Westhampton Author Releases Holiday Cookbook

Margaret Johnson, of Westhampton, has released her latest cookbook just in time for the holiday season.

The cookbook, called Christmas Flavors of Ireland, features 90 authentic recipes from all over Ireland.

Johnson said there is "truly something for everyone" in this cookbook, which is her tenth.

Readers, she said, will find recipes from spiced beef sandwiches to mincemeat tarts, to roast goose to apple and cranberry crumble.

Johnson, whose maternal grandparents are from Ireland, has traveled all over the country to find inspiration for her cookbooks, with this latest book not only celebrating the festive Irish holiday season, but also introduces readers to the culture of Ireland.

"Christmas Flavors of Ireland invites readers on a holiday tour of Ireland,” said Johnson, who is a former English teacher and is a frequent contributor to Intermezzo Magazine.

Johnson said she started writing her cookbooks after realizing they fit perfectly into her life.

"I love to cook, so I thought I'd combine all three interests — writing, Ireland and cooking," she said.

And she doesn't plan to stop anytime soon — She has already started working on her next book, Favorite Flavors of Ireland, which she said will be a 20-year retrospective of her favorite places, food and discoveries while traveling around Ireland.

"It will be the most comprehensive of all the books I have ever written," she said.