Monday, March 14, 2011

St. Patrick Celebrations

Irish Dancers

Being a wee bit Irish, I always celebrate St. Patrick's Day! This year, our local businesses organized a St. Patrick's Day parade and festival that was held on Saturday. It was a cold and windy day, but everyone seemed to have a good time.

Parade Car

Parade Marchers

Starbuck's

Parade Float

My favorite part of St. Patrick's celebrations are the music and the dancing. We saw a young Irish step dance group perform at the fest. They had to wear their Irish sweaters to stay warm. The littlest girls were so cute! I took a short video to share:



Terry and I couldn't resist these green cupcakes!

Irish Cupcakes!

I made a batch of Irish stew and baked some Irish soda breads. We have plenty of leftovers to celebrate again on Thursday! I thought I'd share my recipes with you all.

Everybody can be a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Have fun!


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Irish Stew

Serves 4

1 tbl. olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
5-7 small waxy white potatoes, quartered
1 lb. baby carrots
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups low sodium veggie broth
1/4 cup dry red wine
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1-1/2 cups roughly chopped cabbage
1 tsp. dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1 can chickpeas or cannellini beans

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and celery, cover, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes, carrots, garlic, broth, wine and bay leaves. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes.

Add the soy sauce, cabbage, thyme, salt and pepper, cover and cook for 15 more minutes.

Add the beans and gently simmer 10 more minutes.


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Irish Soda Bread

Makes 2 loaves

5 cups white flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 to 3 cups of fresh raisins
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2-1/2 cups milk
3 tbl. white vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 stick butter

Pour the milk into a container and add the vinegar. Let sit for at least 5 minutes until milk curdles.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, powdered sugar and salt. Cut in the butter until mixture forms fine crumbs. Fold in the raisins. Add the curdled milk and egg, blending only until flour mixture is moistened.

Generously butter 2 loaf pans and divide the batter between the pans. Bake at 350° for 1 hour. Cool briefly in pans, then remove and cool on wire racks. Serve with butter or honey.


Irish Dance Performance

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8 Comments:

Blogger Anyes K. Busby - Studio Vignette Fine Art said...

Hi Pam,
I'm a wee bit Irish as well, my great-grandmother on my mother's side. I'm not much of a wiz in the kitchen, but I will make that stew. Yummy comfort food!
Happy St Patrick!
Anyès
XX

March 15, 2011 at 9:57 AM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Anyes-

My great-grandmother on my dad's side was Irish, so we're both about 1/8. Let me know if you liked the stew! You can always add some meat or chicken/beef stock if you're not a vegetarian like we are (and omit the beans, which adds the protein for us veggies!).

-Pam

March 15, 2011 at 12:09 PM  
Blogger Shortbread and Ginger said...

Looks like great fun! I'm just about to knit an Aran sweater - they are lovely and warm.
Liz

March 15, 2011 at 1:47 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Liz-

I always admired those sweaters! They're beautiful, but rather expensive. They do look very warm, and the little kids look so cute in them! Show us your sweater when you're finished!

-Pam

March 15, 2011 at 5:50 PM  
Blogger Nadia said...

That sounds like a great day!! The bread and stew look delicious. (and the cupcakes!)
You have a great blog! I bookmarked it!

March 16, 2011 at 3:11 PM  
Blogger Richard Cottrell said...

I have been looking for that bread receipt, thanks for sharing. Looks like it was fun. The little ones are so cute.RC

March 16, 2011 at 3:43 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Garden Girl-

Welcome to Eastlake Victorian! Thank you for the nice words. It was a fun day, and the food was yummy! I hope you visit often. :-)

-Pam

March 16, 2011 at 5:35 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Richard-

I like this soda bread recipe. It's moister than most, and sweeter, too!

-Pam

March 16, 2011 at 5:36 PM  

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