St. Patrick's Day

The first ever St Patrick's Day celebration in America happened in 1737 in Boston, and the city still boasts one of the USA's biggest St Patrick's Day parties. The annual parade begins from Broadway at the MBTA Station and goes to Andrew Square, boasting floats, fancy dress and all the usual hullabaloo we've come to associate with this quintessential Irish celebration. Expect marching bands and pipe bands from all over North America. St Patrick's Day is one of the only national holidays celebrated outside its native land - a clear indication of the Irish influence thoughout the world and especially in the USA

Half a mile from the county fair
And the rain keep pourin' down
Me and Billy standin' there
With a silver half a crown
Hands are full of a fishin' rod
And the tackle on our backs
We just stood there gettin' wet
With our backs against the fence
"It Stoned Me", Van Morrison


Irish Soda Bread from Food Network.com

Recipe courtesy Brother Rick Curry, The Secrets of Jesuit Breadmaking, HaperPerennial, 1995

(brilliant idea: before starting, pour/consume a pint of Guinness)

5 cups sifted all-purpose unbleached flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 pound (1 stick) butter
2 1/2 cups mixed light and dark raisins, soaked in water for 15 to 20 minutes and drained
3 tablespoons caraway seeds
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 large egg, slightly beaten

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter 2 (9 by 5-inch) bread pans.
Stir together the sifted flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Cut in the butter and mix very thoroughly with your hands until it gets grainy. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds.

Add the buttermilk and egg to the flour mixture. Stir until well moistened. Shape dough into 2 loaves and place in the pans.

Bake for 1 hour. Test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool in the pans for 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Suggested music: Tough one here, for you can go in a number of directions. Start with the Irish Tenors' "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen"; then Jonathan suggests you pick up the pace with some loud, rowdy punk from south Boston's Dropkick Murphys; next, taste the exquisite offerings of the Chieftains; then finish off with THE Man, Van Morrison, who, in my not-so-humble opinion, is fantastic (ok, a little impersonal) in concert, despite what Keith and Vin may say. OMG!!!! I almost forgot the talented, Pope-bashing Sinead O'Connor!

Oh, and reward yourself for such culinary and musical taste with another pint of Guinness. Brilliant!!!!