Irish America

Irish America

Slainte Archives

Sláinte: Sleeping with the Tiger

 By Edythe Preet

February / March 2000

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Tiger, tiger, burning bright..." William Blake's line springs to mind whenever I think of Ireland these days. Like some wondrous illustration magically bounding from a page in the Book of Kells, the tiny nation in the northern sea has suddenly leaped into action as a vital player in the European market. On both sides of the wide Atlantic, headlines blare the news: The Celtic … [Read more...] about Sláinte: Sleeping with the Tiger

Sláinte! Milk: The Other White Meat

By Edythe Preet

August / September 1999

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Recently, I wandered into a used bookstore and was stopped in my tracks by a volume sitting on a table by the door -- a copy of the first cookbook I ever owned. It wasn't a fancy collection of gourmet recipes, just a child's Golden Book. The publishing date read 1950; I had been 3 years old. A price of $45.00 wits penciled on the flyleaf (about 20 times more than its original … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Milk: The Other White Meat

Sláinte! New Wave Greens: Ireland’s Sea Weeds

By Edythe Preet

January / February 1998

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Seawater and seaweed baths, known as thalassotherapy, are famous for their therapeutic benefits, and have long been popular in Ireland. Greek and Roman records from the first century BC mention herbal medicines and cosmetic preparations made with seaweed. Modern preparations include soaps, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and even packets of powdered seaweed that … [Read more...] about Sláinte! New Wave Greens: Ireland’s Sea Weeds

Sláinte! Magic Mushrooms!

By Edythe Preet

June / July 1999

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Of all the world's foods, those musky things known as mushrooms are the strangest. Some can be had free for the taking while others are delicacies that are worth their weight in gold. Of the 4,000 known species, most are inedible, some are tasty morsels, and a few are lethal poisons. Supermarkets stock mushrooms in the produce section, but they're not vegetables. And since they … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Magic Mushrooms!

Slainte! Celebrating The Feast of Epiphany

By Edythe Preet

February / March 1999

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A word can mean many things. For millions, epiphany signifies a holy day on the church calendar, the Feast of Epiphany which commemorates the Magi's presentation of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn Christ child. As the Twelfth Day of Christmas, Epiphany also marks the last festive occasion of the holiday season. Finally, the American Heritage Dictionary defines … [Read more...] about Slainte! Celebrating The Feast of Epiphany