St. Patrick's Day Celebration Meal

Pasta Senza Vino e come i cuore sanza amore

Pasta without wine is like a hearth without love

St. Patrick's Day in Canada

This event commemorates the life of St Patrick, a missionary who worked in Ireland and is said to have died on March 17 in the fifth century. He played an important role in converting the inhabitants of Ireland to Christianity.
What do people do?
In some cities, notably Toronto and Montreal, large scale St Patrick's Day parades are held, often on the Sunday closest to March 17. The parade in Montreal has been held every year since 1824. However, the first recorded celebration of St Patrick's Day was in 1759 by Irish soldiers serving with the British army following their conquest of part of New France, a French colony in North America.
People who have an Irish background or enjoy Irish culture may hold Irish themed parties and serve traditional dishes, such as Colcannon or Irish stew. Colcannon is a dish of mashed potatoes mixed with kale or cabbage and Irish stew is traditionally made with lamb and root vegetables. Traditional Irish drinks include stout, a dark beer, and whiskey.
St Patrick's Day is not a public holiday in Canada except (province of Newfoundland and Labrador). Schools, organizations, businesses, stores and post offices are open as usual. Some organizations may arrange St Patrick's Day parties, but these do not usually disrupt normal affairs. Public transport services run on their regular timetables. In cities, where parades or large public events are held, there may be some congestion or road closures.
SymbolsThe most widely-seen St Patrick's Day symbols are the colors green, and sometimes orange, and the shamrock. The shamrock is a symbol of Ireland and a registered trademark of the Republic of Ireland. It is the leaf of the clover plant, which grows on the ground, often among grass and an Irish Catholic symbol of the Holy Trinity. It is sometimes confused with the four-leaf clover, which is a variety of the three-leaf clover and is thought to bring good luck.

St. Patrick's Menu

Appetizer – Spinach Bacon Tartlets

Soup Irish Potato and Leek Soup

Main Coarse True Irish Lamb Stew

Dessert Old-Fashion Oatmeal Pie
 

Spinach Bacon Tartlets (2 ½ Dozen)

Ingredients

250 gr cream cheese

1 egg white

150 ml. chopped cooked spinach

50 ml. chopped green onions (whites only)

5 ml salt

2 ml. ground nutmeg

30 cooked tart shells (phyllo tart shells)

Bacon cooked and diced (could sub with turkey bacon)

Method

1. In a bowl beat the first six ingredients (cheese, egg, spinach, onions, salt and nutmeg)

2. Spoon filling into tart shells.

3. Place on an ungreased baking sheet.

4 Bake for 10 minutes at 190 C.

5. Sprinkle with bacon and bake for a few minutes longer or until lightly brown

6. Serve warm

Irish Potato and Leek Soup
(serves 4 to 6)

Ingredients

3 leeks, trimmed, washed, and chopped use only the white part)
3 baking potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
2 40 ml. olive oil
1 liter  chicken stock  (or vegetable stock)
200 ml. half-n-half
salt and pepper, to taste
Crisp bacon bits, shredded cheddar

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

2. Add the chopped leeks and sauté until softened, 5-7 minutes.

3. Add the potatoes and stock, and cover.

4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for about 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

5. Puree using a blender, or in a food processor.

6. Return to the pan, add the half-and-half, and slowly reheat.

7. Do not allow to boil once the half-and-half has been added.

8. Taste, and add salt and pepper as desired.

9. Garnish with Crisp bacon bits, shredded cheddar

Irish Lamb Stew (Serves 8 to 10)

Ingredients

750 gr thickly sliced bacon diced

2 kg. Cubed Lamb shoulder

3 ml. salt

3 ml. ground black pepper

125 ml. flour

3 cloves of minced garlic

125 ml vegetable stock

1 lt beef stock

30 ml. vinegar

750 ml. chopped carrots

2 large onions chopped

3 potatoes

5 ml. thyme

2 bay leaves

225 ml. white wine

Method

1. Place bacon in a skillet cook over medium heat until evenly browned

2. Drain, crumble and set aside.

3. Put Lamb, salt, pepper, and flour in a mixing bowl, toss to coat the meat evenly,

4. Brown the meat in a frying pan with bacon fat. Place meat into stock pot. Leave some bacon fat for frying

5 .Add garlic and sauté until golden brown, Deglaze the pan with 125 vegetable stock and add to the stock pot with bacon pieces, beef stock. Cover and simmer for about 1 ½ hours.

6 Add carrots onjiions, potatoes, thyme, bay leaves and wine to the pot.

7. Reduce heat and simmer covered for about 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender

Old-Fashion Oatmeal Pie

Ingredients (serves 6 to 8)
1 pie crusts
4 eggs
250 ml sugar
30 ml flour
5 ml. cinnamon
1 ml salt
225 ml corn syrup
75 ml melted butter
 drop vanilla

225 ml. quick cooking oats

Method

1.Preheat oven to 190 C.
2.Beat eggs until frothy.
3. Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl.
4. Add eggs, mix well.
5. Add corn syrup, melted butter, and vanilla.
6. Mix oatmeal.
7. Pour into uncooked shell.
8. Bake for 45 minutes.
9 Before serving sprinkle with icing sugar

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