An Irish Stew & a St. Patrick’s Day Giveaway
Published March 11, 2011Thanks so much to the many of you who sent Facebook & email Happy Birthday greetings to me yesterday.
In a way, my life flashed before me on my laptop screen as in tumbled well wishes from grade & high school classmates, college pals, cyber friends, in-laws, out-laws, fellow authors, current & former church folks, my homeschool co-op students, and dear, “we do life together” decades-long friends of mine.
I also had a fantabulous day going out to lunch with my sweet mom, getting a birthday hug from my doting dad, a phone call from our daughter in NC and a dinner out with my three guys.
Todd actually was able to get a GM loaner for the weekend from work: a brand new Buick LaCrosse with every bell & whistle imaginable. Boy did we feel like big time “city folk” pulling up to the restaurant in that baby!
Quite a switch from our usual late 1990′s vehicles with 217,000+ miles on them!
Now, for the weekend, I’m going to unplug and unwind but before I do, let me leave you with an easy recipe, a lesson on St. Patrick and a just-for-fun Irish holiday giveaway.
First the lesson.
Click here for a devotion I wrote on this oft-overlooked gospel-spreading believer. It would be a good read-aloud for families with kids.
Second, the recipe. 
In honor of the approaching St. Patrick’s Day holiday and in honor of my Irish restaurant-owning daddy (my maiden name is Patterson) here is a simple, healthy, make-it-in-an-oven-and-let-it-cook-all-afternoon, crowd pleaser.
Add some Irish Soda bread or hearty biscuits and a simple dessert (we usually choose something green & pistachio) and you have a perfect Irish-themed meal.
Oven Beef Stew
2 lbs eye of round, chunked
1 large onion, chopped
1 lb. bag baby carrots
8 ounces sliced mushrooms (canned & drained or fresh)
6 cups red potatoes, chunked (with or without skins)
1- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes (petite diced is best) and 1- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
1/4 cup minute tapioca
1 t. minced garlic, salt & pepper, to taste
In a Dutch oven or large roaster, place all the veggies & meat. Pour the tomatoes and sauce over the top and sprinkle with the tapioca and spices. Mix well. Cover tightly with lid and bake in a 275 degree oven for 5 hours. Stir and serve. Yum!!
Note: You may substitute a cup of frozen peas or corn for the mushrooms.
Serves 6 Calories 295
Now for the giveaway!
One shamrockin’ gal will win the following:
~ A bag of cream de menthe dark chocolate holiday Hershey kisses
~ Some Green Clover & Aloe Bath & Bodyworks lotion—smells like a fresh spring day!
~ And some of my favorite bulk fresh-ground coffee from Horrock’s Farm Market–Irish Creme flavored—of course!
Simply leave a comment on this post. Winner will be chosen randomly & announced next Monday….when I will have the biggest giveaway ever to offer to you.
Seriously! It is worth over $500 and one of YOU will win it!
Oh, I can hardly wait!!
But in the mean time, leave your comment. Tell us this….what is your favorite springtime holiday food?
Mine is Easter time angel food cupcakes with white fluffy frosting, sprinkled with loads of flaky coconut.
And a few mini jelly beans in pretty pastel colors on top never hurt.
In fact, yesterday I treated myself to one for my birthday from my favorite Mid-Michigan retro eatery .
Now, what’s your favorite springtime food?
Irish Blessings,
82 Responses to An Irish Stew & a St. Patrick’s Day Giveaway
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My Family
Deviled eggs!! I know that seems silly, but my family only makes them around Easter time!!! They are so delish!! Oh, and Cadbury eggs, so creamy and yummy!!!
My mom used to make egg-shaped cakes. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease has robbed her of her ability to continue the tradition, but my sister is going to try her skills with them this year.
Peeps! The original yellow chicks. My kids love them. While in college, I went on “Peep Hunts” with my sorority sisters. Someone would place the peeps all over campus for us to find, and a few peeps would always end up in the microwave. I don’t know why, but it was fun to “nuke” them for 10 seconds and watch them puff up.
With St. Patrick’s Day coming, it’s got to be Corned Beef and Cabbage!
For Easter, fresh asparagus and strawberries always make their way onto my menu!
My favorite spring time food is a easter bunny cake my mom makes. It is so cute and tastes so good! I know that bunnies are not what Easter is all about but it is a tasty treat.
My Grandma’s Jelly Cake – it was multiple crepe thin layers (baked in the over) with blackberry jelly between. Most people do this with Chocolate between the layers. When my Grandma was a young wife chocolate was not possible in their area and bank account. So, she used jelly she had “put up” herself. I miss her most at this time of year.
I just tasted a King cake for the first time this Mardi Gras season. Who knew it was a fluffly cinnamon roll with colored icing?? I didn’t win the baby. (There’s a plastic baby tucked away inside for good luck to whoever gets it in their piece.) That was fun!
It feels like spring when I start making a white cake with topped with French vanilla pudding, strawberries and bananas and then Cool Whip.
I always like to make a St. Patrick’s day meal…this stew sounds like a good one! Thanks!
I like potato salad. With all the colored eggs at Easter time that is a good way to use up some of those eggs. I cannot wait until spring and the snow to melt.
I have a special place in my heart for Peeps!!! I just love them.
This is a great giveaway!
My favorite spring time holiday food would have to be: asparagus risotto!
My favorite spring time hoiday food, is of course the boiled eggs, the kids just hunted. Seems boiled eggs taste better when they have a colored shell. LOL
My favorite springtime, holiday treat are the Russell Stover’s Peanut Butter eggs. They make me think of my dad because they were his favorite peanut butter and chocolate combination treat. He passed away three years ago, but I still enjoy his memory as I savor that sweet treat.
Whoppers eggs at Easter. Who can resist those lovely little chocolate malty eggs? Seriously?
My Mamaw’s deviled eggs…YUM!!!!
I don’t know if this is really “food” — and it’s definitely not in the food pyramid. But I absolutely LOVE Cadbury Eggs. They make my teeth hurt but every spring, I have to have at least one. None of that new stuff they’ve tried (peanut butter, etc.) — I want the original, cream-in-the-middle Cadbury egg!
Of course, the Coconut Cake with Jelly Beans is up there. But my family loves “Frog Eye Salad”…..
Sounds great right? IT IS!!!
Oh my! Reese Peanut Butter Eggs….. yummmm…
Thanks so much for the recipe and for the giveaway!
Have a great weekend!
Colletta
Your Irish Stew sounds wonderful! My favorite springtime food can actually be made and eaten anytime of the year. I think the name of it is Angel Food Lush Cake. Very easy to prepare and delicious. Andm since angel food cake is fat free – this entire dessert can be fat free if you use fat free Cool Whip.
I love the angel food cake with strawberries and real whip cream my mom always makes at Easter.
Hi Karen,
Sorry I missed your Birthday. So pleased to hear you had a wonderful day. You certainly deserve some wonderful days:) I will try the beef stew for sure! Also, would love to win the St Patty’s day giveaway, the Irish coffee sounds good and what girl doesn’t like chocolat????
If you have a minute please visit my Avon website and take a look at all the good things on sale!
http://www.youravon.com/bgillette
Blessings, Bobbie
Happy Belated Birthday Karen–sounds like you had a wonderful day!
The stew recipe looks great–I am going to have to try it! My favorite springtime food is deviled eggs–yum!
Jennifer
I love the cadbury mini eggs! I have to not allow myself more than 1 bag a year cause I will eat them all!
Happy belated Birthday!!! My favorite Spring time food is………the Easter Meal with my family. Ham…deviled eggs…and that wonderful potatoe salad…..Thanks for all you do
My favorite springtime food is our bunny-shaped cake (white cake and instead of using oil, we use coconut milk and coconut flavoring in the mix, then use a white frosting and then put loads of coconut on top for the fir…then take leftver coconut and dye it green and put around cake for grass,then we also took black decorating gel to make the whiskers and mouth, pink jelly beans for inside mouth and nose and pink sprinkles for ears)…I actually made he picture my default picture on facebook. I will post a comment on your wall for you to see. My name on there is “Erin Green-Cline”
Peeps! (and egg salad made with Easter eggs where some of the dye bled through onto the egg white)
Springtime would have to be Easter. We had our traditional menu every year and Mama always made a coconut cake with a nest of green coconut on top with jelly beans. Yum!
My daughter’s birthday cake. I waited a long time to have a child and she was definately worth the wait! Her birthday is April 2 so her birthday cake is what I enjoy most and is a signal to me that spring is here.
Jello cake with whipped cream frosting!! light and delicious.
Brown sugar maple ham done in the crockpot (it turns out so moist & yummy) and strawberry pie!
Reading all those replies made me hungry. LOL
If we’re talking food, I guess potato salad is my favorite spring time food. Love it!
If we’re talking candy, I’d have to say peeps. I know they now sell them for every holiday, but I love love the yellow chicks.
Oh, I love Cadbury Mini-eggs! They are so good…but every year I eat too much of them. Trying to stay away this year!
If this giveaway is open to Canadians then please enter me, thanks!
I love anything made with fresh strawberries and, of course, Reeses’ peanut butter eggs!
A new fave of mine for St. Patty’s and spring is a sugar-free Mint Chocolate Chip Pie. A shamrock find, indeed!
Okay, don’t really know if this counts as a springtime “treat” or not, but I am the only one in my family that likes egg salad sandwiches. After we color Easter Eggs, I get to have an egg salad sandwich and tea
The first thing that comes to mind when asked what my favorite springtime food is asparagus. More important to me than the food, though, is the return of longer days and more sun. I do suffer somewhat in the winter months with some mood alterations associated with the dark, gray days; so I am thrilled to see the sun again! Thank you for sharing the story of St. Patrick.
My husband was given a scholarship to go to Atlanta for a weeklong class and his boss has generously allowed him to take the gas money instead of a plane ticket so that the family can go along and enjoy the free hotel room and slightly warmer temps. This is such a blessing to us. We have not had a real family vacation in over ten years due to lack of finances. My two younger children think of “vacation” as going out of state to care for sick extended family members. If anyone could say a word of prayer for safety for our trip and that we will be healthy throughout, I would surely appreciate it!
I (impatiently) wait every year for the Dove Chocolate Truffle Eggs. And when they come I have to force myself to limit the number I eat because I love them so much but are not good for losing weight! LOL!!! As far as real food goes, I love fresh asparagus and all the wonderful salad fruits and veggies that start popping up in stores this time of year. And of course, the corned beef and cabbage I will pop into the crock pot next Thursday morning. Hmmm, no wonder I’m battling my weight…
My favorite is birthday cake because my special day is on St. Patrick’s Day
Thank you for sharing this lovely history! I had no idea!
My favorite dish when the weather warms up and birds start singing is fresh fruit, eggs, waffles with a little syrup, and hearty bacon in the morning!
Thanks for the recipe…it sounds simple and yummy. Happy St. Patricks Day!
Is there a substitute for using a Dutch Oven?
I love the tiny Whopper eggs!
Becki~~
Happy Birthday (belated) Glad to hear it was a good one. My favorite easterish springtime food is…..Cadbury Easter Creme Eggs! My kids think they are disgusting, all that gooiness on the inside with what looks like a real yolk! I LOVE THEM! My teenage daughter actually BOUGHT me one the other day, knowing how much I love them (and try not to eat them too much) She, however, looked on with amusement and partial disgust LOL. THanks for offering the the giveaway! Kathy C.
It might seem a little wierd, but with the arrival of Easter, I look forward to pickled eggs. My granny made them when I was a little girl and I still love them! Easter seems to be the only time I eat them, but just makes them even more special.
Kina—
Any large pan that can be covered and will hold all the ingredients will work. I actually use a turkey roaster with a lid and it works well. However, you could us a large, oven-proof stock pot or kettle like a large soup pot. (Just make sure the handles can go in the oven.) A seven quart crock pot should work too for 4-6 hours on high. Or use the removable stoneware and put it in the oven. Again check that it is oven proof. Good luck!
I love being about to start grilling outside. My favorites are cedar plank salmon (that you will pay a small fortune for in a a restaurant!) and grilled pizzas! I always love all things sugar but trying to cut back on those
I would have to say my favorite spring time food is the same as several others have said: Deviled eggs. We don’t make them very often, but they are certainly one of my favorites! Enjoy your weekend!
My favorite spring time treat is Easter Peanut and peanut butter M&M’s. They are bigger than the regular m&m’s. So I treat myself to those a few times in the spring, right around Easter.
where is the mid michigan eatery? put me in the giveaway also
favorite easter treat peeps chicks
Happy Belated Birthday! My favorite is rhubarb crisp and 2nd favorite is fresh morel mushrooms….both a little later in the Spring.
Reese’s peanut butter eggs! Mmmmmmm.
Peeps! They can be bunnies or chicks; purple, yellow, pink, or blue. Doesn’t matter what color or shape cause they’re all PURE SUGAR!
Fresh caught crappie and fresh picked morel mushrooms with a side of asparagus… a sure fire springtime tonic to bring a health and a smiles!
My FAVORITE springtime treat is Russell Stover’s coconut filled chocolate cream Easter eggs. Oh I’m salivating at the thought of them!!!
When I was younger my mom would make an spring easter bread basket. Us kids LOVED it & looked forward to it every spring/easter! I’ve started doing special things w/our 2 girls (ages 10 & 5) every year now. Last year instead of making the bread baskets, we did the Easter Story Cookies. My girls LOVED them! Planning on doing the same thing this year.
Easter Story Cookies
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
1 pinch salt
1 cup sugar
Zipper baggie
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 300°F.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing…
Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts.
Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was lain. Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave them in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers felt despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9
Thanks for the fun reminder of the holiday. I plan on sharing!
Karen~that stew sounds delicious! My hubby is such a meat eater I think I’ll have to make that. I don’t have a dutch oven so I think I’ll try to make it in a slow cooker…
Have a great weekend! ~Lyn
My top springtime favorites are deviled eggs, corned beef and cabbage, anything to do with Strawberries, and Salads…yum, yum! Easter Sunday is egg bake brunch with cinnamon rolls. Passover Sedar has my favorite – Charoset, so sweet with apples.
The Irish Stew sounds wonderful…can’t wait to try it. Blessings on your weekend!
My fav spring time food is Easter dinner complete with ham, potato salad,deviled eggs,broccoli, corn,candied yams, mac & cheese and a coconut cake…yummo!
I’m not sure if this counts, but I LOVE shamrock shakes from McDonald’s. My mom used to treat me to them when I was younger, every Saturday after basketball camp. Yummo!
white chocolate easter bunny – in small chunks of course!
Asparagus. Doesn’t it sound Yummy! I like to steam or roast in the oven with kosher salt, olive oil and a bit of water. I’ve moved over to healthy choices so veggies and fruit are my most desired picks!
Karen, my g-g-grandmother was Mary Patterson from Scotland. Maybe we’re related! Anyway my favorite springtime food are strawberries. We have local growers and are already able to buy them. YUM!
I love to make Easter cutout cookies from my Christmas sugar cookie recipe. We have some adorable Easter cookie cutters (egg, bunny, cross, chick), and we mix up some pastel buttercream frosting. They are so fun and cute, and we get to enjoy some of our favorite cookies more than once a year!
Sugar cookies!
I love fresh strawberries from my strawberry patch. I love even more picking them with my, this year, 4 yr old granddaughter. She is all about the berries that we grow. She has already asked if they are ready yet….LOL Thanks for the chance to win.
Brenda.
Happy belated birthday. My paternal grandfather was Irish, so I guess that makes me a quarter Irish. Having said that I have only visited the Emerald Isle once in my whole life.
I love shoulder of lamb, cooked slowly until it falls off the bone, served with roast potatoes, carrot and brocolli and of course gravy. Yummy.
1 shoulder of lamb
1 onion skinned and cut in chunks
1 carrot cut in chunks
2 celery sticks cut in half
4 cloves garlic
several sprigs rosemary
salt
1 pint boiling water
Brown lamb skin side down for a couple of minutes in a hot pan.
In the bottom of an oven proof dish which is large enough to take the lamb place the veggies. put the lamb skinside up on top.
pierce the skin of the lamb with a knife in several places and put sprigs of rosemary in the slits. Sprinkle with a little salt.
pour over the boiling water
cover the dish with two pieces of foil so that the meat is sealed inside.
place in oven temperature 280 degrees for about 4 hours or until the meat is falling off the bones. Allow to cool slightly and pull the meat into chunks with a fork. Make a gravy with the strained juice and add a little more water if needed.
Serve with mint sauce, roast potatoes and vegetables
Left overs can be frozen for later use. Or you can cook this the day before and reheat the meat in a little of the gravy.
Not sure if I qualify to be entered for the draw since I live the other side of the pond.
Ruth
Hmm.. My favortie spring time food would be anything this Irish gal picks out from the first visit to our towns farmers market
Colleen M.Geyer
ah, if we are talking food, I am your girl. Irish Soda bread with lots of caraway on March 17. My family doesn’t like corn beef and cabbage so I make soup and Irish soda bread.
Holy Saturday, Garbage pie! My husband loves Easter and makes his favorite food on that day (I don’t care for ham, though he makes homemade hot cross buns, yum) My Italian tradition is a pie that was eaten on Sunday morning to break the fast of Good Friday and I think even into Saturday. Pie crust topped with ricotta and layers of pepperoni, hard boiled eggs, ham slices, olives and mozzarella. Sounds weird but it is the taste of Easter from when I was a little girl. My family likes it warm, I was used to eating it cold. My whole family loves it so the tradition lives on. And finally, pina colada cake on EAster. White cake with sweet and condensed milk and cream of coconut filled into it topped with cool whip and green coconut and jelly beans. Serve cold…delish. Could eat the whole cake so I send most of it home with our neighbors! Oh dear, I am hungry now, better go eat a healthy breakfast to make room for future caloires!
I’m afraid my guilty spring food pleasure is peeps! I like to leave the package open a few days so they get chewy. (I am so ashamed…hahahahaha!)
Ham and scalloped potatoes, makes my mouth water!! but I am with Donna and the chewy peeps….oh so good!!
spring time holiday food would be ham…
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Yum that recipe sounds good! my fav springtime food would also have to be angel food cake..and cadbury creme eggs!
Fresh asparagus…I am trying to grow my own. We’ll see what happens this spring.
I love to share this lesson on Patrick with my Second Graders and praying some of them will feel the call to share.
My favorite spring treat would be Dove truffle eggs! YUM!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE hot cross buns!!!
I HEART for “Friday Lenten” picnic food…deviled eggs, mango salsa and chips, watermelon, and large tomato slices with salt and pepper.
love iced coffee with icecream!
Boiled (pressure cooked)ham dinner with cabbage, potatos,and carrots is a must come longing for spring time.
My homemade Peanut Butter Cream Stones
(used to be eggs)
Felt convicted about giving out eggs on Easter Sunday to all the kids I know. So, I decided to do Stones, to remind them of the stone that was rolled away from Jesus’ grave.
Peanut Butter, butter, marshmallow cream, and a ton of powdered sugar. Covered in melted chocolate. YUMMY!
Easter = Simnel cake. Rich, moist, fruit filled with a layer of marzipan inside and marzipan eggs on top…