Irish Grub from
Shenanchie:
It’s nearing that time of year when
all things Irish start coming out of the woodwork because of the
looming occurrence of St. Patrick’s Day (17 March). Over the
years I’ve amassed quite a collection of Irish recipes, some of
which are my own, a few from readers and various others that I
prepare as is or make adjustments to.
A few years ago I contributed regular "food
and culture" articles to the web site
Shenanchie's Kitchen.
Amongst the two dozen pieces were two accounts - my versions if
you will - of Ireland as a whole and the story of its patron
saint, Patrick.
Both included bits about everything
Irish: history, traditions, common foods, tea, cheese, stout and
whiskey, the potato (naturally); legends and folklore, words and
phrases and a selection of resources for further study.
Back than, as now,
I wanted a fresh outlook on Irish food and bits of the culture -
not just another typical piece about the "quaint Irish folk."
Being half-Irish myself, I have always been a bit passionate
about the people and the country.
I’ve updated the articles here and there,
blended them together, and renamed the whole lot as one: "Bia
Éire" (Irish Food).
There is also the addition of
several new Irish recipes, some
of which are
my own, a few from readers and various others I prepare as is
or make adjustments to.
To me, the Irish
have always represented a rather mysterious and unpredictable
race. They are friendly, talkative, humorous and compassionate;
yet at the same time they can be secretive, introspective,
morose and distant. The brilliant writers that have come from
Ireland attest to that personal statement: George Bernard Shaw,
Brendan Behan, William Butler Yeats, Oscar Wilde, Seamus Heaney, James Joyce,
Liam O'Flaherty
and Samuel Beckett. How could such authors write as they did and
not possess streaks of dichotomy in their personalities?
If you are reading
this article from Ireland, I apologize in advance for any
glaring errors you may find. However, I have stayed true to all
of the written history I was able to get my hands on. Much of
the information I already possessed from my own personal family history
as well.
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh (Happy St. Patrick’s Day to
you all)…
Next: History
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