Happy St. Patrick's Day...

There is a haunting beauty in all of Ireland—in its windswept cliffs and its rock-strewn shores…in a rose that still blooms by a cottage door, abandoned long ago…in a lonely churchyard, shrouded in the morning mists, its tombstones   tilting over moss-covered graves…in sad and solemn castle ruins, where placid sheep now graze…

 You will see beauty in the lined faces of Her old…you will hear it in the lilting music of their voices…

The beauty of Ireland will creep beneath your skin and into your very bones.  It will warm your heart while you are there, and tug at your heartstrings when you are away…

My heart shall always yearn for Ireland.






           Lake Isle of Innisfree

I will arise and go now, and go to Innesfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made,:
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

          -W. B. Yeats

                                                        Happy St. Patrick's Day...

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Traditional Corned Beef And Cabbage--Slow Cooker Recipe:

Ingredients 

Original recipe makes 8 servings Change Servings

• 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick pieces
• 10 baby red potatoes, quartered
• 1 onion, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 4 cups water

• 1 (4 pound) corned beef brisket with spice packet
• 6 ounces beer
• 1/2 head cabbage, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Place the carrots, potatoes, and onion into the bottom of a slow cooker, pour in the water, and place the brisket on top of the vegetables. Pour the beer over the brisket. Sprinkle on the spices from the packet, cover, and set the cooker on High.
2. Cook the brisket for about 8 hours. An hour before serving, stir in the cabbage and cook for 1 more hour.

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Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Original recipe makes 1 1 1/2 pound loaf

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup buttermilk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.
3. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.