Irish Soda Bread and recipes for St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's Days

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Irish Soda Bread is easy to make and doesn’t need special ingredients.
It goes well with a corned beef and cabbage dinner, or anything else.  

Here's the Irish Soda Bread recipe that I clipped from The New York Daily News fifty years ago.  
Faith and beggorah!  'Tis a fine recipe.
Absolutely Hobbit free.  
And the cops will love you.  


Hints:

You can also make a buttermilk substitute for baking.
Combine 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar with 1 cup milk.
Let it sit for 2 minutes.


                                         Irish Soda Bread
          
Grease a cookie pan         
Preheat oven to 375º  F        

Combine in a large bowl
3 Cups flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Stir in
1/2 Cup currants or raisins
1 1/3 Cups buttermilk

Knead the dough on a floured board.
Shape into a round loaf and place on the prepared pan.
Cut a cross on top of the loaf.
Bake 45 minutes.

Combine for a glaze
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons hot water
Remove loaf from oven and brush with glaze.
Bake 10 minutes.


This post has links for more Irish recipes, as well as recipes for St. Joseph’s Day, which we’ll be celebrating on March 19:

https://imturning60help.blogspot.com/2020/03/anna-sultanas-onion-soup-lamb-barley.html

                                                          ~~~

Years ago I wrote for and told my stories on the CKUW radio show 2000 & Counting.
Here’s one I wrote for St. Patrick’s Day…

Remember how we were all gaga about the dawning of the Age of Aquarius?  

I mean, even if you didn't know enough Astrology to know your own sign - let alone what house you were mooning - you couldn't avoid Hair, the song, play or movie.  And everybody saw the 5th Dimension on the Ed Sullivan Show.  Remember how they just stood there, swaying and singing When the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars, then peace will guide the planets and love will fill the stars?  

Ok, Janet Jackson it wasn't.

So who are Aquarians? 
Kim Novak, Vanessa Redgrave, Jeanne Moreau, Mia Farrow, Carmen Miranda and, the comeback king, John Travolta.  We're talking a major sign here.

Some people poo poo all this but I think we'd better start paying attention.  This is a new millennium and cosmic forces are just itching to find any teeny tiny hole where they can get a toehold to shake things up on dear old planet earth.  

No kidding.


Take St. Patrick's Day.  I'm from New York where St. Patrick's was like Christmas.  Everybody - no matter where they came from - sat down to a corned beef and cabbage dinner on March 17. 
Hey, nobody was dumb enough to not notice all the Irish cops, carrying billy clubs, pounding down Fifth Avenue in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.  

Trust me, you didn't want to make a New York cop mad.

For decades I used an Irish Soda Bread recipe that I'd clipped from The New York Daily News.  
Then, like everybody else, I discovered Martha.  Ok, she's Polish, but she had a humdinger of a recipe.  I watched her teach it to some Irish lady who said, "Faith and beggorah!  'Tis better than me own sainted Mum's recipe."  

When I heard the 'Tis word, I was hooked.  

I downloaded the recipe from Martha's website and everything went tickety boo.
Until Martha got convicted.
Well, that shook everybody up.  
Her stock took a tumble and you could've shot a cannon through the department store aisles where her household items were gathering dust.  
Frugal housewives were clipping Martha Stewart labels from towels and sheets.  

With visions of mad cops marching in my head, I thought it wouldn't be kosher to whip up a loaf of Martha's Irish Soda Bread.  
Back to the computer.

There's lots of stuff about Ireland on the internet.  
Did you know that corned beef is not the national dish?  It was eaten as a last resort during hard times.  
Irish coffee was the invention of the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco.  
When Irish Eyes are Smiling is an American song.  
And many Irish people consider green to be an unlucky color.
    
Finally I found The Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and double clicked.  

Now how was I supposed to know the cosmic forces that click would unleash?  
Before you could say "Faith and beggorah", my computer started to glow, I heard a banshee wail and my printer took on a life of its own printing sheets of I didn't know what.  

Odd characters strolled around my room.  They looked like a touring company of The Lord of Rings.  Some were chanting, some were crying and some were doing tai chi.  

This was not a good thing.
     
Enough was enough.  I pressed the option and command keys, made the sign of the cross and punched the escape key.  
It worked.  
iMac 1, Druids 0.
The pages were all over the floor.  
Seems somebody is holding a cosmic grudge.  

According to legend, St. Patrick put a curse on venomous snakes in Ireland.  Then he drove all the snakes into the sea.  
Well, according to my visiting Hobbits, the snakes were a popular tourist attraction, their version of the Narcisse Wildlife Management Area.  

You've heard of Narcisse, where thousands of red-sided garter snakes emerge from the limestone sinkholes in late April and tangle in a mating ritual for three weeks.  Ok, it's not Disneyland, but tourists come and spend and that's always a good thing.  
Why wreck a nice little cottage industry?  
Why, indeed.  
I guess History rewrites by the winner is not a new thing.

Oh, among the pages was a recipe for traditional Irish Soda Bread.  
I don't think I'll try it.  
No, the corned beef and cabbage is enough.  
I don't need the bread.  

Hmm... the Atkins diet, which cuts out bread, is sure popular in the Age of Aquarius.  

Coincidence?  
I think not.

Anna Sultana’s Onion Soup & Lamb Barley Soup / St. Patrick’s Day & St. Joseph’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is on Tuesday.

Thursday, officially the first day of Spring, is also the feast of St. Joseph.

Do you ever wonder how St. Patrick and St. Joseph feel about the fact that their feast days always happen in Lent?

Sometimes St. Valentine’s also falls in Lent.
Lent or not - people celebrate St. Valentine's.
A loved one's fury, and revenge methods, are a lot scarier than God's judgment.
And, anyway, church rules have been known to change.

But, for Pat and Joe, it’s guaranteed that their big days will land in the no-frills, no-fun, no-treats-for-you, season of Lent.

It’s enough to make a saint curse.
I mean, Pat went to Ireland and Joe, well, who has better family connections?
What does a guy have to do to get a decent holy day?

Well… I think that this is not the time to worry about Lent.

Not when there are so many great traditional recipes to enjoy!

Here are a few traditional dishes for St. Patrick.
Don't forget to toast him with a few traditional Irish drinks:

Anna Sultana’s Cottage Pie #3

Anna Sultana’s Colcannon and Irish Cream  (a drink) 

Anna Sultana’s Irish Cakes / Boxties

Anna Sultana’s Shepherd’s Pie 

Potato and Cabbage Casserole

NY Daily News' Irish Soda Bread   

 

Irish Coffee Recipe and Irish Fix Recipe  (2 drinks)

Enjoy a pastry or two - Italian or Maltese style - in honour of St. Joseph:

Anna Sultana’s Żeppoli ta' san Ġużepp II / St. Joseph's Zeppole

Carmela Soprano's Sfingi (St. Joseph's Day Zeppole)

Anna Sultana's Zeppoli ta' san Guzepp 

Carmela Soprano's St. Joseph Zeppole 

Cream Puffs - Baked Sfingi / Zfineg ta San Guzepp

Carmela Soprano's Cream Puffs / Baked Sfingi and Ricotta Cream Filling

Carmela Soprano's Sfingi, Anna Sultana's Zfineg ta San Guzepp

Next Tuesday we'll have a new moon.

No big whoop… pretty much a night like any other night.
Well, we can say that about most days.

But we still have to eat.

Warm weather is still a long way off, so why not make some soup?

Hints:

For the Onion Soup…

For something a bit different use one pound each of red onions, sweet onions and yellow onions.

The red onions’ colour will bleed into the broth, but it’s the thought that counts.

Also it’s a way to use onions before they start to sprout.

The soup can be prepared, cooled, then refrigerated up to 2 days. 

When ready to serve, bring it to a boil, ladle into the bowls and continue.

If you want to omit the dry sherry, increase the beef broth to 7 1/4 cups.

About the Lamb Barley Soup…

If you have a lamb leg or chops dinner, be sure to save the bones. 

Place them in a large pot, cover with water, add a diced onion or two along with a few bay leaves, and simmer for a few hours. 

If you have an envelope of onion soup mix handy you can add that, too.

A teaspoon or two of chill powder adds a nice touch.

Let the broth cool and then strain it.

Pick any meat off the bones and add the bits to the broth.

If you haven’t had lamb since last Easter, use broth or water.

Ground beef will work with beef or vegetable broth.

Ground chicken or turkey is good with chicken or vegetable broth.

                        Onion Soup

Cut lengthwise in half, then crosswise into thin slices

3 pounds onions

Place in a large pot 

2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons olive oil 

Heat over medium heat and add

the sliced onions

Stirring frequently, cook 10 minutes.

Lower the heat and, stirring occasionally, simmer 40 minutes until the onions are golden brown.

Add

2 teaspoons dried thyme 

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 Cup dry sherry 

Cook and stir on medium-high heat 1 minute.

Add
7 Cups beef broth
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tablespoon vinegar
2 bay leaves 

Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil. 

Cover, simmer on medium-low heat 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Remove the bay leaves and discard. 

While the soup is simmering, toast 

16 French bread or baguette slices (1/2 inch thick)

Heat the broiler. 

Ladle soup into 8 ovenproof bowls.

Top with 

the toasted bread slices

1 1/2 to 2 Cups shredded Swiss cheese 

Broil, 4 inches from heat, 3 to 5  minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown. 

Serve with a mixed green salad and crusty rolls or bread.

                        Lamb Barley Soup

Finely chop

2 medium onions

4 medium carrots

Place in a large pot 

1 pound ground lamb 

the chopped onion

Heat over medium-high heat and stir until the meat is evenly browned and the onions are translucent. 

Discard any excess grease. 

Stir in 

1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained

6 Cups lamb broth

1 can condensed tomato soup 

the chopped carrots
1 Cup barley 

1 1/2 teaspoons rosemary
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon ground black pepper 

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

Cover and simmer over medium heat for 45 minutes.

Serve with crusty rolls or bread.

Anna Sultana’s Cottage Pie #3

It’s been one of those winters - there was always something else that had to be done.

So, I'm really very sorry, but it’s been a while since I posted anything.

Here we are, halfway through March, and it’s time to get ready for St. Patrick’s Day.

It’s time to make something a bit Irish.

Making corned beef and cabbage was not one of Ma's favourite things to do.

She would usually serve us Cottage Pie, and, somehow, each year it was always a bit different.

Here’s another one of her variations.

Cottage Pie is not the same as Shepherd’s Pie. 

Both are made the same way – a ground meat filling that is topped with mashed potatoes, then baked until the top is nice and crusty. 

The difference is that Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb instead of beef.

I've never found ground lamb in my local grocer's meat department.
I don't think Ma ever found it, either.
I don't know if I'll ever have Shepherd's Pie.
No matter - Cottage Pie will always mean St. Patrick's Day to me.

Looking for a few more Irish dishes for your family’s dinner? Try

Anna Sultana’s Irish Cakes / Boxties

Anna Sultana’s Shepherd’s Pie 

Anna Sultana’s Easy Shepherd’s Pie 2

Potato and Cabbage Casserole

Anna Sultana’s Colcannon and Irish Cream

Irish soda bread

Don’t forget to top off your meal with a glass of Irish Coffee!

Hints:

Make sure the filling is reduced down so that you don’t end up with a watery filling.

Since no steam will escape, the meat sauce will not thicken while it is baking. 
So be sure to allow the sauce to simmer long enough, and to cool completely.

If you’re in a rush to cool the filling you can pop it into the fridge or freezer while you prepare the potatoes.

If the filling is not cooled, the mashed potatoes will sink down into the mixture.
Still edible, but not quite the effect we’re going for here.

Also don't skip drying the potatoes, otherwise the excess liquid will drip into the filling.

If you feel the need for cheese, you can add about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the mashed potatoes.

Don't prepare the potatoes too far before you need them for the recipe.
The mashed potatoes should be hot so that they’ll spread easily.

This recipe refrigerates and freezes well. Just don't bake it before storing it. 
Allow the potato topping to cool, then cover or wrap before refrigerating or freezing. 

If frozen, thaw and bake as per recipe.

                        Cottage Pie

Serves 5 - 6 

Meat Filling

Dice

1 onion
3 carrots

1 rib celery

Heat in a large skillet over medium heat

2 Tablespoons oil

Crumble in 

1 pound lean ground beef

Sauté 1 minute.

Add the diced vegetables.
Continue to sauté until the meat is no longer pink and the onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes.

Stir in

2 Tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 Tablespoons dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt 

1 Tablespoon tomato paste

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 Cups beef broth

Combine well. Lower heat and simmer mixture for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until almost all of the liquid has been absorbed. 

Spoon the mixture into an 8 inch square pan or a deep 9 inch pie pan. 

Allow the filling to cool. 

Potato Topping

After the filling has cooled a bit, peel and dice

2 pounds potatoes

Place potatoes in a medium saucepan, cover with water and place over high heat. 
Allow to come to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. 

Drain then return to pot on turned off stove. 
Shake briefly and allow to steam dry for about 30 seconds. 

Mash potatoes until smooth, then add
2 Tablespoons butter
1 Cup milk

Whip until fluffy. 

Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Preheat oven to 400º F

Spread the hot whipped potatoes over the beef filling, using a fork to rough up the surface.  

Sprinkle over the potatoes

a few dabs of butter

2 Tablespoons fine bread crumbs

a dash of nutmeg (optional)

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is nicely browned. 

Remove from oven and sprinkle over top

2 Tablespoons dried parsley

Let stand for 5 minutes.

Serve with peas, or, if you’ve invited company, you can get fancy by serving it with glazed roasted carrots and sautéed garlic spinach.

Anna Sultana’s Colcannon and Irish Cream for St. Patrick’s Day

Back in January I posted two recipes for Shepherd’s Pie.

One recipe was a handy way to use leftovers.

There was also a hint for a vegetarian version.

But there’s nothing like an actual vegetable recipe to round out a meal.

Colcannon is a great Irish vegetable dish.

Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.

As are a serving of boxties or a slice or two of Irish Soda Bread.

And a glass of Irish Cream would hit the spot!

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made from mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage.

It means white-headed cabbage and is usually served with boiled ham or Irish bacon.

Just like the drinks Margarita and Piña Colada there’s a song for Colcannon:

Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.

Did you ever make a hole on top to hold the melting flake

Of the creamy, flavoured butter that your mother used to make?

Yes you did, so you did, so did he and so did I.

And the more I think about it sure the nearer I'm to cry.

Oh, wasn't it the happy days when troubles we had not,

And our mothers made Colcannon in the little skillet pot.

No, I don't know the tune.

Hints:

About the Colcannon…

An old Irish Halloween tradition is to serve it with a ring and a thimble, or small coins, hidden in the fluffy green-flecked dish. 

I don’t suppose the cops would come if you wanted to do this for St. Patrick’s Day.

But it might be a good idea to warn your guests before they tuck into their veggies.

If you have leftover shredded cabbage: 

heat a knob of butter and cook the cabbage for 5 minutes.

It should still be just a little crunchy.

About the Irish Cream…

Some people use coconut extract instead of the almond extract.

                        Colcannon

Mince

3 green onions

Peel and quarter

2 pounds russet potatoes 

Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. 

While the potatoes are boiling, shred

kale or cabbage 

Shred enough to make 3 - 4 Cups. 

Blanch in boiling salted water for 2 - 3 minutes.

Drain and set aside. 

In a small pot melt

1/4 Cup butter or margarine 

Drain the potatoes and mash them in the same pot they were boiled in. 

Beat in

2/3 - 3/4 Cup light cream or milk 

Add enough to make them smooth.

Don’t forget you’ll also be adding butter, so don’t make the potatoes too thin.

Place the pan over low heat.

Stir in the blanched kale or cabbage, the melted butter and the minced onion.

Beat together until well blended. 

Taste for seasoning and add salt and / or pepper if desired.

Serve hot.

Spoon out a portion and make a small indentation on top.

Add a pat of butter or margarine in the well.

Don’t mash it in, but dip a forkful of the potatoes into the melted butter.

                        Irish Cream

Place in a blender

1 cup heavy cream 

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 

1 2/3 Cups Irish whiskey 

2 teaspoons instant coffee granules 

2 Tablespoons chocolate syrup 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1 teaspoon almond extract 

Blend for 20 to 30 seconds.

Pour into a jar that has a tight lid. 

Store in the refrigerator for 8 hours. 

Shake well before serving.

Serve over cracked ice.

Add

a dollop of whipped cream (optional)

Serve with a nice Irish toast:

May you always have 

Walls for the winds, 

A roof for the rain, 

Tea beside the fire, 

Laughter to cheer you, 

Those you love near you,

And all your heart might desire! 

Celebrate St. Patrick! by Margaret Ullrich - Irish Coffee Recipe and Irish Fix Recipe

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Whatever your religious background,

Spring is returning.

And that in itself is a reason to celebrate!

I got a request for an Irish Coffee recipe.

Irish coffee actually has a bit of history. 

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Stanton Delaplane was served one during a stop at Ireland’s Shannon Airport bar in 1952.

Bartender Joe Sheridan, from the port city of Foynes, Ireland, had created the coffee drink during World War II to greet weary Yankee travellers arriving by seaplane in the wee hours of the morning. 

Irish people drank whiskey in tea, but Sheridan knew the Americans preferred coffee.

A smart businessman, Sheridan knew the customer was always right.

When Delaplane returned to San Francisco, he passed the recipe on to barman Jack Koeppler at the Buena Vista Cafe.

The rest of America soon learned of this drink.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.

Hints:

Use high-quality, freshly ground and brewed beans.

Always whip your heavy cream without sugar right before serving.

Sheridan’s recipe went as follows: 

Cream – rich as an Irish brogue

Coffee – strong as a friendly hand

Sugar – sweet as the tongue of a rogue

Irish whiskey – smooth as the wit of the land

Here’s a recipe, with some measurements, for two:

                        Irish Coffee

Place in a small saucepan

12 ounces brewed coffee

4 teaspoons sugar

Stirring occasionally, set over low heat until the mixture is hot but not boiling.

Pour 6 ounces hot coffee into each of two 8-ounce heatproof glasses or mugs.

Add to each serving

1 1⁄2 ounces Irish whiskey

Top with a collar of whipped cream by pouring gently over a spoon.

Garnish with mint leaves (optional)

Enjoy it while piping hot.

Variations:

Italian coffee: Substitute amaretto for the whiskey.

Jamaican coffee: Substitute dark rum for the whiskey.

Mexican coffee: Substitute Kahlúa for the whiskey.

Not a big fan of coffee?

No problem.

Have an Irish Fix or an Irish Cobbler.

Fixes and Cobblers were once wine-based drinks shaken with ice. 

Now they include spirits and mixers served over crushed or cracked ice. 

A Fix is 8 ounces, and a Cobbler is 12 ounces.

A cobbler is also a very nice fruit dessert.

It's not particularly Irish.

But it could make a good dessert for your St. Patrick's dinner.
And you could serve it with some Irish coffee.

                        Irish Fix

Place in a chilled highball glass

1 teaspoon simple sugar syrup

2 ounces Irish whiskey

1/2 ounce lemon juice

Fill with cracked ice and stir well. 

Garnish with

1 thin lime slice

1 thin orange slice 

Float on top

2 teaspoons Irish Mist (a honey liqueur)

About Friday’s new moon in Pisces…

According to the folks at astrology.com:

This intense week culminates with a total solar eclipse and full Moon on March 20, the same day as the Vernal Equinox. 

Something may be reaching its end, but a bold, beautiful, and brilliant new beginning is well within reach! 

Plant those seeds now, and don't be afraid to put down roots this time.

Links for St. Patrick / St. Joseph / Easter / Mother's Day recipes

The holidays are the times for traditional recipes.

And it doesn't hurt to try something new.

Here's a collection of some old favourites.

And, hopefully, something that will become a new favourite.

Happy Holidays!!!

NY Daily News' Irish Soda Bread

Potato and Cabbage Casserole for St. Patrick's Day

Carmela Soprano's Potato Pie

Irish Cakes / Boxties

Irish Coffee Recipe and Irish Fix Recipe

****
Anna Sultana’s Simnel Cake / Mother’s Day Cake / Easter Cake

Anna Sultana's Hot Cross Buns

Anna Sultana's Zeppoli ta' san Guzepp 

       - Fried choux pastry with sweet ricotta filling 

Carmela Soprano's St. Joseph Zeppole 

Carmela Soprano's Sfingi (St. Joseph's Day Zeppole)

Cream Puffs - Baked Sfingi / Zfineg ta San Guzepp 

****
Carmela Soprano's Cassata
   - Iced Sponge Cake with Ricotta Filling l Palm Sunday Customs

Carmela Soprano's Pizza Rustica recipe / Pizza Gaina 

     - Italian Easter Pie with Ricotta and Meat

A Healthy Pizza Rustica (Ricotta Pie, Maltese Style)

Carmela Soprano's Italian Easter Sweet Bread

Carmela Soprano's La Pastiera - Easter Ricotta Pie, Italian Style

Anna Sultana's Pane di Pasqua all 'Uovo / Italian Easter Sweet Bread

Anna Sultana's Figolli recipe 

- Traditional Maltese Easter Sweet with Royal Icing and Almond Filling

Saffron Paska (Saffron Easter Bread)

Anna Sultana’s Irish Cakes / Boxties

About a week ago I posted the recipe for 

Ma’s Welsh Cakes.

Well, time goes by.

Goodbye, St. David… Hello, St. Patrick.

And wouldn’t you know there’s a recipe called Irish Cakes.

Irish Cakes, known as Boxties, were created in the mid-nineteenth century.

At that time Ireland was being hit by the Great Famine, between 1845 and 1852.

The famine was caused by a mildew that attacked potato crops.

The poor potato crop led to the great migration of Irish to North America.

Yes, it’s always about food.

Irish Cakes were seen as peasant food.

Boxty comes from the Irish aran bocht tí (poorhouse bread).

Irish Cakes became so popular that there was a rhyme written in their honour:

Boxty on the griddle,
Boxty in the pan,
If you can’t bake boxty,
Sure you’ll never get a man.

Boxty on the griddle,
Boxty in the pan,
The wee one in the middle,
Is the one for Mary Anne.

Boxty on the griddle,
Boxty in the pan,
If you don’t eat boxty,
Sure you’ll never get a man.

Hints:

Add a pinch of pepper, garlic or other spices - whatever you wish.

You can grease the skillet with either butter or oil.

For breakfast you can butter each boxty and serve hot with or without sugar.

You can also serve crisp bacon with them and drizzle maple syrup over the boxty.

Having company?

Try topping them with smoked salmon and crème fraîche for a fun twist on blini.

You can use boxty like a pizza base with tomato and cheese.

Or serve them with wilted spinach and a poached egg.

You can also serve a boxty as a wrap for fajitas. 

Irish Cakes also freeze well.

There are also other variations: boiling the patty like a potato dumpling (sometimes called hurleys) or baking it like a loaf.

If you’d like to make more of a meal, you might also cook

• Irish soda bread
• Potato and Cabbage Casserole

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

                        Irish Cakes

Makes 10 boxties

  

Peel 

1 pound potatoes

Quarter half of the peeled potatoes and place them in a medium pot.

Cover with water and add

1 teaspoon salt 

Cook until tender.

Drain all of the water from the potatoes and mash them.

Do not add water or any liquids.

WHILE THE POTATOES ARE BOILING: 

Grate the remaining half of the potatoes into a large bowl.

Toss the grated potatoes with 

1 1/2 Cups flour 

Stir in the mashed potatoes.

Add 

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine 

1 large egg, beaten

1 1/4 Cups buttermilk

Add to the potato mixture.

Mix well for 2 to 3 minutes.

Lightly grease a griddle or frying pan and heat over medium heat. 

Pour ladlefuls of the batter into the pan.

Spread them out into circles, forming pancakes about 1/2 inch thick.

When the first side is golden brown, flip them with a spatula to cook the other side.

Remove the cooked boxties and repeat with the remaining batter.

Serve hot with butter and honey. 

Snow, St. Patrick’s Day, Soda Bread and Stuff by Margaret Ullrich

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

With the winter we’ve been through, it doesn’t look like it’s really his feast day.

The windrows of snow in the back lanes are about a meter high.

For sure they don’t remind me of the type of weather we had for St. Patrick’s Day when my sister was being born in 1955.

Yes, I really thought my sister came from Ireland.

The 50s were a simpler time.

College Point was settled by Germans and Irish people.

During those days traditional recipes were shared.

At the very least, everyone there ate a slice of Irish Soda Bread on March 17.

Back to St. Patrick…

In 432, he used the shamrock to explain the Trinity to the Irish people.

But the celebrations in his honour don’t stop at the Irish border.

Montreal, whose flag has a shamrock, stages a huge Saint Patrick's Day parade.

In Manitoba, the Irish Association of Manitoba runs a festival of music and culture.

Yes, enjoying a slice of Irish Soda Bread is the very least one can do.

Tonight’s full moon is called a Lenten Moon by some.

Especially when, as in this year, Lent has already started.

Lent gives us forty days to do a bit of fasting and penance.

And to do Spring cleaning to get ready for Easter.

Maybe it was inspired by the ancient Roman celebration Lupercalia.

If you didn’t have time to celebrate Lupercalia last month, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do a Feng Shui thing after you’ve done your Spring cleaning:

Light a sandalwood or frankincense incense stick.

Beginning at the front door, walk the main floor in a clockwise direction. 

Let the smoke clear the spaces of stagnant energies. 

Don’t forget corners, closets and rooms with little foot traffic. 

Return to the front door, sit and let the incense burn out. 

It's important to intend a cleanse, not just to be a walking air wick. 

Even if you did do it last month, it wouldn't hurt to do it again.

Paul and I have been tossing more stuff.

Guess we still have a touch of that feng shui fever.

With any luck we should roll out another cart - or two - for recycling before Easter.

About tonight’s full moon in Virgo…

It’s also called a Full Worm Moon or a "Sap Moon", but it’s too cold for that here.

According to the folks at astrology.com:
Are you content? Full Moons highlight your emotional connections with others, as well as your own personal feelings of well-being. 

Since Virgo represents your day-to-day work, and routines, the way in which you approach this important area of your life is extra-important now. 

Are you organized? 

Or do you find yourself trying to catch up on all the things you need to do? 

As you think about how you handle your daily life, make a plan to take better care of yourself… use this time to implement a sensible plan to make yourself more emotionally content.

Time to get organized… to become more content...

and to make some Sfingi to enjoy on St. Joseph’s Day on March 19.