The Holiday that Wasn't

We sorta missed St. Patrick's Day today.  After all of our celebrations yesterday, I failed to realize that NYC's parade was not on Sunday but on Saturday--the God thing, I guess.  I was so disappointed when I realized it last night trying to set the DVR (add to that my loss in the soda bread contest, I guess--no call either way--and I thought I was one of the only competitors--and it was rather a bummer weekend.)  My first parade knowing we were a bit Irish (probably between 1/16th and 1/64th, since I don't know the heritage of some of those ancestors.)  I have such fond memories of that parade from living in NYC--bagpipes playing early in the morning as parade participants warmed up along the side streets of 5th Avenue, be-wigged stepdancers in their embroidered finery, hundreds of firefighters and police officers in their dress uniforms, and all the drum corps rat-a-tat-tatting.  Of course, neither the politics nor religion of Ireland or the parade officials (the anti-England, pro-Catholic, anti-LGBT) appealed much, but I loved the pomp.

So, the only celebration we had today was eating delicious leftovers, including a new hash Mama adapted from various Bubble and Squeak and Colcannon recipes.  And it was so good.  Though, I think, as a whole, we've had too much cabbage these last few days!

But we'll enjoy it again next year, along with soda bread and the parade.

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Bubble and Squeak cum Colcannon

leftover boiled potatoes, cabbage, and carrots from boiled dinner, cubed and lightly smashed
1 green leek, sliced
1 bunch curly kale, torn into pieces
1 scallion, sliced
some broth from boiled dinner
approximately 1-2 tablespoons butter (Kerrygold of course!)

Saute leeks in a small amount of olive oil until tender and remove from skillet; saute kale in small amount of broth until tender.  Return leeks to skillet, add potatoes, cabbage, and carrots to the skillet.  Add sliced scallion and top with a butter.  Heat through, stirring occasionally.  At the end, do not stir but allow to brown and crisp on one side.  Season to taste.

Serve with small slices of corned beef, if desired, and mustard.

Mama Hungry

Wish Me the Luck 'o the Irish

I'm entering a baking contest today--an Irish soda bread baking contest in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  I figure, it being my first year knowing I have a wee drop of Irish in me AND the recipe coming from my Chinese father-in-law, I can't lose, right?  It's great bread; other people think so, too.  Even if I did add the caraway seeds, which I don't like.  

Thankfully, I'm not too vested in winning.  I just thought it would be fun.  I thought it would be more fun if the kids made their own versions (Sis just bread no add-ins, Bud just raisins), but they thought playing outside was more fun.  

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Irish Soda Bread

We baked four different mini-loaves placed apart on a silpat-lined cookie sheet for about 40 minutes.

4 cups flour
½ cup sugar
3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2-3 handfuls caraway seeds
1 cup raisins
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon melted butter

Generously grease a large iron skillet (or use a pizza stone). turn on oven to 350°F. Mix together dry ingredients. Add milk and butter. Bake 1 hour.
Note: You might need to add extra milk.

a friend of my MIL

The Family Tree

Gommie has long been very interested in our family history, gathering family photos and bits of lore, though leaving much of the archival work of birth, death, and marriage dates to my Uncle T and others.  Years ago, she gave me a binder full of her evidence as well as a chart of our family members.  I studied it then, mainly intrigued by the Confederate ancestor who reportedly fired the first shots at the battle of Vicksburg (and his son who penned his own memoirs as The Littlest Rebel), the Texas blockade runner during the Civil War, and such.  My Aunt Sis, on my dad's side, had always said we were Welsh and Scottish, but I only just found the proof in Gommie's notebook--but we're not Welsh (that it records), we're Irish!  My paternal grandmother has an ancestor, Alexander Mebane, who lived in Ireland from 1716 to 1793; eventually my Irish ancestors made it to Tennessee and then Louisiana.  I never knew we were a little bit Irish!  Now I'm doubly excited about St. Patrick's Day and soda bread, colcannon, and the like.  Turn on Riverdance!

My paternal grandfather's mother descended from Scottish stock, which I've known for a few years and we've celebrated at Scottish festivals and watching Brave.  Her relative, John Hay, was in Scotland, but in 1644 traveled to Virginia.  Family lore has long said we were related to a man executed for the murder of Mary, Queen of Scots's husband, Lord Darnley.  Lo! and behold, a John Hay was tried and executed with others for the plot.  A hundred or so years earlier than my ancestor traveled to the colonies.  Is our John Hay a descendant of the executed man?  I'm still looking into that as best I can.  But until I prove otherwise, I'm going to say yes!  I mean, who can pass up an ancestor who worked for Mary, Queen of Scots, and once was sent as an emissary to Queen Elizabeth I?  Coincidentally (and if I understand this correctly), before he was executed, John Hay was commendator (lay abbot) of Balmerino, a Cistercian monastery--and his descendant, my aunt's cousin, is even now a Trappist monk in France!

One last story has also recently come to us.  My maternal grandfather had a best friend with whom he fought side-by-side in WWII (through North Africa, up through Italy, and into Germany, I believe), Tom Brady, after whom my uncle was named.  Apparently, Tom Brady's descendants recently told us that my grandfather's unit is the one that captured and briefly held young Nazi Joseph Ratzinger, who was later released on the understanding that he had been forced to join.  Of course, that young man eventually became the current Pope Benedict XVI.

Two big mysteries remain:  are we Welsh?  and who are the ancestors of my paternal grandfather, about whose father (who abandoned his first wife and numerous kids to start a second family in the same town, leaving his never-divorced wife to start a boarding house in the early 20th century) we know absolutely nothing.

Thanks, Gommie, for keeping the family history!