New York food writer, Tressa returns from honeymoon worried that she has married her impossibly handsome husband, Dan out of panic rather than love. In 1930s, Ireland her grandmother, Bernadine, has wed James, the quiet and unexciting local schoolteacher, after her family is unable to raise a dowry to allow her to marry her true love, Michael. On her own wedding day, Tressa is offered her grandmother's diaries and hidden in the pages finds unexpected comfort, learning - amongst the timeless recipes for jam, soda bread and rhubarb tart - of an age-old narrative about her grandparents, her mother, and ultimately herself. For, what she discovers is how to capture the perfect marriage. 'A hybrid of Anne Tyler, "Sex in the City" and the Avoca Cook Book, "Recipes" is grown-up and reflective...makes some excellent observations about the nature of love and happiness and how difficult it can be for a woman to adapt to marriage" - "Sunday Independent". "This book is one to keep. Anyone who reads it will return to it, time and time again." - "Ireland on Sunday".