The Irish vibe can be celebrated by enjoying some traditional fayre. There’s more than just Guinness to consider, although that can be included!
Celebrated across the globe, particularly in parts where Irish migrants settled, such as New York City, San Francisco, London and Glasgow, St Patrick, was captured as a teenager and taken as a slave to Ireland. From his work as a simple herdsman to the notorious manwho refused generous gifts from kings after receiving visions from his Christian God, St Patrick remains honoured as the patron saint of Ireland.
Before you celebrate by heading along to one of the many local parades that mark the occasion, why not serve up a good earthy Irish stew, made up of potatoes, cabbage, root vegetables and meat? A hearty dish, this is the perfect recipe to feed many or to use up vegetables that are reaching their peak. In a large casserole dish, lightly fry some onions in a little butter until translucent than add some fresh chicken or vegetable stock as a base and add stalks of celery, chopped carrots, potatoes, parsnips and some shredded white cabbage. If you like, you could add some boneless lamb or chicken chopped into cubes or some diced stewing beef.
Add plenty of chopped fresh parsley, thyme, cracked black pepper and a little salt to taste and boil up and then allow it slowly simmer in its juices, stirring the pan’s contents until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are soft. If the stew is too thick, add a splash more of water – or a touch of Guinness or stout to give it extra flavour.
You can serve this dish with dumplings, which are a popular favourite.
Dumplings are simply made by mixing two parts of self-raising flour with one part of cold butter. Grate the butter into the flour and add a pinch of salt and pepper, and then use your fingers to gently rub the ingredients into the texture of breadcrumbs. Finally, add a drop of cold water to bind the dough together and roll into round dumplings. You can then place the dumplings on top of the fully cooked stew before leaving to gently simmer on the hob or in the oven with the lid on for another 30 minutes.
While you are waiting to eat, toast, drink and be merry:
“Saint Patrick was a gentleman, who through strategy and stealth, drove all the snakes from Ireland. Here’s a toasting to his health. But not too many toastings lest you lose yourself and then forget the good Saint Patrick and see all those snakes again.”
Image: atravellingmom
