Colcannon

Irish cookery may not be the dernier cri in refinement, but filling it is. Colcannon is a mound of fluffy mashed potatoes and buttered, chopped greens with a well of melted butter in the center to dip each forkful into. Kale is the traditional vegetable, but since it isn’t popular at my table, I substitute spinach. Shredded cabbage, cooked to the crisp-tender stage, is another possibility.

The Irish are rather fond of burying rings, coins, buttons, and suchlike in breads and