Showing posts with label Colcannon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colcannon. Show all posts

Thursday, March 21, 2013

"Keep Calm and Get Your Irish On Party 2013"

Over the weekend that is exactly what we did! For the past couple of years, my friends and I celebrate all things Irish with one friend being the "Birthday Girl" around St. Patrick's Day. Also, it is a tradition I started many years ago to celebrate my husband's heritage as well. I armed myself with an Irish Cookbook _the one pictured _and learned how to make a traditional historical Irish Meal.

And added this book as well....

Now,there may be different dishes to feast on_But,the traditional Colcannon and Bacon are always on the Menu.This year it was Colcannon w/four different cheeses & Brussels sprouts instead of Kale,Lemon-Peppered Green Beans, a couple pounds of Nitrate-free Bacon,Herb cornbread muffins,Veggie Bowl(red,green,yellow peppers,tomatoes,celery & carrots)with a Heart of Palm Dip,Hummus Dip w/Pita chips,Castelvetrano whole green olives and a Cherry Lemonade...and WINE,WINE,WINE! Especially one called "Chicken Run Organic"...awesome! Dessert was East Texas Lemon TeaCakes & Fruit sorbet.While the Celtic music played _we were up to our usual antics_FUN! BTW_Heart of Palm Dip was a NEW dish for us,Delicious!

This was the settings:
2013_Keep Calm and Get Yo'Irish On"
                                                   Jilly P was the Birthday Girl



Here's a look at some of our other Irish Parties_take a look:

2009_Pam & Her Peeps Irish Party

We "Roasted " a friend as Ms.Artichoke,presented her w/ a handmade scepter and crown_because she made the same delicious Artichoke Hot Dip for EVERY party given!

Food:Potato,Bacon and Leek Pizza,Turkey Pepperoni,Swiss Chard Pizza,Green Goddess,Dip Artichoke Dip,etc....

2010_It's Hooley Time




                                         My Buds_Birthday girl in dark green blouse!

2011_Riggin'The Jig


Note: A couple of the regulars were out of town on this one_it's usually about 6 to 8 at any given time for Birthday and Christmas Parties.But we partied on.....

2012_Bacon Get Me Bodied



                                      We had a throw -down  on the food...MmmmGood!




                                      Love these Sister-Girls,they are my FRIENDS!!!!!!!!

So now the next party is my birthday party in May. Jill will Host again at her home. We're going Caribbean_yah mon,Jerk Chicken,Pigeon peas,Fried Frog Legs(not me!),Mambo & Limbo dancing,Reggae music,etc....Then,Christmas back at my home_we'll be doing "A Scandinavian Christmas 2013"_we are gonna be "Viking Women Goddess or Warriors" as in....
We always dress the part, enjoy the music ,food and decor from each country we visit! We've been to 10 countries so far...can't wait!!

Until next time....as in the movie_

"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"1989
Ted:Bill, I think they want us to say something.
Bill: What should I say?
Ted: [shrugs] Make something up.
Bill: Be excellent to each other.
[room murmurs appreciatively]
Ted: Party on, dudes!
 

                ~Party On, Party On~



       


Saturday, March 31, 2012

This & That In March 2012 !!

Well,March has come and gone!I really enjoyed this month...I got a chance to indulge in IRISH BACK BACON & COLCANNON,drink a new wine_Concannon Crimson & Clover plus several new wines at the PARTEE with my friends,celebrate my husband's heritage,checked some Irish-related movies out and learn a thing or two about the Irish Culture...and did I say...Spring Sprung in N.TX with "Thor-ish-style"storms_& our clocks spring forward!!!

Finally,I saw the movie "Ides Of March" with Clooney & Ryan Gosling.Now everyone knows about Clooney_since he's been around for awhile!But,this Ryan Gosling_a 31 yr.old "Canuck"meant in the most affectionate way_was awesome in this role.I had never experienced his acting before & but for my niece's total dedication of her life to loving only one man on earth to the depths of her soul forever!!!_Ryan was not on my radar! Her blog: http://www.britbritland.com/.

This handsome fellow has quite the background.Born in London,Ontario,Ryan's parents divorced when he was young.He and sister Mandi lived with their Mom;an experience that he says programmed him to "think like a girl".Ryan hated being a child,was bullied,had no friends until 14,in Grade 1 under the influence of the film "First Blood",he brought steak knives to school,throwing them at kids during recess,was suspended from school;diagnosed with ADHD,prescribed Ritalin,placed in a "Special Needs Class"_until his Mom decided to home school him for a year_which he says gave him a sense of autonomy he's never lost.Ryan performed early on with his sister,singing at weddings,with his Uncle in what was called an Elvis Presley Tribute Act,involved in Ballet,dropped out of high school to focus on acting career;became a Mouseketeer along with Justin Timberlake,Britney Spears & Christina Aguilera_JT's Mom became his Guardian,lived with them when his Mom returned to Canada."Notebook" movie was first mainstream acting role in 2004,has a band called "Dead Man's Bones",Co-owner of "Tagine" a Moroccan Restaurant where he did the renovation work & oversees Menu.Ryan has dated Sandra Bullock,Rachel McAdams,Olivia Wilde & Eva Mendes..& continues to be the ladies man,so take a number! Check out the movie!!

The other movie I saw was _a series that was cancelled on NBC in 2007(Season 1)_ "The Black Donnelly's".Since my husband's ancestry was the Donnelly Clan..I checked it out!The life of four brothers,Roman Catholic Irish American in NY's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...life in their "HOOD" kept me on the edge of my seat...good one..& I don't care so much for this genre of movies.

Another,"This &That"_finally got my OG Ireland Peat Facial & OG Foot Mask from London the other day:
http://sagebookwhisperer.blogspot.com/2012/03/black-facialsblack-irish-black-brown.html
So,my bff will join me one day soon to experience "This & That"_ Peat(peak) experience..ha!

Yet,another find this month_ended up as a surprise gift to my husband! I like the design so much,I'm probably getting the Dagger Version..those Celts knew how to be ready for a fight!Smoky Mountain Knife Works has great service.Check them out:
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/prodlist.jsp?Mode=Text&SearchText=celtic+knife&Search.x=6&Search.y=3

My husband and I have a great love of "historical and present day flags".As a matter of fact,we have many flags from all over that we fly from time to time on our front porch & on a Flag Pole in one of the pastures.The American Flag has a permanent spot.So image this find:
This is an awesome Irish Flag Flower arrangement...great centerpiece for the table! This National Flag of Ireland is represented as:
Orange=Irish Protestants +Green=Irish Catholic +Republican cause = WHITE(HOPE FOR PEACE)! Note the white is in the middle of the two....

Finally,I'm reminded of my This & That pining for _the Bells of Ireland Flowers! Occasionally,I'm able to find them at Central Market in Ft.Worth,Texas..but for the most part they are non-existence in this area.Seems they can be planted from seed_but knowing how Texas Summers_which is most of the year_kills any living thing_including people..I will NOT even try to grow them with this Green Thumb of mine.But,they are beautiful to look at! Despite their name, these flowers are actually native to areas Syria, Turkey and the Caucasus. They bloom up to 3 feet in height as dark green spires, from which apple-green calyxes blossom – which nearly cover up the small, delicate white or pink flowers.Here's a peek:

                                               Bells of Ireland_aka moluccella laevis

Bells of Ireland flowers are considered to be a very lucky symbol. Bunches of these flowers are frequently presented as gifts to those who are on their way to starting a new life or adventure; they are also given to those who are ill or expecting a new child,"The Luck Of the Irish",indeed!

There you have it,my This & That for the end of March...what fun we'll have in April,come on back y'all for a visit as the Sage Book Whisperer takes you on a mental journey.......

IRISH BLESSINGS:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand


                             ~Y'all come back now~


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Take a Hike in Honor of St.Patrick's Day or NOT!

Croagh Patrick  nicknamed The Reek is a 2,507 ft tall mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in  County Mayo,Republic of Ireland. It is situated above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey. Croagh  Patrick comes from the Irish word Cruach Phádraig meaning Saint Patrick's stack.

Croagh Patrick has been a site of pilgrimage, especially at the Summer Solstice, since before the arrival of Celtic Christianity.Saint Patrick reputedly fasted  on the summit of Croagh Patrick for forty days in the fifth century and built a church there.Popular legend says that at the end of Patrick's 40-day fast, he threw a silver bell down the side of the mountain, knocking the she-demon Corra from the sky and banishing all the snakes from Ireland.
                                          St.Patrick's Bed at The Summit
In modern times,a small chapel was built on the summit, and dedicated on 20 July 1905. During the pilgrimage on July 31,2005, a plaque commemorating the centenary of the building and dedication of the chapel was unveiled by Most Rev. Michael Neary,Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tuam.
                                   Church at The Summit
                                     View from Summit
                                        St.Patrick_Patron Saint of Ireland
So,you have a choice on this special day.......
take a slow hike in honor of St.Patrick to the Summit of Croagh Patrick, take a look at his bed,see the magnificent view at The Summit,take a moment of prayer like many pilgrims at the top and be thankful there are no snakes in Ireland.Join "Globe Trekker" Ian on his journey to the TOP:
The other option is to PARTEEEEEEEE! Think I'll open my BOTTLES of :
                                                        Concannon Crimson & Clover +
                                                 A big serving of Colcannon+

                            A couple slices of Tommy Moloney's Irish Back Bacon +
A wee bit of Irish Music,Friends,etc....and get my Parteeee on! Either way_ya'll be careful out there...

~IRISH HUMOR~
Alcoholic Insect
Three men walk into a bar: a Frenchman, an Italian and an Irishman. Each orders one beer. Three flys fly into the bar and one fly lands in each man's beer.

The Italian man plucks the fly out of his beer, says "tutto e bene" (all is well)" and drinks the beer.
The Frenchman shows his beer with the bug still inside it to the bartender and demands another beer.
The Irishman yanks the bug out of the beer, grabs it by it's wings, shakes it while yelling

"Cough it up, you wee theivin' bastard!"

                    ~ Take a Hike or Not~