Irish Soda Bread -- It Doesn't Get Easier Than This

Do you want easy?  My Tuesdays with Dorie group decided to make the (appropriately timed) Irish Soda Bread this week--and frankly, for bread, it doesn't get much easier than this recipe.  Seriously--I've been making a different, but also easy--recipe for years.  This is even easier.  Four ingredients.  One bowl.  A bit of stirring and half a minute of kneading/shaping.  Wow.  Busy moms take note--this might just become the new favorite after-school snack.

Irish Scones

Irish soda bread is the usual accompaniment to a traditional St. Patrick's Day Feast.  We've served it for years.  Last year, though, I ran across a recipe for Irish scones, and I was hooked.  Irish scones are rather like buttermilk biscuits--only with eggs inside the batter and a bit of sugar on top.  They are best served warm, but they are also great cold the next day, so I always make a double batch.  They retain their moisture much better than biscuits, and the bit of sugar on top is a nice touch, especially for a holiday dinner.

Kale with Bacon

I started making kale with bacon years ago as substitute for the "cabbage" part of the traditional  corned beef & cabbage that was served when I was a child on St. Patrick's Day.  Seriously-- who wants a side of wilted cabbage when you can have kale?  Isn't that a lovely shade of green?  Frankly, though, the picture doesn't do it justice--perfectly cooked kale is almost vibrant.  Kale wilts a bit when cooked, but it still stays fairly firm--firm enough that you can top it with the bacon.  It also tastes terrific and is absolutely loaded with nutrients.   Kale with bacon is the perfect side dish for Irish spiced beef on St. Patrick's Day. I found the recipe in an Irish cookbook at our local library when I was a newlywed and have tweaked it several times since until you see what you have before you.

Irish Spiced Beef

I love celebrating holidays.  They are a deviation from the ordinary--a chance to do things that you never get to do other days of the year.  There are decorations, stories, music, and of course... food.  I grew up hating St. Patrick's Day when I was a kid, however, because what was served at my home was very salty meat with mushy cabbage.  (Sorry, Mom, but it's true.)  My mother was a fabulous cook, but that combination of food was terrible.  So when I got old enough to be on my own, I sought out recipes for other Irish favorites that could replace corned beef and cabbage, yet still celebrate the spirit of my Irish ancestors.

Grasshopper Pie -- A Pi Day & St. Patrick's Day Classic

When I was six, my family moved to Idaho for a year while my father taught economics at Idaho State.   When you are a child and missing your old home and friends, it seems like your new town has very little to offer.  One thing, however, that Pocatello had, was an abundance of grasshoppers.  My older sister and I would capture them by the quart jar full and bring them to my mother.  Then we'd tease her that she should  make grasshopper pie with them. 

Making grasshopper pie on Pi Day almost seems like a cheat after rolling out pastry for pumpkin, pecan, apple, or berry pies.  Paired with a chocolate crust (which I almost always just purchase at the store), the mint filling is spring-like.  It's the perfect compliment to a St. Patrick's Day feast, too.  The best part--you can make it ahead of time, pop it in the freezer, and forget about it until the day of your event.