In A Food Mood: St Patty's Day

In honor of Curt's Irish heritage, I try to somehow mark the St Patrick's Day holiday. It falls on Thursday so you've got time to plan if you'd like to make a special meal. This year I am planning to make Irish stew, Irish soda bread, and an Irish Apple Cake. I also plan to make green Kool Aid, not because that's Irish but because the kids will like it. Hmmm I just might serve it in "fancy" glasses.

In the next day or so I will head to the grocery store and pick up what I'll need to make our meal. Even with the lesser holidays, I have found that it's all about establishing a tradition and then sticking to it. It might take a little extra effort on our parts as moms, but it's worth it when we see the smiles on the little one's faces, or hear the big ones shyly ask, "Umm are you making what you always make?" and knowing it's because they might not want to admit it, but they are looking forward to the tradition too.

Irish Apple Cake

4 Tbsp. butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

4 Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled, and diced (2 cups)

1/4 cup walnuts chopped

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1 cup all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350. Generously grease an 8 inch square cake pan.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, apples, nuts and vanilla and stir well. Sift in the dry ingredients and mix well. (Batter will be thick). Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until the cake is lightly browned and a cake tester comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream on top.

Irish Stew

3 pounds beef stew meat

5 cups peeled and chopped potatoes (about 3 large)

2 cans stewed tomatoes (14.5 oz.)

4 cloves minced garlic

1 large onion, chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

In large Dutch oven, combine meat and water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Add potatoes, tomatoes, garlic and onions. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 2.5 hours, or until meat is tender. Stir in salt and pepper.

This is not a dish you can skimp on time with. If you don't start it early enough the meat will be tough and the stew will not be good. So keep that in mind when planning.

Irish Raisin Bread

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup sugar

1 stick butter

2 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup raisins

In a large bowl cut butter in pieces and mix with flour. Add other dry ingredients and set aside. In a separate bowl, beat two eggs and buttermilk. Add to dry ingredients and stir well. Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 for one hour.