I can only take partial credit for this lovely dish. A sweet friend in London invited me to Sunday dinner at her perfectly charming home, with a lawn sloping down to a stretch of river home to ducks and geese. She is vegetarian and makes beautiful, fresh food that always impresses me (her pavlova is a thing of beauty). The minute she put this on her table, I knew I would copy … [Read more...] about Hummus Platter with Spice Roasted Vegetables
carrots
Spiced Carrot Cake Bars
Easter season is the perfect time for carrot cakes. But I will admit, I am a little too lazy to make beautiful layered version swathed in cream cheese frosting, decorated with icing or marzipan carrots. I tend to go for bundt or tube cakes, like these Carrot Ginger or Carrot Coconut version. My other cheat is these lovely bars packed with carrots then gently … [Read more...] about Spiced Carrot Cake Bars
Buttermilk Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a perfectly refreshing summer side dish, I’m not sure it’s actually allowed to have a summer celebration without it! There are so many delicious versions of coleslaw, and many people have very particular requirements, it can be a somewhat fraught decision about which to serve. But I do like to switch things up, from tangy, vinegary Crispy Picnic Slaw to this creamy … [Read more...] about Buttermilk Coleslaw
Guinness Sausage Coddle
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, I always turn to hearty meat and potato dishes with a nice Irish flair, and this classic with a twist makes a perfect family meal. The origin of the name “coddle” is rather cloudy, but apparently it was a favorite of authors from Jonathan Swift to James Joyce. Loaded with smoky bacon, meaty sausages, rich potatoes and sweet carrots and little … [Read more...] about Guinness Sausage Coddle
Cheesy Vegetable Soda Bread
We are moving (slowly, but surely. It was 99° here this week) toward soup and stew season. And when we get there, it’s always nice to serve a fresh loaf of bread alongside a bowl. I only breakout my yeast bread making skills on rare occasions, and certainly not on a busy weeknight. So a good, hearty quick bread recipe is a nice compromise. Simple Irish style Soda Bread is a … [Read more...] about Cheesy Vegetable Soda Bread