By Marj Watkins Feast yoursel’s, friends, on the foods of dear old Ireland. A blessing ’tis, too, that they’re mostly cheap, easy to make, and tasty they are with … butter! I believe in butter. Sure, it’s got saturated fat in it, but never mind that. It’s Omega 3 fat, an essential to provide skin…
Island Epicure – The Happiness Foods
By Marj Watkins and Suzanna Leigh Chocolate of course! Who doesn’t love it? Choose cocoa for a temporary boost to your brains’ serotonin, the happiness chemical. It won’t give you lasting happiness, but it will—for a little while—make you smarter. There are many components in chocolate, especially dark chocolate, that help to lift our mood….
Minglement – Roasted Acorn Squash with Squash Risotto
This delightful and elegant vegetarian entrée or side dish was created by Cat Rose, a staff member. Acorn squash is stuffed with an herbed risotto, speckled with delectable chunks of butternut squash, then baked until meltingly sweet. Serves 8 4 acorn squash3½ tbsp extra virgin olive oilSalt to taste6 cups water or gluten-free vegetable broth1…
English Muffins
By Andy Valencia If your store-bought muffins have become flat little pucks of shrinkflation, bake them for yourself and get the classic muffin you remember, while saving some money. Ingredients Dry mix: 2 cups all-purpose flour2 tbsp sugar2 tsp salt2¼ tsp active dry yeast Mix dry ingredients together in large mixing bowl. Wet mix: 1¾…
From Minglement – Hoppin’ Johns Black-Eyed Pea Stew
By Eva Deloach This recipe yields 10 servings. 4 tbsp butter or olive oil 1 large onion 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 green bell pepper, diced 1 stalk celery, diced 1 lb dried black-eyed peas 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth – more as needed 1 whole ham hock or smoked turkey breast Salt, pepper,…
Island Epicure – National Soup Month
Warm Up A Cold Day with Mesclin Flatbrod and Hot Chicken Soup By Suzanna Leigh and Marj Watkins Marj Watkins’ “Gluten Free Baking” cookbook is a do-it-yourself project; Marj first printed in the 1970s under her publishing imprint, Firtree Press. This year, I dug it out of retirement, put a new cover on it, updated…
Pancakes for Matrona
By Jane Valencia We were heading soon to a gathering, and I unexpectedly found myself with a spare 45 minutes. Could I cook something to bring? We had a new large griddle, and over the years I’ve made a lot of pancakes. The pancakes today would need to be dairy-free. Gluten-free, or digestively gentle, would…
Island Epicure – Christmas Oats
By Marj Watkins and Suzanna Leigh Adapted from Marj Watkins Loop article, December 2014 For stamina to keep you up with all the delightful demands of December – chilly weather, snow, winter colds, Christmas shopping, the planning, the parties to give and to go to – we need to feed our bodies and minds well….
Pecan Court Bourbon Balls
By Andy Valencia Yes, another recipe from my mother – a holiday favorite. Nominally for the adults only, I always managed to sneak a few! Makes 2-3 dozen, depending on size. Ingredients 3 cups rolled vanilla wafers (12 oz box)1 cup powdered sugar1½ cups finely chopped nuts1½ tablespoons cocoa2 tbsp white Karo syrup½ cup bourbon…
Island Epicure – A Gluten Free Thanksgiving!
By Marjorie Watkins and Suzanna Leigh Marjorie told me that since now she is 100 years old, she is considering retiring. Not to worry, though, she is leaving us with a wonderful backlog of archived articles to draw from for future “Island Epicure” columns. Also, I am republishing some of Marjorie’s cookbooks, such as “Gluten…