Up until earlier this year, I, Pam Marino, thought a good portion of my family’s history on my dad’s side began in Wales. That was the story I heard for years growing up, that the family originally came from Wales, way back when. What a surprise then, when a DNA test revealed I was only 1-percent Welsh.
I’m still curious about Wales and have always wanted to visit someday. I’m also very interested in learning more about the traditional recipes that come from the British Isles, which is why I enjoyed reading Feature Editor Dave Faries’ Eat & Drink story about Olivia Romano Morgan’s cookbook, Green Dragon Pie: The Cuisine and Culture of Wales.
The Carmel resident grew up in Swansea in the 1940s and ‘50s, coming to the U.S. in 1961. She told Faries she didn’t want to just write a cookbook, she wanted to share her culture with others, as well.
“It makes me homesick,” she told Faries.
Faries calls the book a “delightfully unusual collection.” There are familiar recipes like leek and potato soup, then there are unknown recipes that come from little towns like Pwllheli, Llandeilo and Harlech, along with some lore of the country’s regions.
Some of the recipes Morgan included were family recipes, some are warm memories from her childhood. The story comes with a recipe for Toad in the Hole, which sounds delicious.
I hope you’ll check out Faries’ story. What countries’ foods are you interested in learning more about?