Colcannon (Irish Potatoes)

Colcannon is an Irish dish of boiled, mashed potatoes mixed with cabbage or kale and flavored with leeks, shallots or onions, cream or milk and butter. 

Not only is it delicious but it's a great way to get extra veggies in your diet.  If you're like me and still like to play with your food, you can shape it into four leaf clovers with the back of a teaspoon!

It is wonderful served family style as well,

 or topped with boneless, lightly breaded and fried pork chops.  We had this for dinner a little over a week ago and everyone loved it, except for Ashton.   I'm sure it would be perfect with corned beef!

Colcannon is a word derived from the Gaelic cal ceannann' which literally means white headed cabbage.  Colcannon's earliest reference dates to 1735 when a William Bulkely of Bryndda made two trips to Dublin at that time.  The potato and cabbage dish was introduced to England in the 18th century and became a favorite among the upper classes.

Irish tradition associates Colcannon with Halloween festivities where it was used as a purpose of marriage divination.  A charm would be hidden in a bowl of colcannon as portents of marriage proposal should an unmarried girl be lucky enough to find it.  Others would fill their socks with a spoonful of colcannon and hang it from the door handle, believing that the first man through the door would become their future husband.  Hmmm...don't know about that one.   I'd hate to wear those socks...or wash them!

Colcannon


1 1/2 lbs chopped cabbage or about 2 10 oz bags
8 medium potatoes  (about 2 lbs)
3 leeks
1 1/3 cup milk
1 cup butter divided
1 pinch ground mace 
salt and pepper to taste
fresh chives or green onions for garnish


Boil cabbage until tender, drain and set aside, covered to keep warm.
Chop leeks from the whites up to the dark green leaves (don't use those) and put in a skillet.  Pour milk over and simmer, covered, until tender.  Stir occasionally to keep milk from scalding.
Peel and boil potatoes until tender.  Drain and mash with 1/2 cup butter, a pinch of mace and salt and pepper (I salt and pepper liberally with this dish).  Stir in cabbage, leek and milk mixture.   Traditionally this is served by making well in individual servings,  filling the well with a little melted butter.  Sprinkle with chives or green onions.

Colcannon can also be made with a little ham or bacon chopped up and added to the mixture.  Topped with cheese, and then baked, it is extra yummy!
Enjoy!

THE FOUR-LEAVED SHAMROCK(legend is that a four-leaved Shamrock is of such rarity that it will endue the finder with magic power)

by Dublin poet, musician, artist

~Samuel Lover~

1791-1868 

I'll seek a four-leaved shamrock in all the fairy dells,

And if I find the charmed laves, oh, how I'll weave my spells!

I would not waste my magic might on diamond, pearl, or gold,

For treasure tires the weary sense, such triumph is but cold;

But I would play the enchanter's part, in casting bliss around - 

Oh! not a tear, nor aching heart, should in the world be found!

To worth I would give honor!  I'd dry the mourner's tears,

And to the pallid lip recall the smile of happier years,

And hearts that had been long estranged, and friends that had grown cold,

Should meet again - like parted streams - and mingle as of old;

Oh! thus I'd play the enchanter's part, thus scatter bliss around,

And not a tear, nor aching heart, should in the world be found!

The heart that had been mourning o'er vanish'd dreams of love,

Should see them all returning - like Noah's faithful dove,

And Hope should launch her bless'd bark on Sorrow's darkening sea,

And Misery's children have an ark, and saved from sinking be;

Oh! thus I'd play the enchanter's part, thus scatter bliss around,

And not a tear, nor aching heart, should in the world be found!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Joining:
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special 
Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday
Friday Inspiration At The Picket Fence 

St. Patrick's Day Tablescape

Welcome to the Robert's 2012 St. Patrick's Day Tablescape
and Happy Birthday to my KK (Kalyn)...she is 17 today!


Love is never defeated, and I could add, the history of Ireland proves it. 
~Pope John Paul II~

Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible. 

~Charles Haughey~

There two Irishmen were passing a pub - well, it could happen. 
~Frank Carson~

When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious. 
~Edna O'Brien~

 We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. ~Oscar Wilde~
Irish Poet & Playright
 in Lady Windermere's Fan.

Ireland, thou friend of my country in my country's most friendless days, much injured, much enduring land, accept this poor tribute from one who esteems thy worth, and mourns thy desolation.
~George Washington~
On Ireland's support for America during the revolution.

 That Ireland that we dreamed of would be the home of a people who valued material wealth only as the basis of right living, of a people who were satisfied with frugal comfort and devoted their leisure to the things of the spirit - a land whose countryside would be bright with cosy homesteads, whose fields and villages would be joyous with the sounds of industry, with the romping of sturdy children, the contests of athletic youths and the laughter of comely maidens, whose firesides would be forums for the wisdom of serene old age.
~ Eamon De Valera ~
St. Patrick's Day speech 1943 

May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live. 

~Irish Blessing~

 Today I come back to you as a descendant of people who were buried here in pauper's graves. 
~Ronald Reagan ~
On visit as US President to his Irish ancestral home in Ballyporeen.

May God give you...For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer.

~Irish Blessing~

Sources:  

Centerpiece - floral swags of lilac and hydrangea on either side with a lattice planter full of roses in the center

Plates- George Jones Genoa, available at my shop HERE

Chargers- Spode Byron, at my shop HERE

Flatware - Barenthal Marbre Vert

Linens- Irish Lace napkins used in place of placemats, placed at an angle so that they hang over the table

Napkin Rings- I fashioned these from pony tail holders and hair clips purchased at Walmart 

Sherbet Glasses- Forest Green Boopie (look on Etsy, Ebay or antiques stores)

Irish Coffee Glasses- Eamon's of Ireland (I found mine on Ebay)

Cut Glass Goblets - Tuesday Morning

Joining:
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday 
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special 
Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen for her St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch 

My House Featured at No Minimalist Here

I wanted to let you all know that my house is being featured this week at No Minimalist Here.  Sherry mentions that we have lived here for less than a year, which is true.  For those of you new to my blog or coming over from No Minimalist Here, I thought I'd share a link to photos of the house as we found it HERE, and since  I haven't shown you this room yet I thought I'd post a few photos of the portion I can show right now.  The portion I can get to that is! =) This room has been taken over by Ethan temporarily, as he and Michael moved back in with us for a few months.  I won't show you more than this because it's consumed with his clothes and belongings piled in every corner and the couch he has made into his bed...until April 4th when he and Michael move back out! 

This armoire/bookcase is a piece of furniture I have come to like more and more over the past couple of years.  This is one of my few Craigs List finds.  It's a true antique from France and I think it's the heaviest piece we own.  I like big pieces of furniture, much to my husband's and sons dismay! Most of you don't know this, but not only have we moved this past year, we have moved 7 times in the last 10 years!!!  And, that includes one out of state move and moving my entire business / dish inventory each time which equates to a move in and of itself.    We have moved ourselves each time so we are quite proficient but I can also say we are quite tired of doing so.  I'm ready to have my own home and stay put!  Someday I'll write more about some of those past experiences.

I think that the hinges on the doors are fairly unique and whether that's the case or not, it is one of the things I love about this piece of furniture.  They are on the outside and run the entire length of the doors.

This room adjoins the dining room so I continued on with the brown transferware in here.  I have a collection of brown transfer printed pitchers from the Aesthetic Movement (all but the one on the far left) displayed across the top of the case.

To either side of the bookcase/armoire I have some half moon shaped French tables.  They are dressed with family photos and some of my favorite lamps with brown velvet burn out shades.  I love the paisley design!

I hope you all will go over to Sherry's and see the rest of the home tour!  Thank you Sherry for choosing to share my home on your gorgeous blog!

I'll see you tomorrow with a St. Patrick's Day tablescape.

Joining:  No Minimalist Here
Wow Us Wednesday
Miss Mustard Seed