St. Patty’s Day Fare

As the saying goes, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.  No matter what your nationality is, March 17th is a day to enjoy all the delicious foods from Ireland. 

 One of the most popular meals includes corned beef and cabbage.  While this may intimidate the average cook, corned beef is nothing more than a beef brisket that has been brined.  Your slow cooker will make light work of brining and cooking the beef to tender perfection.

Another great dish, which is my family’s favorite, is Shepherd’s pie.  This delicious one-pan wonder is comfort food at its best.  The savory combination of meat and vegetables with a creamy potato topping is a simple make-ahead meal your family or company will enjoy.

Not crazy about traditional Irish fare?  You can still celebrate the Luck of the Irish by making some delicious GREEN foods – think guacamole, asparagus or broccoli soup, pesto pasta, and even a homemade shamrock shake made from pistachio pudding and milk.

And just for fun, add two drops of liquid green food coloring to a beer and drink to the Irish!

Pistachio Bars

• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1 cup flour
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 (9-ounce) container of Cool Whip
• 2 packages instant pistachio pudding
• 1 ½ cups milk

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a small skillet, melt butter.  Add nuts and flour to combine.  Spoon into a 9 x13 baking dish.  Press to form crust.  Bake for 10 minutes.

In the meantime, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar in a mixer.  Fold in half of Cool Whip.  Spoon on top of cooled crust.  Next, beat together pudding and milk.  Pour over cheese mixture.  Top with remaining half of Cool Whip container.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Serves 8.  

Sheperd’s Pie

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 1 cup canned or frozen corn kernels
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons steak seasoning
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 can beef broth
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 4 cups mashed potatoes
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook ground beef until well-done.  Strain to remove grease.  Sauté carrots, onion, green pepper and corn in butter and steak seasoning. Mix with the ground beef and tomatoes. 

In a separate skillet over medium heat, cook butter and flour together for 2 minutes.  Wisk in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce.  Wisk gravy until thick, about 1 minute.  Add gravy to meat and vegetable mixture. 

In large casserole dish, place meat mixture on bottom.  Layer mashed potatoes over the meat.  Top with cheddar cheese and bake until cheese melts (about 30 minutes). Serves 6-8.