Ni geal an gaire ach san ait a mbionn anbiadh (Laughter is gayest where the food is best)

The potato is to Ireland what rice is to the Chinese. Potatoes are used in many ways in Irish cooking, as a vegetable, in soups, stews and bread. It was the failure of the potato crop that brought about The Black Famine in the 1840's which killed a million Irish and hundreds of thousand immigrated to the new world.

Both my Mother and Father were born in Ireland and this "Colcannon" was our meatless dinner on Fridays and feast days. It was served in little scoops on your plate. A well was made in the middle and a chunk of butter dropped in the well. You ate from the outside, dipping the potato into the butter. 1 1/2 c. milk 6 scallions 1 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. chopped parsley Pepper and salt

Boil potatoes and mash. Chop the scallions very finely, using the green tops as well as the onion. Scald by pouring boiling water over the scallions. Drain them well. Add them to the milk and bring to a boil. Pour the milk and scallions into the mashed potatoes. Add the butter and parsley, and fold well. Add salt and pepper. Yield: 6 servings.