| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Woodswoman |
Posted - Mar 02 2007 : 1:57:05 PM
Does anyone do anything special for St.Patrick's Day?
I do the same thing my mom & dad always did-we make the corned beef, cabbage, and carrots. I try my hand at Irish Soda Bread, but haven't found a recipe I really like. My dad would always have a Guiness, but it's too bitter for me-I prefer Killians. Oh, and of course, some good Irish folk songs. There is a local band here called "Hair of the Dog"-I have a few of there CD's.
Jennifer |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Mar 16 2007 : 1:48:36 PM
Okay, here you go....my Grandma's Grandma's recipe (my grandma is 100% Irish, Does her name tell you that? Patricia Ann...)
1 lb white flour ( I make it with unbleached)
½ American teaspoon salt
½ American teaspoon breadsoda
Sour milk or buttermilk to mix - 12-14 fl ozs approx.
First fully preheat your oven to 450ºF.
Sift the dry ingredients. Make a well in the middle. Pour most of the milk in at once. Using one hand, mix in the flour from the sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn it out onto a well floured worked surface. WASH AND DRY YOUR HANDS. Knead lightly for a second then turn over. Pat the dough into a round about 1½ inches (or clover shaped!!) deep and cut a cross on it to let the faeries out! Let the cuts go over the sides of the bread to make sure of this. Bake in a hot oven 450ºF for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400ºF for 30 minutes or until cooked. If you are in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread: if it is cooked it will sound hollow.
There you have it.....I love it. I have a sweet soda bread with currants and raisins that is pretty good, but it is from a cook book I have called "Witch in the Kitchen". I made some alterations to is because it wasn't quite good enough I thought....I'll get it later for you to post in case you want it for your morning Irish coffee ;) ;)
We shall be having it in the morning along with Lucky Charms!! they were even on sale!LOL!
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
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Homepage:
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Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Mar 16 2007 : 1:37:47 PM
oh and um, purists (me too!) will also tell you that if you add sugar and eggs to your soda bread, then you have cake, not soda bread....;)
oh geez! lemme just go get my recipe! be back later....
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage:
http://gaiasrose.etsy.com
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Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Mar 16 2007 : 1:34:52 PM
as far as Irish Soda Bread goes, purists (ahem myself included) will tell you that there are only 4 ingredients in it: flour, sour milk, water and baking soda. If it has anything else in it it is not soda bread. I also make a sweet soda bread, but it is REALLy called spotted dog becuas it is sweet and has currants and raisins in it.
I have a link....lemme find it, it is in my Irish links (yep, I have Irish links-I am a good Irish girl!)
We will have corned beef and cabbage stewed all day (sans the cabbage which will be thrown in the last 15 minutes or so), boiled red baby red potatos, soda bread, spotted dog and Guinness. Interestingly, however, Corned beef is NOT a traditional Irish meal....it is Irish American. After the irish immigrants came here, they couldn't find their beloved Irish bacon and substituted with corned beef. so really you should be eating boiled irish cut bacon, cabbage and small red boiled potatos, possibly some potato cakes and soda bread along with your nice warm Guinness....
oh and don't forget your green orange and white clothes!!! We shall be sure to post photos!!
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage:
http://gaiasrose.etsy.com
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Mar 16 2007 : 11:09:03 AM
Yipppee! I'm so excited (much to my "Irished-out" husband's chagrin  ) We're going to the parade, and for mid day supper, we're having:
Guinness Irish Stew pot pies (puff pastry over the top)
Colcannon potatoes
Soda bread
Bailey's Irish Cream pudding with oatmeal/walnut/white chocolate chip topping.
Ironically, we are meeting friends tomorrow night for dinner at a Thai place--definitely NOT Irish--and one of the folks we're meeting is also an "x" member of the Irish band my husband played with--I guess this guy is Irished out, too! The Thai place was his request!
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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| bboopster |
Posted - Mar 13 2007 : 2:30:20 PM
This year I am celebrating my daughters up coming wedding. Her maid of honor has pick St. Patrick's day for the party. We will start at the parade in Erin, Wisconsin and then off to a couple of pubs for Guiness and Harp, I like them mixed half and half, and then a finally stop at my sister's Pub "House of Guiness" to finish the celebration with food and music. I also have my 5 year old preschoolers hunting down the leprechauns who make a mess in our room everyday. Oh what a blast to see their faces in the morning as they know I am very particular when it comes to keeping our room straight and orderly. 
3 Blue Star Mother and Proud of it!
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
| blueroses |
Posted - Mar 06 2007 : 10:52:28 AM
We have corned beef & cabbage and I make soda bread, but I'm thinking that colcannon sounds awfully good. Harps, Guiness and/or Jameson's Whiskey always goes down good.
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
| asnedecor |
Posted - Mar 04 2007 : 09:24:28 AM
We celebrate our Wedding Anniversary on St. Patrick's day. It will be 17 years. Yes, we were married on this day, not planned, nor are we Irish, just happened to be the day that the Jenkin's Estate (where we were married) was available
Anne in Portland
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Mar 04 2007 : 07:38:53 AM
Elizabeth, that sounds like my kind of St. Patrick's Day! That's so wonderful that you play....love a fiddle!
Jen--
Colcannon potatoes are mashed potatoes with cabbage and leeks.
Really good and creamy, and VERY hearty!
I'll include this recipe too, if you'd like--
Colcannon is the Gaelic word for white-headed cabbage, and traditionally, cooks would hide gold charms or coins to wish good luck (don't bite into one!!!)
2 1/2 lb. russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
8 Tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup milk
4 bacon slices, cut into 1/2-inch dice
4 large shallots, thinly sliced
1 large leek, white and light green portions,
halved lengthwise, rinsed well and thinly sliced
1 bunch curly kale, about 3/4 lb., stemmed and
coarsely chopped
1 small head napa cabbage, about 1 lb., cored
and coarsely chopped
1/8 tsp. mace or freshly grated nutmeg
NOTE: I always omit the kale because I can't get my husband near it--wilted or otherwise 
Boil potatoes in a large pot, add generous amount of salt enough water to cover potatoes by 2 inches). Cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife. Drain well.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and milk and heat until the butter melts and the mixture is hot, but careful to not scorch.
Mash potatoes, and fold in milk mixtures in two additions. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil and keep warm.
Heat a heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
Pour off all but 3 Tbs. of the fat from the pot. Return the pot to medium heat, add the shallots and leek and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the kale and toss just until wilted but still bright green, about 3 minutes. Add the cabbage and toss until tender-crisp, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle with the mace and the bacon, and season with salt and pepper. Stir the potatoes into the cabbage mixture and serve warm. Serves 8.
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
| emma.birdwhistle |
Posted - Mar 03 2007 : 5:12:11 PM
My sister, my cousin and I are playing Irish music at an event on St. Patrick's Day - two fiddles, harp, and a bit of bodhran if we're lucky. And singing, of course. It was nice of my sister to agree to perform with us, as St. Patrick's Day is her 18th birthday. She had to put up with green balloons, green decorations and green cakes at her birthday parties for years, until she was old enough to rebel and insist on pink.
- Elizabeth Ann
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. - Thoreau
http://resolutelyoutmoded.etsy.com |
| Woodswoman |
Posted - Mar 03 2007 : 3:46:53 PM
Thanks for the recipe, I will try it this year! And, what are colcannon potatoes?
Jennifer |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Mar 03 2007 : 2:14:36 PM
Oh. Forgot. Bramble, my mom used to do the same thing for me--all the tricks! I loved it, and she would always make me take my teacher a green carnation.
Also, here's my recipe for soda bread that I got YEARS ago from a lady in Brooklyn. Maybe you might like this one, woodswoman?
6-7 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tblsp baking powder
2 1/2 tsp salt
6 tblsp sugar
1 tblsp baking soda
3 cups buttermilk
1 egg beaten for wash before baking
Pre heat Oven 350
combine 6 cups flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and baking soda. Add buttermilk and stir until soft dough forms, adding more flour if necessary.
Transfer to lightly floured surface and gently knead approx. 10 times. Divide dough in half and form into rounds. Transfer rounds to lightly greased baking sheet and with a sharp knife, cut cross on top of bread. Brush w/ egg wash and bake for 35-40 mins or until bread sounds hollow when tapped.
Let cool.
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Mar 03 2007 : 2:08:16 PM
I love St. Patrick's day...LOVE IT, and living in NYC has always made it near and dear to me, but, alas, my Irish husband has been "Irished" out...when I met him, he was playing in an Irish Band called Rogery Drawdy and the Firestarters, 3 nights a week in a local Irish pub, and we had our Irish reception there for our somewhat Irish wedding. St. Patrick's day usually involved us taking the day off work to travel through the tri state area as far north, south and east 2 hours so they could play 6:30 am Irish breakfasts all the way to the VERY last call and 3-4 pubs in between. By the end, he was usually talking gibberish.
Since he doesn't play with the Irish band anymore, we are decidedly more low key on St. Patty's day. I usually make corned beef and cabbage, and soda bread, and some colcannon potatoes, and we sit around and listen to the Pogues, and some other raucous Irish bands. Guinness and Harp served in this house, and Jameson's Irish Whisky for hot toddies.
He hates me for it, but I still make him sing and play "The Rocky Road To Dublin for me!!! Oooh. Can't wait!
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
| Patsy |
Posted - Mar 03 2007 : 06:35:49 AM
Being Irish on my father's side and almost born on St. Paddy's day, I always have corned beef and cabbage and boiled potatoes. I have never tried to make Irish Soda Bread but I should.
Faeries fly and leprechauns run about my yard and can cause great havoc if not controlled. Lol. No snake sightings on that day as St. Patrick has taken care of that.
Blessed are those who love the soil,
Patsy
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| bramble |
Posted - Mar 02 2007 : 5:38:14 PM
When my son was small we would play pranks: turn the pictures upside down, put the chairs up on the table, fill the cereal box with something else. It would look like the leprechauns had been up to their old tricks and we would go on a hunt to see if we could find any. Ofcourse all we ever found we're the golden coins (chocolate)
that they must have dropped while scurrying about. We had so much fun with this and Z would bring his friends over after school for the hunt. They got wise to us around 3rd grade but some of the boys still mention what fun it was. I know all the notes left by the "head" leprechaun are still saved in my son's "treasure box". I hope it was a special time for him, it sure was for us! Can't wait til we can do it for the baby!
I can't abide corned beef cabbage so that is never on the menu!
We usually have some fish, potato chowder and a nice salad. I like the "new" Irish cuisine better than the old!
with a happy heart |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Mar 02 2007 : 5:24:30 PM
My grandson Bradley was born on St Paddy's day so that is who we celebrate. It wasn't celebrated much when I was younger. Hmmmm....... MB
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"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
| Persephone |
Posted - Mar 02 2007 : 3:23:44 PM
Not much- I'm planning on Cock-a-leekie soup (which I think is actually scottish, but it's yummy!:)) and colcannon and irish soda bread. Dh loves Guinness, so maybe some of that? :) |
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