Whew! I’m still not quite recovered from our St. Patrick’s Day party and the cooking blitz that lead up to it! Don’t get me wrong, it was great fun. I got to see a lot of our friends who I had not seen in a while and all of our usual characters were here as well! The food actually cooperated, no cooking disasters, and was quite tasty! My friends have kindly given me wonderful reviews on my efforts. I asked everyone what their favourite dish was and it was a tie between the Beef and Guinness Pies and the Pork Tart. The Curry Sauce I made to go along with the Chips was a big hit as well.
St. Patrick’s Day Party Menu
Mini Cheese and Onion pies (I wish I had gotten a picture of them, but folks gobbled them down too quick!)
Mini Boxty, stuffed with corned beef and cheddar
Mini Beef and Guinness pies
Celtic Pork Tart
Shepherd’s Pie
Brown Bread and Irish Butter
Home-made Chips served with choice of ketchup, malt vinegar or curry sauce
Drunken Irish Brownies
Car bomb Cupcakes
Chocolate Cups of Chruachan
Chocolate Cups of Chruachan
Mini Beef & Guinness Pie and Mini Boxty stuffed with corned beef and cheddar
Car Bombs and Drunken Brownies Galore!
In order to have all of that done, I started cooking Tuesday and evening and continued cooking right up to Thursday at party time. I have to really thank my husband Jay. He stood at the deep-fryer and fried a mountain of chips as well as a somewhat smaller hill of mini Cheese and Onion pies.
Mountain of Hand-Cut, Home-Made Chips
He was literally there for over an hour. Also, a big shout out to my friend John who was sous-chef extraordinaire, helping with last-minute finishes, plating and serving the food. I wish I had gotten more pictures, but it was getting dark when the party was starting and the food was ready, no light-and you know what flash can do to food pics! Not to mention, once the guests started arriving, taking pictures of the food was not a priority.
St. Patrick's Day Character #1
Character #2-Showing off his "Lucky Charms"
All in all, it was a great shindig! Good food, good music, great company. We are hoping to make it an annual event. Next year St. Patrick’s Day is on a Saturday so folks will really be able to let their hair down. Shenanigan levels should be high! However, I must say, cooking for 20 people was quite an undertaking! I’m a bit “cooked-out” at this point. I really haven’t even entered the kitchen since March 17th! But don’t despair, I haven’t forgotten about you. I will be back with another great recipe later this week. Think “pears”…..
