"Start a conversation with your family and friends about growing some of your own food. You would be astonished at just how much could be grown in a small space. Consider joining a community garden such as communityroots.ie."

You’ll need some really good well-flavoured stock and now is the time to start to build up a stash in your freezer. Stock is a flavoured liquid made from bones and poultry carcasses and giblets when available. 

I was thrilled to bits to be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the one and only Jimmy Deenihan, what a lovely surprise.

"I’m not about to get into the robust arguments on both sides, but most agree that we would benefit from eating a little (or a lot) less meat."

"The ingredient that keeps on giving, long after the ghouls and ghosts are forgotten."

"It’s been months since there’s been a drop of rain, consequently, there were no olives and it’s a terrible year for viticulture. At a rough guess, they will have about a quarter of the usual grape harvest."

"I fervently hope it will take the mystery out of bread-making for everyone and upskill those who feel that making a loaf of bread is beyond them."

"...my principal reason for visiting Toronto was to catch up with my friend Bonnie Stern who owned a cooking school in Toronto for many years..."

Here are some simple recipes for delicious comfort food that costs less to make

"I can confidently say that there’s nothing to beat the flavour of Irish oysters - only the little Olympia oysters from the west coast around Puget Sound come close..."