In addition to being a fan of all things “etiquette,” I love to cook and travel. In 2003, I took a forced sabbatical after being laid off by one of my favorite employers. Once I got over the shock of joining the ranks of the unemployed, I did what I had to do – buy an airplane ticket to Ireland.

Who does this besides me?  If you’ve traveled to Ireland or any other country, I

would be glad to hear what you enjoyed. My first stop on what became an etiquette stepping stone to my International Etiquette business was Cork, Ireland to meet up with my 5th grade pen pal, Louise.  Since I’m still friends with Louise –not to mention with my former boss who had to painstakingly hand me a “pink slip” – it’s no wonder I encourage everyone to join the fun of building and keeping relationships along life’s highway.

International travel not only opens our minds to how different yet similar we are to other cultures, it develops our taste buds.  Irish luck landed me a delicious bowl of Louise’s real Irish stew (to die for!) when we settled into her home. From there, I fell in love with custard sauce over Irish blackberry pie, carrots and turnips.

I don’t have the fabulous custard recipe, but I searched and tested a comparable Irish lamb stew recipe that I’d like to share with you. It is a hearty, wholesome dinner and the beer and barley guarantee it to be a crowd pleaser! So, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, help yourself to this treat at http://www.gumbopages.com/food/irish/stew.html.

Sláinte (“To your health” Irish Gaelic).