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Author Archives: evinok
Food Styling for Goodall’s A Modern Irish Cookbook
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Distractingly Delicious Homemade Apple Crumble
Do you remember that old commercial for Rice Krispies? You know the one. The Mom goes into the kitchen to make Rice Krispie Treats then they’re so easy she just sits around relaxing with a romance novel for a while then sprinkles flour in her face (not that you need flour to make Rice Krispie Treats) before…
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Free Knitting Pattern Resources
Whether you are frugal or frivolous with your money, a free knitting pattern offers an opportunity to create something with the expense being only the yarn and your time. If it fails miserably, you unravel (or frog it, as the slang is) and start something else. It is also nice to feel like you have…
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Start with a Roux: Los Gatos Alfredo Sauce
The evening before I moved to Ireland, I was nurtured and nourished by our friend MA and The Pastaria & Market in Los Gatos, California. The fettucine alfredo I ate there renewed my love of the dish and its flavors, but I was then too far away to dine there again and needed to learn to make…
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Reusing Jars for Storage, Organizing or Decorating
Do you love to organize your home while adding to the decor? Yes, me too! My current favorite is reusing glass Glenilen yogurt or mini jam jars to sort my stuff, separate my clutter and speckle my home. They work equally well for storing sweets and spices too since the jars are already proven to…
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Caprese Salad with Za’atar Spices
I was first introduced to Za’atar spices by a little Middle Eastern restaurant in the Silicon Valley of California. When a Jordanian friend brought me back a bag of them, I was delighted and stored them in my freezer for long-term enjoyment. After moving to Ireland, I missed the subtle flavors and earthiness it gave…
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Dyeing Roving Wool & Knitting Yarn with Kool-Aid
You may remember Kool-Aid as the happy-go-lucky red pitcher sloshing around commercials of your childhood – or you may not be familiar with the beverage at all, but did you know you can use Kool-Aid powder packets to dye wool? Yes, I know, it’s ok if you need to sit down to process this news. Then you…
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Quick Summer Cucumber Salad
I was dining at the Woodford the other day and my sandwich had these charming gently tangy cucumber slices. Not quite pickled (like these), more like a salad or salsa. It was delightful. So, of course, I decided I had to figure out how to make something like it at home. I considered my quick pickles…
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Upcycled Cork Nautical Keychain
Upcycled Cork Keychain Time: 5-10 minutes, depending on whether you use gold paint a wait-to-dry time is also needed Supplies: an eye-screw leftover champagne or wine cork Paintbrush (optional) Gold paint (optional) keyring Instructions: 1. Screw the eye-screw into one end of the cork. 2. Wind a keyring through the eye-screw loop. Note: For…
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Baked Brie en Croute with Spicy Raspberry Sauce
One of my favorite easy snacks or starters is baked brie. It has all the gooey comfort of warm melty cheese but the pastry “en croute” presentation and using brie adds a bit of sophistication. It works equally well for a cocktail party with colleagues or neighbors as for a movie night with your best…
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Spring Flowers
I’m feeling in a Springy mood so this post is all photos of flowers. That’s it! No tips, recipes or usefulness. Just beautiful flowers all photographed by me! What is your favorite bloom? Tweet
Resources for Learning to Knit
Two years ago, I moved to Ireland and five months after that, I learned to knit. I had tried before, but it wasn’t until food wasn’t present as a distraction that I could actually grasp the motions and practice of my stitches. Within 45 minutes, I was making loops through loops and could consider myself a beginning knitter. Within a year, I knew several stitches and could make things like hats. I still marvel at that as I work towards being a more accomplished knitter and, one day, crocheter. Enough about me, here are some of my favorite resources and tutorials for new knitters, including a link to a PDF I created with basic stitches for when our knitting group holds informal workshops.
Holding Jen in My Heart
A few weeks ago, a day that started like any other ended with a feeling of emptiness. Days of tears, weeks of anger and now I am ready to write this post. When I was LB’s tender age of 17 months, I bit Jeni. She was a chubby cute baby and for whatever reason, I…
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Guest Post by Jeni Pim: Perseverance
I’m a big fan of Jeni Pim for her cooking but mostly because she is a very kind, intelligent person who I feel lucky to call my friend. When I asked if she’d like to write a guest post for my blog, she responded with such warmth and enthusiasm it made me actually visit my blog…
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Previously Loved Find: Silk Ball Gown & Oxfam
Last weekend, I attended the Cork Marketing Institute Ball with my friend Kate (aka FQChefess). It was a rare night out without my boys so I went all out and wanted to wear something dry clean only, put on makeup and do my hair in some complicated up-do. First stop? YouTube for tutorials to inspire…
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My Memories of Paris, France
Growing up, I was fortunate to visit France several times with my parents. Each time, a day or a week in Paris fulfilled our hunger for history, architecture and people watching. I think my Paris visit tally is over one dozen now. As you can imagine, with all that time there, I’ve collected some favorite places…
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Hot Artichoke & Pepper Cheese Dip
A family favorite since first bite and the one appetizer/snack we know to always make two of! Especially if we’re going to Frank and Maureen’s house because Frank always enjoys one all to himself. Well deserved too since he saves it for after all the holiday cooking and dishes are done and he can put…
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Say What?! Absurd Things People Have Said to Me
Over the years, there have been things said to me that are so absurd or off-the-wall that they are filed away in the back dusty corner of my brain in the hope that one day the statements will make sense. That rarely happens so I thought I should share them here, anonymously. Perhaps it will…
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Krist Kindl – Experiment in Loving
Being filled with inner love and joy is a gift. Where is comes from is subject to much debate, but where it goes is a simple enough discussion. Sharing your love with the world is a great gift and as the holiday season envelopes us for many of the world’s religions we can consider how…
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