Happy St. Patrick's Day

What's everyone making for St. Patty's Day?  Will it be traditional Corned Beef & Cabbage - perhaps some Irish Soda Bread?  I'm making Potato Soup and Boxty- something a little more kid-friendly-

and who doesn't like potatoes.  I like to make both dishes plain

and then put the toppings out for everyone do make it "their-way".

An old Irish poem says:

Boxty on the griddle,

Boxty in the pan,

If you can't make boxty,

You'll never get a man

Boxty (Irish Potato Griddle Cakes)

Ingredients:

1/2 pound raw potato

1/2 pound cooked mashed potato

1/2 pound plain flour

Milk (as needed, see directions)

1 egg

1 medium onion, finely chopped

Salt and pepper

Directions:

Grate raw potatoes and mix with the cooked mashed potatoes. Add salt, pepper, onion and flour. Beat egg and add to mixture with just enough milk to make a batter that will drop from a spoon.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a hot griddle or frying pan. Cook over a moderate heat for 3-4 minutes on each side.

Recipe source: http://www.fantasy-ireland.com/Irish-potato-recipe.html

Our local pub- Sl'ainte - (Slawn-cha) - means good heath - is having it's annual St. Baldrick's Charity Head Shaving for Children's Cancer Research-largest independant ORG to raise money outside of the US Govt. Most Irish Pubs in the US- host the event, Sla'inte' is just a half mile from our house so it's neat to see~

Wearin' of the Green

by Dion Boucicault

"Oh Paddy dear and did you hear the news that's going 'round?

the shamrock is forbid by law to grow on Irish ground

No more St. Patrick's Day to keep his colours can't be seen

there is a cruel law against the wearing of the green"

I met with Napper Tandy and he took me by the hand
and he said, "How's dear old Ireland and how does she stand?"
"She's the most distressful country that you have ever seen

they're hangin' men and women there for wearing of the green"

 

Then if the colour we must wear is England's cruel red

let it remind us of the blood that Ireland has shed

so take the shamrock from your hat and throw it to the sod

and never fear will take root there though under foot it's trod

when the law can stop the blades of grass from growing as they grow

and when the leaves of summertime their verdue dare not show

well it's then I'll change the colour that I wear in my corbeen

but till that time praise God I'll keep to wearing of the green.