to beat 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,…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on May 1, 2020 at 10:00am — No Comments

Order Up a Classic Wedge

Are you missing a classic wedge salad from your favorite restaurant? No worries . . . easy as pie to make at home, especially if you use Ireland’s favorite blue cheese, Cashel Blue, from County Tipperary.

ICEBERG WEDGE WITH BLUE CHEESE-CHIVE…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on April 21, 2020 at 10:00am — No Comments

Antidote to Ennui -- Baking Brown Soda Bread

Social distance. Work from home. Shelter in place. Self-quarantine. The new normal appears to be upon us, whether we like it or not. As much as I would prefer to be out and about, I do find solace in my kitchen, and this new confinement has given me the time to bake some brown soda bread recipes…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on April 6, 2020 at 4:00pm — 2 Comments

Elevate Tea Sandwiches From Great to Fabulous

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…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on March 4, 2020 at 7:00am — 1 Comment

Lemon Cream Tartlets . . . Why Teatime Is the Best Time!

You might say that in Ireland all roads lead to tea. From breakfast and lunch breaks to weddings and wakes, cupan tea is always a welcome guest. Irish tea is far more than just a hot drink to go with a scone and jam: It’s an important custom that serves as a symbol of hospitality, friendship, and…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on February 5, 2020 at 11:30am — No Comments

Cottage Pie for Winter Comfort

Nothing warms the heart (and the stomach) in winter more than the mashed potato-topped casserole known as Cottage Pie. In a land where sheep were traditionally a primary food supply, it’s not surprising that lamb is the foundation for many Irish farmhouse dishes, especially this long-time favorite…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on January 17, 2020 at 10:00am — No Comments

Fruitcake Ushers in Most Delicious Time of the Year

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…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on November 9, 2019 at 3:30pm — 2 Comments

The Pumpkins Are Coming, The Pumpkins Are Coming!



Actually, they’re already here — and in great abundance I might add — in supermarkets, at farm stands, and on doorsteps everywhere. In the kitchen, their tasty orange flesh is used in all kinds of recipes, from morning muffins to delicious breads and loaves. I personally love to make pumpkin…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on October 9, 2019 at 9:30am — No Comments

Shortening the Distance Between 'Sea and Plate' in Cork

Driving around Ireland definitely makes you hungry — and sometimes forgetful — so after a day of touring around West Cork I arrived without a reservation at The Fish Kitchen, a smallish restaurant in Bantry situated, appropriately, above a fish market. Call it the luck of the Irish, but …

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on August 19, 2019 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Hot Off the Grill

Move over hot dogs, hamburgers, and steaks; make room for a whiskey-enhanced grilled lamb and delicious grilled tomatoes to go with it. With tomatoes coming into season in a big way, I think you’ll enjoy these new recipes to add to your grilling agenda for August and beyond.…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on July 26, 2019 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Very Berry Scones

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…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on June 20, 2019 at 8:30am — No Comments

Potatoes -- The Stuff of Greatness

I’m writing this post from Dublin, where I’m finishing up another great visit to Ireland. You know what that means? I’ve had potatoes [nearly] for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in as many shapes and textures as one can imagine: fried potatoes for breakfast, chips to go with fish at lunch, and…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on May 24, 2019 at 10:00am — No Comments

'Eaton Mess' An Easy Springtime Dessert

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…

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Added by Margaret M. Johnson on April 16, 2019 at 2:30pm — No Comments

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