A Menu for St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Don't forget to wear green today (or orange!).  Here's a playful menu for you to try out this St. Patrick's Day, or maybe this weekend if you can't get around to it today.

My good friends Kelly and Kate live in Dublin and we had the joy of visiting them last summer.  What a blast!  In their honor, I feel it necessary to state that I make no promises that this is an authentic Irish meal.  But it tastes good!  Enjoy!

Beef Barley Stew
(Lamb is more authentic, if you want to try it instead)
Serves 4-6

1 lb. beef stew meat
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup flour
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 cups button mushrooms, whole
1/3 cup medium pearl barley
1 (14.5 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1 cup water
1 cup red wine (or beef broth)
1 cup beef broth
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, optional

Salt the stew meat.  Toss it with flour. (Using a zip-top bag here helps.)  In a skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Cook stew meat until browned on all surfaces, but not cooked through.

In a slow cooker, place vegetables.  Add stew meat.  Add barley.  In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients except for vinegar.  Pour into the slow cooker.  Cook on low for 8-9 hours (or on high for about 4 hours). Stir in vinegar just before serving, if desired.


Irish Soda Bread
(This one isn't traditional, but it's so good!  Serve it with green-tinted honey butter.)

3 cups flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and baking soda.  In a small bowl, combine egg and buttermilk.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.  Add the wet ingredients and stir gently to combine.  (Don't over-mix.)  Stir in melted butter. Pour into a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan.  Bake 60-70 minutes until knife inserted in center comes out mostly clean, with only a few crumbs clinging.

And for dessert, I recommend Pioneer Woman's Grasshopper Pie.  I haven't had it yet, myself, but how could she go wrong?