Lá fhéile Pádraig Shona Dhaoibh!!

Lá fhéile Pádraig Shona Dhaoibh! (Happy St. Patrick's Day!)

We were fortunate to enjoy a fun, different St. Patrick's Day this year in Alexandria. Typically we go on some sort of bar crawl and consume some green beverages, but this were different this year -- and we had just as much fun, if not more.

What was supposed to be our first day at our new assignments, ended up being a SNOW DAY. Can you believe it?! We were so happy -- because after having about a week off, who wants to go back to work?

We woke up at Joyce and Dennis' house to this snowy scene. It was actually quite pretty. I haven't been around snow in such a long time, I think Jimmy and I enjoyed it. Well, he was the one brushing off the car, so maybe he didn't enjoy it as much as me seeing it from the warmth inside.

 

Not only was it warm and cozy inside, but Uncle Den started his corned beef bright and early! He and I both have to check the opm.gov website to see if we report to the office -- which is about 4-5AM. When he was up checking the site, he also started the corned beef in the crockpot. By the time we were all up for the day, it was well on its way and smelled so good!

 

He also made Irish soda bread -- which calls for Caraway seeds. Apparently they are a bit hard to come by this time of year, so if you want to make Irish soda bread, plan in advance and buy your ingredients ahead of time. I found this Irish soda bread recipe online, but there are several variations. Choose whatever you feel is right for you. And don't forget to carve the cross on the top! :)

 

Here's a shot of the corned beef after it had been cooking for 8+ hours, looks ready to go!

 

Can't have an Irish meal without the boiled potatoes....

 

 Den cooked the cabbage last, since it doesn't take very long.

 

Here is everything all plated and ready for consumption. So delicious. I loved it!

 

This meal made me reminisce of our trip to Ireland a few years ago. We would spend our days driving around the rainy roads of Western Ireland. The memories came rushing back of the bright green hills, the cows and sheep crossing the roads, massive downpours and constant dreary sprinkling rain, unique quaint pubs, my Dad learning to drive manual shift on the other side of the road, the freshest cream/butter I have ever tasted in my life, the "smaller" pours of Guinness the ladies typically enjoyed, singing Danny Boy acapella at Uncle Tom's Pub and the heavenly Irish bread that happily accompanied almost every meal. Man, what a trip!

 

Here's a few throwbacks of the Callahans at the Cliffs of Moher!

 

 

 

Hope you all had a wonderful St Pattys!!

 

Til next time,

Shaz