Despite the name, these charming little sweets contain no potatoes at all. Instead, they’re smooth, coconut-studded confections rolled in cinnamon so they resemble tiny potatoes. Irish potato candies are a beloved seasonal treat found in Philadelphia candy shops around St. Patrick’s Day—a sweet example of how Irish-American traditions sometimes take on a life of their own.
Like many traditional dishes, the recipe for Irish coddle varies widely from family to family. Born in eighteenth-century Dublin, it’s very much a grab-what-you-have kind of stew that simmers low and slow to peak deliciousness. The building blocks of the dish—bacon, sausage, onions, potatoes, and plenty of parsley and black pepper—add up to more than the sum of their parts, creating a dark, flavorful broth and a warm bowl of nourishment best enjoyed with slices of soda bread.
Boxty are traditional Irish potato pancakes, long associated with rural kitchens where potatoes were a daily staple. Recipes vary widely, but most combine mashed or grated potatoes with a little flour and egg to hold everything together. Crisp on the outside and tender within, these cheddar- and herb-laced boxty make a fine brunch dish—or a perfect companion to a hearty corned beef dinner.
Few breads are more closely associated with Ireland than soda bread. Made with simple pantry ingredients and leavened with baking soda instead of yeast, it became a practical staple in rural Irish kitchens during the nineteenth century. Its crisp crust and tender, dense crumb make it equally at home alongside a hearty meal or spread with a little butter and jam.
St. Patrick’s Day is often celebrated with parades, green decorations, and the familiar plate of corned beef and cabbage—but long before green beer and the festive parades Irish immigrants were quietly shaping America’s foodways. From potatoes and soda bread to whiskey distilling and hearty boiled dinners, Irish immigrants left behind a culinary legacy that still flavors our kitchens today.
Before blueberries were branded and shipped coast to coast, another native berry ripened quietly along fence lines each June. The Juneberry once fed a young nation — and now waits patiently to be remembered.
From paste-and-glitter valentines exchanged in elementary classrooms to candlelit dinners shared at home or out on the town, Valentine’s Day in America has always been as much about ritual and memory as it is about romance.
This cornbread recipe has been passed down by my mom's family for three generations. This is real…
A Short tutorial demonstrating how to cut watermelon
Eggs Saratoga, otherwise referred to simply as scrambled eggs with cream cheese and chives, is one…
You’ll discover recipes from popular chili parlors and restaurants, award-winning recipes from ISCC competitions, and even one of the first chili recipes ever published.
The cherry-flavored retro soda, created in 1974.
"All the sugar and twice the caffeine!"
Hi, I’m Monte Melugin, executive chef, food writer, consultant, artist, and creator of GrubAmericana, a website designed exclusively around American born foods–their history, legends, and availability. We’ll also provide some related recipes you can easily make in your own kitchen.