The Chuppies: Saint Patrick's Day Recipes and Books and Music ...Minus the Corned Beef

We picked up a shamrock plant last week...
Yes--it's almost St. Patrick's Day!

Years ago, in our pre-kiddo days,
we spent the 4th of July in Ireland.
Killarney, County Kerry, to be exact.
Shillelagh--a local band--was playing.
The whole town was streaming with American flags and supportive cheers.
And something in me, after that trip, was permanently warmed towards Ireland.

So--in an effort to return the favor--
And--because at this point it's just a good excuse to make the day a little extra special for the kiddos--

Some fun (not necessarily authentic) St. Patrick's Day ideas:

~Recipes~

St. Patrick's Day Bunratty Park Fruit Scones
(I make these for breakfast if I have time, but this year we might be eating Lucky Charms)

4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
4 Tlbsp. cold butter (come on--use the real stuff :)
3/4 cup currants or golden raisins
2 eggs well beaten
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Preheat oven to 400. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, sugar. Use a pastry blender (or large fork) to work butter into crumbs. Add raisins. Stir in eggs and buttermilk. Roll into a round and cut into 8 wedges. Brush tops with cream. Bake for approximately 20 minutes until golden.

Colcannon Soup (a nice variation of traditional Colcannon--which is also WONDERFUL!)

4 Tlbsp. butter
2 cups shredded cabbage
1.5 pounds potatoes (peeled and cubed)
2-3 cups washed, chopped leeks
5 cups chicken broth
salt, pepper, nutmeg
1 and 1/4 cups half and half cream
3 Tlbsp. fresh parsley or 1 Tlbsp. dried

Melt butter in large saucepan. Stir in cabbage, potatoes, and leeks and 1 cup broth. Cover & cook over medium heat for 10-12 minutes. Add the rest of the broth. Simmer 15-20 minutes. Add spices to taste and mash to smooth.

Dublin Coddle (This is what I usually make, but this year I may try an Irish Stew)

Large pork sausages, preferably Irish bangers, but really...any good sausages work well.
Slab bacon (about a pound)
3 onions sliced thinly
1.5 lbs. potatoes (peeled and sliced)
ground pepper
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 350. Prick sausages in several places with a fork. Put sausages and bacon in a saucepan. Add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer until slightly tender (10-15 min.) Drain and reserve liquid. Layer ingredients in greased casserole dish....potatoes, onion, meats. Sprinkle with pepper and parsley. Pour liquid over to barely cover. Cover in foil. Bake for 1 hour.

Dilled Colcannon Casserole (this is one of my very favorites)

4 large baking potatoes
3 cups shredded cabbage (I use the pre-shredded that comes in a bag)
1 chopped onion
1 Tlbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup water
1 Tlbsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. dried dillseed
2 Tlbsp. butter
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp. pepper
2-4 Tlbsp. milk
Scrub potatoes, prick skins and bake at 425 for 40-60 min. Meanwhile, cook cabbage and onion in hot oil for 5 minutes. Add water, soy sauce, and dillseed. Bring to boil. Simmer and cover for 10 min. When potatoes are done, scoop out pulp and mash. Stir in butter, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir into cabbage mixture. Add milk to desired consistency. Put into greased casserole dish and bake uncovered for 15 minutes at 425. I like to double this recipe, make it ahead of time, and reheat at 350 with the Dublin Coddle.

Irish Whiskey Cake (this is a bit of work, but so good...worth it. We'll see how this week goes...
might just end up with lime jello for dessert and they'll probably be just as excited)

1 cup golden raisins
1.5 cups cold water
1 stick butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1.5 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
Dash of allspice
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional--we leave out)
1/4 cup whiskey

Preheat oven to 350. Grease two 9-inch round pans. Line bottom with wax paper. Simmer raisins in water uncovered. Drain and reserve liquid. Cream butter, sugar, & egg. Add in flour, bk powder, bk soda, spices, and salt. Stir in 3/4 cup of reserved liquid, raisins, walnuts and whiskey. Bake 30-35 minutes and let cool in pans.

Whiskey Cake Icing (If you're going to make the cake...make the icing!)
8 Tlbsp. butter at room temp.
4 cups powdered sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup whiskey

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and whiskey. I usually double this for the cake...but we like icing and I always end up using more powdered sugar than the recipe calls for because of the consistency I'm looking for.

***We'll probably add in a few other fun options like:
--Limeade
--All green salad (lettuce, green peppers, celery etc.)
--Green jello salad
--And a Guinness for my guy

~Books~

Here are just a few of our favorites....
(I sometimes write my own "editorial comments" in our childrens' books so a few of our copies have a little extra commentary in them).

Find it here...

~Music~

This is where my husband starts campaigning that's it's a good excuse for more U2...
But St. Patrick's Day is only once a year...
So I typically play some older Irish favorites like:

--Long Journey Home
--The Irish Rovers
--The Black Family