Irish America
Irish America
Like most Americans, my ancestry is mixed immigrant. Mom's people were Italian; Dad was a storytelling Irish rover. I inherited his wanderlust and his love of words. When I decided to dig up the family roots, Northern Ireland was my first stop. Arriving in Derry (birthplace of my grandmother) as sunset turned the River Foyle into a ribbon of molten gold, I checked into Beech … [Read more...] about Sláinte! A Visit to Derry
Some foods simply beg to be eaten. Take peaches, for instance. The scent of a ripe peach is pure ambrosia. The pungent smell of tomatoes ripened on the vine and warm from the sun is irresistible. Chocolate's rich bouquet is almost sexy. And the aroma of a Sunday roast sparks appetites the whole time it's cooking. Certain other foods don't have a real come-hitherness about … [Read more...] about Sláinte! The Sweet Sting of Spring
When I was a child, I suspected my Da's sister Violet was a gypsy. Not that she was a real descendant of the wandering tribes of Egypt, but she looked like one. Her jet-black hair was always tied back in a tight bun, and she always wore blowsy flowered dresses, scandalous crimson lipstick and dangly earrings. Then while we were visiting one cold and blustery winter Sunday when … [Read more...] about Sláinte! A Fine Cuppa Tay
Nettles - the edible leaf that is also known as the devil's leaf. Some foods don’t have a real come-hitherness about them. Who was the bold soul to first slurp a raw oyster? Artichokes have thorns and stickers growing on every surface. Rhubarb is notorious for its super sour pucker power, and, if carelessly ingested, its leaves are quite capable of killing a foolhardy … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Spring’s Precious Sting
Twins, Dave and Steve Flynn have created a community of well-being.The galloping gardener leapt over vegetable rows to offer fresh herbs for tasting. “Guess what that is,” asked Steve Flynn, one half of The Happy Pear, the Irish twins who have developed a huge following with their plant-based recipes and other health programming. “Mustard,” Flynn told the stumped visitor to one … [Read more...] about Sláinte! The Happy Pear
