Yummy Wednesday - St. Patty's Day!

A few Irish blessings and a yummy Irish recipe to celebrate St. Patty's Day!  Be sure to wear green - and have a wonderful day!

"As you slide down the bannister of life,

May the splinters never point the wrong way!"

"May your heart be warm and happy

With the lilt of Irish laughter

Every day in every way

And forever and ever after."

"May there always be work for your hands to do,

May your purse always hold a coin or two.

May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you,

And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."

Irish Bacon and Cabbage with Mustard Sauce
From "Cooking Light" Magazine - "This dish is more authentic than the ubiquitous corned beef and cabbage... and leaner, too!"  (I don't have pictures yet...  We were having so much fun with our Irish Dinner last weekend, I forgot to take pictures of the main dish!  But let me tell you...  No more plain, tasteless Irish food!  This was yummy!  I'll add pictures the next time we make this - promise!)

You'll need:
2 lbs Irish boiling bacon (such as Tommy Moloney's)
14 cups water, divided
12 oz small red potatoes
4 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 (3 lb) cabbage, trimmed, cored, and quartered
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2/3 cup dry white wine
2 tsp whole-grain Dijon mustard
1 1/4 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp salt

To Make:
1.  Place bacon in a large Dutch oven; cover with 8 cups water.  Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 2 hours, skimming foam from liquid as necesary.
2.  Remove bacon from pan; cover and keep warm.  Remove 1 1/4 cups cooking liquid from pan; reserve cooking liquid for mustard sauce.  Discard the remaining cooking liquid.
3.  Add red potatoes, carrots, and cabbage to pan; cover with the remaining 6 cups water.  Bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender; drain.  Cut each cabbage quarter in half lengthwise.
4.  Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add onion and garlic; cook three minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.  Stir in wine and mustard; cook 2 minutes.  Add reserved 1 1/4 cups bacon cooking liquid and milk.  Bring to a boil; cook 20 minutes or until reduced to 2 cups, stirring frequently.  Stir in black pepper and salt.  Cut bacon into 8 slices; serve with sauce and vegetables. 

Makes 8 servings.

Enjoy!

"May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand."

"May the Lord keep you in His hand

And never close His fist too tight."

Things I am thankful for today:

1.  St. Patty's Day!

2.  The hubby wore his "World's Cutest Leprechaun" pin to work today.  Too funny!

3.  A nice gift of a book of poetry.

4.  The guy in a kilt at Best Buy, humming Gaelic Storm songs.

5.  Sunny and 60 degrees!

6.  An open moon-roof.

7.  Getting everything done at work before our trip - nothing to worry about!

8.  Talking with my sister, Emily, today!

9.  Dinner at the church - with more birthday cake!

10.  Going with church friends to give our church neighbor's "Green" St. Patty's Day gifts (CFL light bulbs)!  Ha ha ha - a fun way to meet the neighbors!