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Although Nova Scotia's Irish are not as numerous
or wide-spread as the Scots, they have nonetheless made their
mark on the province. Here is a wee collection of favourite Irish
recipes for you to enjoy!
Irish Stew
INGREDIENTS
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* freshly ground black pepper to taste
* 1 large onion, sliced
* 2 carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
* 1 parsnip, peeled and cut into large chunks (optional)
* 4 cups water, or as needed
* 3 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
* 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary (optional)
* 1 cup coarsely chopped leeks
* chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oil over medium heat in a large stockpot or Dutch oven.
Add lamb pieces and cook, stirring gently, until evenly browned.
Season with salt and pepper.
2. Add the onion, carrots, and parsnips and cook gently alongside
the meat for a few minutes. Stir in the water. Cover and bring
to a boil before turning the heat down to low. Simmer for 1 hour
or longer, depending on the cut of meat you used and if it is
tender yet.
3. Stir in potatoes, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, before adding
leeks and rosemary. Continue to simmer uncovered, until potatoes
are tender but still whole. Serve piping hot in bowls garnished
with fresh parsley. Serve hot with Irish Bannock!
Irish Bannock
INGREDIENTS
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 tablespoons white sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 1 cup buttermilk
* 1/2 cup dried currants
DIRECTIONS
1. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Cut butter into flour mixture with pastry cutter. Add buttermilk
until dough is soft. Stir in currants.
2. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 5
minutes, or until smooth. Form dough into a 7 inch round. Place
on a lightly oiled cake pan or cookie sheet. Cut 1/2 inch deep
cross side to side. Score with cross 1/2 inch deep on the top.
3. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oven for
40 minutes.
Irish Soda Bread (Rated 5 Stars!)
INGREDIENTS
* 4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 eggs
* 1 pint sour cream
* 1 cup raisins
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease two
8x4 inch loaf pans.
2. Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Add the eggs, sour cream and raisins and mix until just combined.
Distribute batter evenly between the two pans.
3. Bake loaves at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 1 hour.
Shamrock Milk Shake
First made famous by MacDonald's Restaurant, Shamrock Milk Shakes
have entered our Irish cuisine repertoire. Here's how they do
it (copycat recipe!)
* 1 cup vanilla ice cream, slightly thawed
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1/8 tsp. mint extract or flavoring
* 4 to 5 drops green food coloring
Preparation
Pour all the ingredients into a blender and blend at a medium
speed for about 30 to 40 seconds or to the consistency of a milk
shake.
Green Eggs and Ham (for the wee ones)
While it might not be Irish, Dr. Suess's "Green Eggs and
Ham" breakfast will be a St. Patrick's Day highlight for
the little ones. Here's how!
Ingredients
1-2 tablespoons of butter or margarine
4 slices of ham
8 eggs
2 tablespoons of milk
1-2 drops of green food coloring
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
What You'll Need
Knife, medium-size mixing bowl, wire whisk or eggbeater, large
frying pan, spatula, aluminum foil, serving plates
1. With an adult's help, melt a teaspoon of butter in a large
frying pan over medium heat. Add sliced ham and brown until edges
are slightly crisp. Remove the ham from the pan, cover with aluminum
foil, and set aside.
2. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, salt,
and pepper. Beat with a whisk until frothy. Then add 1-2 drops
of green food coloring until you reach the desired shade of green.
3. With an adult's help, heat a tablespoon of butter or margarine
in a large frying pan over medium heat until the butter begins
to sizzle. Then add the egg mixture to the pan.
4. Stir the egg mixture with a spatula until the eggs are firm
and not too runny.
5. Transfer the eggs to individual plates. Garnish with a sprig
of parsley. Add the ham prepared earlier. Serve with toast or
warm rolls.
Feeds 4 hungry green-egg lovers.
Dublin Lawyer
Lobster and whiskey? Why not? Here's an old Irish recipe for special
occasions that will sing out the praises of Nova Scotian lobster.
1 freshly boiled lobster, about 2 lb
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup Irish whiskey
1/2 cup whipping cream
salt and pepper
(serves two)
Toss the lobster meat in foaming butter over a medium heat for
a few minutes until cooked. Take care that the butter does not
burn. Add the whiskey and when it has heated up set light to it.
Pour in the cream, heat through and season.
Serve in the half shells with plainly boiled fine beans.
Slainte - Green Beer
While we're at it, we might as well include "Slainte"
the traditional St. Paddy's Day Green Beer! Although Guinness
Stout is a national favourite, for this recipe, you'll need a
light lager or amber coloured beer. Here's how:
Ingredients
* 16 ounces golden irish lager beer
* 3-6 drops green food coloring
Directions
In a chilled pint size glass pour beer add food coloring and mix
inches Enjoy!
Don't forget to toast to everyone's 'good health' by saying "Slàinte!"
(pronounced "slawn-cha") as you throw back a pint or
two!
More Irish Links:
The Irish Association of Nova Scotia
Murphy's
Camping on the Ocean
Gentle as Snow on a
Rooftop - Untold Story of Nova Scotia's Irish Settlers
"The
Most Fun You Can Have on Two Feet" - Irish Set Dancing in
N.S.
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