St. Patrick's Day and Irish Stew

Some fun facts about St. Patrick’s Day and a recipe for Irish Stew

When: March 17th.

Saint Patrick's day is in honor of the Patron Saint of Ireland, who brought Christianity to the Emerald Isles, as Ireland is known. It is truly a day of celebrating Irish history, ancestry, traditions and customs.

Are you Irish perchance? Well, the saying goes everyone is a little Irish on Saint Patrick's Day.

Roots of Tradition: Saint Patrick's Day is held in honor of Saint Patrick, the missionary who brought Christianity to the Irish people in the 400's AD.

Erin Go Braugh is perhaps the most common Irish term you will hear. It means "Ireland Forever"

Did You Know? Over 34 million Americans are of Irish descent. That's almost nine times the population of Ireland!

Favorite Sayings:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the rain fall softly upon your fields. And the sun shine warm upon your face.
Top of the mornin' to you.....(and the rest of the day to 'me self!)
May there always be work for you to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
This Author's favorite:
May the wind at your back not be from the cabbage and corned beef that you eat today!
Everyone's at least a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day. (how true, how true). 

Traditional Irish Stew Recipe

Yield: 4 servings

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Irish Stew Ingredients:

• 2 pounds lamb shoulder, cubed
• 8 medium potatoes, sliced, unpeeled
• 3 onions, sliced
• 2 carrots, peeled, sliced into wheels
• 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped, thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 2 cups water
• Salt and pepper, to taste

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How to make Traditional Irish Stew:

1. Trim excess fat from meat. Then, cut meat into cubes.
2. Put sliced potatoes, onions, carrots and celery into a large stew pot.
3. Add cubed meat.
4. Add parsley, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
5. Add water to pot.
6. Cover the pot and bring contents to a boil.
7. Reduce heat to simmer.
8. Stir occasionally.
9. Simmer stew until meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
10. Add a little water to keep the broth level up.
11. Remove from heat and serve hot.

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