Irish Penance

Megan, a bright young girl, had just finished parochial school. After that horrendous ordeal she felt she was ready for anything so Megan shook the dust of Ireland off her shoes and made her way to New York. In a very short time, Megan became a successful performer in show business.

As many Irish folk, eventually Megan returned to her home town for a visit and on Saturday night she went to confession in the church which she had always attended as a child. Father Sullivan was hearing confession that evening and quickly recognized her when she began to speak. Father Sullivan struck up a conversation asking her about her work. Megan explained that she was an acrobatic dancer on Broadway but Father Sullivan didn't quite understand what that meant.

Megan said she would be happy to show him the kind of acrobatic dancing she did on stage. When confession was over, Megan stepped out of the confessional and within sight of Father Sullivan, she went into a series of cartwheels, leaping splits, hand springs and backflips. Kneeling near the confessional, waiting their turn, were two middle-aged ladies witnessed Megan's acrobatics with wide eyes, and the one said to the other:

"Will you just look at the penance Father Sullivan is givin' out this night, and me without me bloomers on!"

 

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Traditional Irish Food

As St. Patrick's Day rapidly approaches, I present to you traditional Irish dishes that I have had. The photo's are not my own however, but rest assured, I have tasted all these dishes.

Traditional Irish Stew

To begin, we start with Irish Stew. Ingredients are mutton, but the stew I ate had lean beef cubes in place of the mutton, peeled and un-peeled potatoes, carrots, cut onions, beef broth, and spices of salt, pepper, and parsley, and chives. With the beef cubes, it is delicious. With mutton, not good at all.

Irish Soda Bread

Next up is Soda Bread to compliment the stew. You could stop right here and have a complete meal, but why should we? Soda bread is not my style, its to doughy, sort of like unfinished angel food cake.

Irish Shepherds Pie

Another dish is Shepherds Pie. Its encased in a lightly breaded baked crust, filled with carrots, potatoes, onions, spices, and either beef or lamb. Sometimes you can find turnips as well mixed in the thick gravy, but the Grassy Knoll Institute does not recommend them.

Irish Potato Cakes

Of course, no meal is complete without Potato Cakes that can be found with almost every lunch and dinner, and sometimes breakfast. They are exactly what you think, potatoes, flour, a little onions and peppers, butter or lard, and you cook them or fry which is preferred to a light golden brown. These are not "Arbys Potato Cakes."

Irish Fish And Chips

Most believe this next dish, Fish And Chips are an English dish. Yes, it is, but is also a very popular Irish dish as well. The fish is cod, lightly coated in beer batter, and fried to a golden brown. Chips, or french fries, are cooked to a crunch. Delicious.

Corned Beef And Cabbage

And finally, Corned Beef And Cabbage. The beef is thinly sliced on homemade bread, and the cabbage, oh I hate cabbage, stinks to high heaven. Many people love the cabbage, but not me.

Anyway, these are just a few traditional Irish food dishes.





Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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