"The Complete Book of IRISH COUNTRY COOKING," Traditional and Wholesome Recipes from Ireland by DARINA ALLEN, ISBN 0-670-86514-1, PENGUIN STUDIO, A division of Penguin USA, 375 Hudson Street, New York, N.Y. 10014 Printed in Britain.

You are in for a real traditional treat when you read this book! Just the history alone will pique your interest for a long time. The colored photos are exceptionally good with beautiful Irish scenery of the locales of Ireland.

My personal favorite from the book is PIGS HEAD & CABBAGE...Starting with, "Remove the brain and discard" to "Devotees of pig's heads would simply surround the pig's head with cabbage on a plate and serve this...Don't forget to give each person a piece of tongue and ear. The pig's ear is a particular favorite."

Now here are some thoughts I had...save the brains and fry them with eggs...delicious! Oh those of you with weak stomachs, when was the last time you ate a hot dog or a bologna sandwich? *G* I hear the pig lips are the little grissly parts in that hot dog or sandwich... Hehehe! I told you they were wholesome recipes...you eat the whole pig! (You can have a piece of my tongue if I can have your ears...LOL)

But seriously...there are so many fascinating traditional (Yes, they use Irish whiskey) recipes and such interesting facts that it would do one well to read this book.

Quoting: "Darina Allen is the founder and operator of the internationally renowned Ballymaloe Cooking School in Shanagarry, County Cork, Ireland. Realizing that an entire culinary tradition was in danger of being lost, she embarked on a labor of love and salvage of research, record, and preserve the history of food in Ireland...A fascinating peek into Irish life, it preserves and records for future generations traditional dishes that might otherwise have been lost...more than 300 recipes for native Irish dishes, Allen shows how the Irish live, their farming heritage, and their cooking skills. Each recipe is embellished with Allen's knowledgeable comments and amusing anecdotes, as well as her tried-and-true instructions on its preparation, updated for today's cooks. From Barm to Nettle Soup, Funeral Ham to Colcannon, Irish Soda Bread to, of course,
Ballymaloe Irish Stew...

Oh yes! If you made it this far after the chapter on Offal...(Offal Pig's Head...or Offal with the Pig's Head?)I found this book on a clearance table at Barnes and Noble for $5 and could not pass it up! It originally sold for $27.95.

ahhhhhh the way to a loved ones heart is through the stomach *wink* ............ i have the BEST soda bread recipe .... you guys have to experience authentic *damper* to realise the taste sensation!! ........