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Showing posts with label Irish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irish. Show all posts

Friday, March 14, 2014

Prepping for St. Pat's!


It is almost St. Patrick's Day and if you are planning 
to make Corned Beef and Cabbage, here is the recipe
I have used for probably 20 years.  It has a bit more
zest, a bit more zing, a bit more flavor than just the
traditional boiled pot.
Our family vegetarian will be home for Spring Break
and if it doesn't snow (please, please, please) we will
be heading down to the big city for the parade.  So,
I don't know if we will be having meat this year, but
we will be having Colcannon and Soda Bread!









Saturday, October 19, 2013

I'm a Viking?



 
I just got off the phone with my cousin
Lynne, our family genealogist.  She was
filling me in on all the new discoveries
she has unearthed about our family history.
 
Perhaps the biggest shock is, we are Vikings!  The
Vikings first came to Ireland  in 795 and over the
course of time, they eventually were absorbed
into the religious and political life of Ireland.
This also included intermingling with the
natives.  Well, DNA doesn't lie and our family
has Viking blood!  A male descendent with the
family name can be tested and one of my cousins
accepted the challenge and here we are ~ Vikings!
 
Another interesting branch of the family tree.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Never Lose Hope...

 
 
My late Mother-in-Law started a tradition of
giving a Claddagh ring to each of her many
grandchildren when they turned 13.  Our son,
Brennan got his on his 13th birthday and one day
while playing outside at my Mum's house it
slipped off his finger and was gone.  He thought
he lost it in the back yard since that was where
he was playing so we searched and used a metal
detector but no luck ~ it was gone.
But yesterday as my sister was weeding the front
garden, under an evergreen she spied this!
It was Brennan's claddagh. 
 
For the Irish, the claddagh represents Love, Loyalty
and Friendship.  The way you wear them can have
specific meaning as well:
 
On the right hand with the point of the heart toward
the fingertips, the wearer is single and may be looking
for love.
On the right hand with the point of the heart toward
the wrist, the wearer is in a relationship.
On the left hand with the point of the heart toward the
fingertips, the wearer is engaged.
On the left hand with the point of the heart toward
the wrist, the wearer is married.
 
We are all thrilled that the ring has been found after
so many years and look forward to returning it to
Brennan. 
 
I guess that was the luck of the Irish!
 
 

Friday, March 18, 2011

Elle's Kitchen ~ Colcannon

A Colcannon That Won't Kill You


The Irish dish Colcannon
is mashed potatoes with
cabbage added and if
made in the traditional way
is filled with cream and
usually topped with butter.
I'm not saying that's not good,
it is delicious, but sadly it
isn't good for you.
This is a recipe I found that
reduced the amount of fat and
calories without sacrificing taste.

This recipe takes it from 15 grams
of fat down to 1 gram of fat.


6 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup 1% milk
6 cloves, garlic, peeled
6 scallions, sliced
5 cups finely shredded cabbage
4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes (about
 1 pound) peeled & cut into 2" chunks
salt & pepper to taste
2 tbls. fresh parsley


Tie thyme sprigs with twine or
place in cheesecloth bag.
Combine milk, garlic and thyme
in a small saucepan.  Bring to a
simmer over medium heat.  Reduce
heat to low and simmer gently until
garlic is soft, 5 to 10 minutes. 
Discard thyme.


Transfer milk mixture to a blender
and puree until smooth.  Return to
pan and stir in scallions.  Cover
and set aside.


In a large pot, bring 1 inch salted
water to a boil.  Add cabbage, cover
and cook until very tender, 8 to 10
minutes.  Drain well.


Meanwhile, place potatoes in a
large saucepan and cover with
cold water.  Bring to a boil, reduce
heat to medium and cook, covered,
until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Drain potatoes and return to the pan.
Mash with a potato masher or hand
held electric mixer.

Gradually add milk mixture to potatoes,
stirring until smooth.  Stir in cabbage
and season with salt and pepper.
Transfer to a warm bowl and
garnish with parsley.


Makes 6 servings.

Last night Kate asked me if I
would make this more often.
Absolutely I will.