Irish born, American raised. Science geek, TV addict (hooray for DVR), snowboarder (or trying to), cat person. lamb (particularly stew), fish, slow-cooked meals (without the slow cooker) St. Patrick's Day has a place in my heart for our traditional meal--not corned beef and cabbage, but Limerick ham, boiled potatoes, minted peas, white sauce, and bread pudding! And, as always, tons of plain soda bread that gets gobbled up very quickly. Making risotto for the first time--and doing it well. Anytime I make a meal that both me and my husband enjoy is a triumph (we have very different palates). 2007 Thanksgiving dinner--it's the last time I take orders from my Mom. My 2-day stint as a breakfast cook at a busy diner was a bit of a disaster. The first time I tried to flip an omlette over without a spatula (by "shoving the pan forward") was a very messy tragedy.