Yawning spaces opened up in the fridge. Lonely potatoes and tomatoes felt conspicuously exposed in the presses. There was a freezer full of long-forgotten sauces. Meanwhile, an excess of herbs, spices, and assorted condiments shrugged their shoulders, unsure how they could help. But I was determined to eat what I had. With a visit to [...]

Panic buyers are surging to the shops in Britain as the snow threatens to entomb us all, write some breathless newspapers in the UK. Yesterday’s Guardian newspaper reported that shoppers are stocking up on salt, alcohol, soups, and ready meals, while the never-hysterical Daily Hate showed a post-apocalyptic scene of empty supermarket shelves, presumably in [...]

The other day, my nice neighbour Barbara offered me some dessert, and I thought I was about to get some cake. She plonked down a pickled pear, pointed, and gently said, “Would you believe that dessert was made in 1985? I’ve had that pear for 17 years”. I smiled, as little bugs of horror darted [...]

Caribbean cooking is an amalgamation of many influences; indigenous Caribs, French, Spanish, Dutch, British, African, Indian and Chinese. Peppers, hot sauces and dry rubs are often featured in island specialties and if you have a decent Indian larder you will find that there are spice similarities.

Old age is turning the snow to slush, but we’re still stuck here. AA Roadwatch informs us that Sallygap, Roundwood and the Wicklow Gap are all impassable; we live somewhere between the latter two. A neighbour says that he went to the village for supplies and was sliding all over the road. Tomorrow, we’re going [...]

Our neighbours tell us that, about 15 years ago, they were stuck in their house for two weeks during a snowfall. Helicopters had to throw food and cigarettes into them. We’re not quite at that point yet, but we are snowed in, about ten minutes away from Glendalough in Co. Wicklow, and quite high up [...]

Indian food is an intoxicating blend of delicious spices and herbs. Whether it’s blandoori or grandoori I’m planning on whipping up, these are the very basic Indian ingredients I need to have in my cupboard. I can get a lot of them in the supermarket, but for really good quality and value the best place [...]

I always have a bag of frozen spinach tucked away in the freezer as my backup vegetable. It’s packed with vitamin B and according to research by Penn State University, frozen spinach retains more of its nutrients than its fresh equivalent because of the lower temperatures at which it is stored. Rercy’s Lamb Saag Indian [...]

If you want your friends to think you can cook – but you can’t – this is a hugely impressive meal. Stress-free, massively tasty, and it looks amazing too. It takes no time at all but your guests will think you’ve spent the whole day in the kitchen. This will serve 6 – adjust accordingly. [...]

Much as I hate to heap more misery upon the beleagured Superquinn group, I did promise I’d compare their Chinese New Year offers with those of the Asian Markets. These are from the Oriental Emporium on Middle Abbey St in Dublin, and should form the basis of a Chinese/ Thai storecupboard. I think most ethnic [...]