A hearty slainte to St. Patrick’s Day

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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 out in full force, after being dimmed during the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Chicago has once again dyed its river green in celebration of this special day.

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Don’t forget to don some green for good luck, quaff a traditional Guinness for prosperity, or order up McDonald’s famous Shamrock Shake to enjoy, nosh on a plate of delicious Irish fare and sit back and celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, whose festivities are commemorated worldwide.

St. Patrick’s Day is akin to Ireland’s own Mardi Gras – taking a pause before Easter to pay homage to a saint who lived and died hundreds of years ago. Research shows 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 Catholic Church’s Holy Trinity to the converts.

There’s also that bit about him driving all the snakes off the island, even though snakes were not indigenous to the area. A little-known legend about the saint is he raised the dead on several occasions. His impact on Ireland, and to the world at large is, quite simply profound, and is why he is celebrated every March 17.

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The reality is 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 to you!

FOOD:

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

“Ireland’s culinary tradition has been evolving since prehistoric times,” notes the Irish Traditional Cooking cookbook (Kyle Cathie Ltd.). “Irish food 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, colcannon  (a delightful, savoury potato dish) and corned beef and cabbage. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with a Guinness-inspired chocolate layer cake.

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WHY GREEN BEER?

This is a tough one, but green beer seems to be a staple of St. Patrick’s Day – even though many Irish beer purists are aghast at the very idea of quaffing a green one. Research shows green beer isn’t Irish at all, and was first introduced back in the early 1900s, at a special St. Patrick’s Day dinner, hosted by one Dr. Thomas Hayes Curtin from the Bronx. According to www.smithsonianmag.com, the good doctor used a tad poisonous iron-based laundry whitener referred to as “wash blue” to tint the beer green. It was a big hit, of course.

TOP ST. PATRICK’S DAY COCKTAILS:

According to Cocktail.com, the top five St. Patrick’s Day cocktails are a surprising lineup this year, as per for the company’s worldwide network of bartenders. “This Irish holiday’s flavours may be moving in a new direction,” noted company officials in a recent email release – with these cocktails representing “a…break from St. Patrick’s Day classics.” They include:

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– Irish Coffee: “top of the list, as always. The creamy, slightly peaty coffee beverage has been a classic –   almost as long as the holiday has been around.”

– Irish Grasshopper:” It’s a more dessert-like cocktail than the Irish Coffee, relying more on cream liqueur and creme de cacao––a popular substitute for those who don’t fancy coffee cocktails.”

– Irish Maid: “It’s a classic Irish cocktail,(but) giving  rise to similar, fruity, refreshing green beverages, that still uses Irish whiskey but moves into this  refresher territory with elderflower liqueur and lemon juice.”

– Eye of the Hurricane: “is the epitome of this trend-setting. It’s a mixture of white rum, bitter lemon and passion fruit.”

– Shamrock Punch: “is the fruitiest of all the St. Patrick’s Day drinks here. It’s on the rise too, but has somewhat of a fan base. This is definitely another drink to keep a lookout for.”

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– Check out www.cocktail.com for more beverage-inspired ideas!

NOT A SHAMROCK SHAKE

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

3 Tbsp. (45mL) favourite Irish whiskey

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

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

8 fresh basil leaves

2 1/2 Tbsp. (40 mL) sparkling white wine

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

IRISH PAN HAGGERTY

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This rich and delicious dish is described as great Irish comfort food. Popular as a main or side dish. Recipe courtesy www.foodlandontario.ca. Serves 6-8.

5 slices bacon, diced

2 cups thinly sliced onion

2 large cloves garlic, minced

2 lbs. white potatoes, thinly sliced (not peeled)

Salt and pepper

1-1/2 cup shredded aged Cheddar cheese

1-1/4 cup (300 mL) chicken or vegetable broth

2 tbsp (25 mL) thinly sliced fresh chives

In 12-inch cast iron or oven-proof skillet, over medium-high heat, cook bacon until crispy. Remove to medium bowl. Add onion to skillet; cook for 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 layer of potatoes in bottom of skillet. Top with half of bacon mixture;  season with salt and pepper. Add another layer of potatoes; sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cheese. Add another layer of potatoes, remaining bacon mixture and season with salt and pepper. Add final layer of potatoes. Pour in broth. Cover tightly with foil wrap or lid. Cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft when tested with knife.

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