A Hearty St. Patrick’s Day Slainte

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It’s St. Patrick’s Day and we’re all green with excitement! The famous St. Patrick’s Day parades are back in full force, after being toned down during the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Chicago has once again dyed its river green to celebrate the special day.

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Don’t forget to put on some green for good luck, drink a traditional Guinness for prosperity or order McDonald’s famous Shamrock Shake to enjoy, enjoy a plate of delicious Irish food and sit down and celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, whose festivities are commemorated around the world.

McDonald's Famous Shamrock Shake – Courtesy of McDonald's
McDonald’s Famous Shamrock Shake – Courtesy of McDonald’s Photo provided /McDonald’s

St. Patrick’s Day is akin to Ireland’s own Mardi Gras – pausing before Easter to pay homage to a saint who lived and died hundreds of years ago. Research shows that the beloved saint was a 5th-century missionary who converted pagans to Christianity and who used the shamrock, or three-leaf clover, to explain the Holy Trinity of the Catholic Church to converts.

There’s also that part of him chasing all the snakes off the island, even though the snakes weren’t native to the area. A little-known legend about the saint is that he raised the dead many times. Its impact on Ireland and the world at large is nothing short of profound, and that is why it is celebrated every March 17.

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The reality is that you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy this patron saint of the Emerald Isle. Wear something green, eat something Irish, raise a glass and be sure to say slainte. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

FOOD:

Irish cuisine is legendary, steeped in centuries of tradition and history. If the opportunity allows you to visit this beautiful place, get your hands on their delicious butter and smother it on freshly baked soda bread.

“Irish culinary tradition has evolved since prehistoric times,” notes the Irish traditional cuisine cookbook (Kyle Cathie Ltd.). “Irish cuisine is…as complex as the many cultural, political and economic forces that have shaped Ireland’s existence.”

Traditional dishes include soda bread, Irish stew, smoked salmon, collar cannon (a delicious savory potato dish) and corned beef and cabbage. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with a Guinness-inspired chocolate cake.

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– Lyudmila Chernetska/Getty Images
– Lyudmila Chernetska/Getty Images Photo by Lyudmila Chernetska /Getty Images

WHY GREEN BEER?

It’s tough, but green beer seems to be a St. Patrick’s Day staple – though many Irish beer purists are appalled at the very thought of drinking a green one. Research shows that green beer is not Irish at all and was first introduced in the early 1900s, at a special St. Patrick’s Day dinner hosted by a certain Dr Thomas Hayes Curtin from the Bronx . According to www.smithsonianmag.com, the good doctor used a somewhat toxic iron-based laundry dye called “wash blue” to tint the beer green. It was a great success, of course.

TOP ST. PATRICK’S DAY COCKTAILS:

According to Cocktail.com, the top five St. Patrick’s Day cocktails make up a surprising lineup this year, according to the company’s global bartending network. “The flavors of this Irish holiday may take a new direction,” company officials noted in a recent email statement – with these cocktails representing “a…break from the classic St. Patrick’s Day classics.” They understand:

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– Irish coffee: “Top of the list, as always. The creamy, lightly peated coffee drink has been a classic for almost as long as the holidays have existed.

– Irish Grasshopper: » It is a more dessert cocktail than Irish Coffee, which relies more on crème de liqueur and crème de cacao, a popular substitute for those who dislike coffee cocktails.

– Irish maid: “It’s a classic Irish cocktail, (but) resulting in similar green, fruity and refreshing drinks that still use Irish whiskey but move into that refreshing territory with elderberry liqueur and lemon juice.”

– Eye of the hurricane: “is the epitome of this trend. It is a mixture of white rum, bitter lemon and passion fruit.

– Shamrock hallmark: “is the fruitiest of all the St. Patrick’s Day drinks here. He’s also on the rise, but has a certain fan base. This is definitely another drink to watch out for.

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– To verify www.cocktail.com for more drink-inspired ideas!

Not A Shamrock Shake – courtesy of Jameson Irish Whiskey
Not A Shamrock Shake – courtesy of Jameson Irish Whiskey Photo provided /Jameson Irish Whiskey

NOT A SHAMROCK SHAKE

Everyone was looking for the perfect green cocktails to serve this St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s a wonderful recipe courtesy of mixologists Jameson Irish Wiskey. (www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-CA)

3 tbsp. (45mL) Favorite Irish Whiskey

2 tbsp. lemon juice

2 tbsp. simple syrup (equal parts boiling water with sugar, cooled)

8 fresh basil leaves

2 1/2 tsp. (40ml) sparkling white wine

Lightly crush the basil leaves in your shaker. Add the rest of the ingredients except the sparkling wine and shake with ice. Double strain into a chilled tall glass filled with ice. Drizzle with sparkling white wine and garnish with a basil leaf.

Irish Pan Haggerty – Foodland Ontario
Irish Pan Haggerty – Foodland Ontario Photo provided /Foodland Ontario

HAGGERTY IRISH STOVE

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This rich and delicious dish is described as a great Irish comfort food. Popular as a main course or side dish. Courtesy recipe www.foodlandontario.ca. For 6 to 8 people.

5 slices bacon, diced

2 cups minced onion

2 large garlic cloves, minced

2 pounds. white potatoes, thinly sliced ​​(unpeeled)

Salt and pepper

1-1/2 cup grated aged cheddar cheese

1 1/4 cups (300 ml) chicken or vegetable broth

2 tbsp. (25 mL) finely sliced ​​fresh chives

In a 12-inch cast iron or ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove to a medium bowl. Add onion to skillet; cook 8 minutes, stirring often. Stir in garlic; cook 2 minutes or until onions are very soft and caramelized. Stir into bacon.

Remove skillet from heat. Arrange a layer of potatoes in the bottom of the skillet. Top with half the bacon mixture; Season with salt and pepper. Add another layer of potatoes; sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese. Add another layer of potatoes, the rest of the bacon mixture and season with salt and pepper. Add the last layer of potatoes. Pour the broth. Cover tightly with aluminum foil or a lid. Cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are knife-tender.

Remove foil. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 425F for 10-12 minutes, until cheese is bubbling and lightly browned. Sprinkle with chives. Serve in wedges.

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