Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone! I'm not Irish, nor is my mom or dad, but St. Patrick's day looks kind of fun. I didn't know a lot about it, except that if you don't wear something green, someone will pinch you. So, Mommy looked it up for me and this is what I've learned--

• St. Patrick was born in Scotland or England around 385 A.D. His parents were Romans, Calpumius and Conchessa, who were in charge of Roman colonies
• When he was about 14, he was captured by a raiding party and was taken to Ireland as a slave. Ireland was populated by pagans and Druids. He learned their language and customs as he tended sheep.
• He escaped from captivity when he was 20 or so. He had had a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. He returned to Britain and was reunited with his family.
• He then had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling for him to return
• He went to France and began studying for the priesthood. He was ordained after studying for four years. He became a Bishop and was sent back to Ireland. He arrived on March 25, 433 and began preaching the Gospel. He and his disciples convinced thousands of people to give up their pagan gods and join him.
• He often used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity, which is why the shamrock is the symbol of St. Patrick's Day.
• He worked in Ireland for forty years. He died March 17, 461 A.D.

The Words of St. Patrick (written during his captivity)

"The love of God and His fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no nurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Another thing I learned about St. Patrick's Day is that Irish food is very different. Mom read me some recipies for Corned Beef and Cabbage, but I decided that I didn't want to eat that. Daddy was glad, too, because he didn't want to eat it either. However, Mom is going to try this recipie for Irish Soda Bread:

3 1/2 cups Flour
1/2 teaspoon Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
1 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups Buttermilk (as needed)

Lightly grease a heave skillet (if making "soda farl", the flat version of soda bread) or preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Sift the dry ingredients together into a large bowl, making sure soda is evenly distributed.

Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and add about half of the buttermilk. Stir until you have a raggy dough that is more or less dry. Add more liquid until you reach a smooth texture that holds together. Make sure that all of the flour has reached this consistency.

Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead for no more that 90 seconds. Overkneading makes bread very tough.

If making soda bread, shape the dough into a circle 8" to 9" in diameter and about 1 1/2" thick. Cut a cross on the top with kitchen shears about 1/2" deep. Place on a floured baking sheet and bake for 45-50 minutes.

If making soda farl, shape the dough into a circle 9" in diameter and about 1" thick. Cut into four wedges or "farls". Place in the preheated skillet and cut edges every 1/2". Cook slowly on the stove top over low-to-medium heat. It takes about 20 minutes for the farls to puff up and turn a light brown on the pan side. Turn and cook for another 20 minutes.

After cooking, wrap in a dishtowel to ensure a soft crust.

That is what I have learned about St. Patrick's Day so far. There are some other things about beer and blarney stones that I don't understand yet and leprachauns scare me. Maybe next year I'll like leprachauns, but Mommy says that it'll be a LONG LONG LONG time before I get to the beer thing.

Oh, I did learn one more thing--

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind always be at your back
May the sun shine warm on your face
And the rain fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand

--an Irish Blessing

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