The Inside Cover: It's Good To Be Green

Hello, Faithful Blog-followers!! It’s March! You all know what that means……it’s time to celebrate our wonderful Irish friends! I had so much fun doing the research for this posting. Not only did I pick up a few new facts about Ireland that I was unaware of, I tried a tasty new dish AND found some great books to read!!

A Brief Summary

The “Emerald Isle” is comprised of The Republic of Ireland, prominently Catholic; and Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom), which is mostly Protestant. Despite a tumultuous history, these two have maintained a cease-fire since 1994. The people of Ireland are known for being welcoming and enjoy fellowship, music, and storytelling. There is an impressive amount of folklore and rich history to be explored on the island. Along with an engaging history, Ireland possesses a breath-taking landscape. Green grasses cover most of the land earning it the nickname “Emerald Isle”. Due to the mild climate and abundant rainfall, the island stays green throughout the year. Only the mountainous regions experience harsh winter temperatures. The country has a long history full of political strife, beloved traditions, patriotic heritage, and festive celebration. My focus for this post will be to give you a taste of what I learned in my research, and supply you with recommendations for further investigation of this vibrant culture.

Wow! I Didn’t Know That!

Surprising facts about Ireland:

· Ireland is about the size of the state of S. Carolina

· Halloween originates in Ireland

· They enjoy a sport called “Road Bowling”

· St. Patrick is not actually Irish

· Windmills turn clock-wise in Ireland (they turn counter clock-wise everywhere else)

Information for the above post comes from the sources listed at the bottom of the post

Something to Eat (of course)

Irish Boxty

Prep time: 15 min. Cook time: 15 min. Serves: 6

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups grated raw potatoes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup leftover mashed potatoes
1 egg
1 tablespoon skim milk
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Toss the grated potatoes with flour in a large bowl. Stir in mashed potatoes until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and skim milk; mix into the potatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drop in the potato mixture, forming patties about 2 inches in diameter. Fry on both sides until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve warm.

This recipe came from allrecipes.com

Great Books to Read