Saint Patrick's Day Food

Learning about a culture's history and reading stories about the country make cooking and eating even more fun! Read several pages about Food in Early Ireland along with other Ireland information at DoChara ~ Your Irish Friend.

Little Shamrocks Website contains several yummy looking recipes for entrees, casseroles, side sides, appetizers, soups & stews, bread & scones, pies, cookies, candies, etc.

Holiday Zone has Irish Recipes for Potato and Leek Soup, Irish Soda Bread, Corned Beef, Colcannon, and Apple Scones.

Recipes Wiki has a delightful section on Irish Cuisine where you will find sections on Irish Appetizers, Beverages, Soups, Salads, Vegetarian, Meat Dishes, Snacks,and Desserts.

Enjoy a traditional Irish Breakfast of bacon and sausage, fried eggs, and puddings, or an Ulster Fry from Northern Ireland made of fried bread and eggs, sausage and bacon, and sauteed mushrooms.

How about starting the day with a Blarney Tart? This one looks rather like a quiche with eggs, onion, and cheese!

Irish Stew ~ I'm the type of cook who likes to experiment with my dishes, making each one unique and different than the last time. My poor family never quite knows what I will add or subtract! But, for sharing a recipe I will give you the basic ingredients and a few options for you to choose. The children have enjoyed helping by preparing veggies and measuring spices. :) Original Irish stew contained ingredients that were common such as potatoes, onions, and lamb. Many people choose to use beef today, but lamb was the meat that Irish farmers had more of on their farms. Sheep were raised not only for their meat, but also for their wool for clothing and blankets, and milk for drinking or making cheese and butter.

Basic Ingredients: 4 carrots, 2 onions, 8 potatoes, 1 pound lamb or beef, salt & pepper, 4 cups stock or water, 1 tablespoon parsley
Optional Ingredients: mushrooms, shredded cabbage, peas, leeks, chives, peppercorns, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves

We love to put all the ingredients in the crockpot in the morning and let it's smell fill the house all day! (Yum!) The traditional way is to place everything in a large pot, boil the water then turn down to simmer for about an hour and a half or until meat and potatoes are tender. Tastes great with a warm loaf of bread. (See below for a few recipe ideas.)

I had always heard of Corned Beef and Cabbage as being an Irish dish. While most websites that I researched agreed, a few stated that it was not traditionally served in Ireland. Either way, this recipe for Corned Beef with Vegetables looks yummy! Or, if you prefer watching a video to learn to cook, try this recipe!

This filling Grilled Corned Beef and Fontina Sandwiches along with some cole slaw will fill your tummies!

What are Irish potatoes? - Betcha didn't know that "Irish potatoes" are really a plant native to South America. Somehow, they became known as "Irish" because of the Irish potato famine outbreak. Many people refer to them as white potatoes as they are one of the most numerous varieties of potatoes in the world.

Cooks.com Recipe Search has numerous delicious sounding recipes for Irish Potato Sweets and Casseroles!!

Fantasy-Ireland has recipes for many traditional recipes for Irish Potatoes.

Champ ~ Irish Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients: 4 pounds of potatoes, 1 cup onions, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup butter
Directions: Boil the potatoes until soft, drain out the water, and mash the potatoes to your preferred consistency. Mix in the onions (chopped), milk, 1/4 cup butter, and salt & pepper to taste. Serve by creating a well in the center of the potato pile and filling with the remaining butter.

Boxty ~ Irish Potato Cakes
Ingredients: 1 cup mashed potatoes, 1 cup grated raw potatoes, 1 cup flour, 2 teaspoons each of salt and baking powder, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup milk
Directions: Mix all ingredients thoroughly until all dry ingredients are wet and sticking together. Shape balls into patties. Brown lightly in a frying pan on both sides.

Potato Soup

Irish Potato Candy from allrecipes.com

Irish Potatoes ~ Cookies
Ingredients: 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1 cup shredded coconut, 1 1/2 tablespoons cream, 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Directions: Delicately mix all the ingredients. Roll spoonfuls into tiny balls. Place the balls in a plastic zip bag with cinnamon. Zip and shake until covered. Enjoy!

Colcannon is a traditional vegetable dish made of potatoes, cabbage, ham or bacon, cream, and seasonings - Colcannon Recipe and photo thanks to Wikipedia and Photobucket.

Whether you use this recipe as an appetizer, side dish, or lunch, this Parsnip Soup with Corned Beef and Cabbage is delicious!

Green Vegetable Tray ~ fill an appetizer tray full of healthy green veggies! Cut the vegetables into thin slices and serve with your favorite dressing or dip. Suggestions: cucumbers, zucchini, lettuce, avocado, celery, snap peas, green beans.

Green Fruit Salad ~ Fill a bowl with your favorite green fruits: green grapes, apples, kiwi, melon.

Find out about
Irish Soda Bread (picture)
from Wikipedia.

Try this recipe for Blaa!

Irish Potato Bread Recipe

Irish Bread ~ Preheat the oven at 350 degrees. Mix 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 2 cups of flour in a bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of soft butter or margarine and press into the dry mixture with a fork. Add 2/3 cup milk and blend in thoroughly. Pour in ½ cup raisins and 1 tablespoon caraway seed as the final ingredients. On a floured surface, knead the dough until smooth and completely combined. (I prefer to use waxed paper on a table or countertop and flour instead of directly on the surface due to an easier cleanup.) Butter or spray with cooking oil a 9 inch loaf or round pan. Place dough in the pan and bake for 30 minutes. Enjoy it while it is still warm before a leprechaun sneaks away with it!!

Enjoy a cool green drink!

For any of the following: use green water, juice, or soda to freeze into ice cubes to place into the drinks. Perhaps add a slice of lime for fun!

Juices ~ There are a few green colored juices on the market - Hi-C possibly? Or, drink a glass of limeade.
Soda ~ Use lemon-lime soda or sparkling water and dye with green food coloring.
Water ~ Water may be turned green with food coloring, also.
Milk ~ Drop a few drops of green food coloring into milk for a simple green drink.

Milk Shakes
~ Mix milk, vanilla ice cream, green food coloring, and mint extract in a blender to create a yummy milkshake!
~ Use chocolate chip mint ice cream and milk in the shakes. (Equal amount of each.)
~ Blend lime sherbet and milk with a banana.

Green Pudding ~ Try some pistachio pudding!
Green Jello ~ Enjoy some lime jello top with whipped cream and green sprinkles!
Green Frozen Treats ~ How about some mint ice cream, vanilla ice cream colored green, lime sherbet, or frozen yogurt?

I couldn't resist a recipe that is for Dark Chocolate Mint Cupcakes with White Chocolate Mint Frosting!! It would make a fantastic ending to a holiday meal!