May your troubles be less and your blessings be more.

And nothing but happiness come through your door.

     - Traditional Irish Blessing

After city officials dyed the Chicago River a lovely emerald green, row after row of piping musicians and quick stepping dancers proudly paraded from Columbus Drive to Monroe. Children, shamrocks painted on their cheeks, grinned broadly as the giant Leprechauns and rainbows with pots of gold floated by. Their parents exchanged sentimental rhyming greetings, and good food was consumed by all. They'll do it all again next year. Why? March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day! While the holiday originated as a day of cultural and religious celebration in Dublin, it is celebrated all over the world by those with Irish ancestors - and by those that just want to be Irish, if only for one day.

In Ireland, menus are likely to include delicious parsley sauced potatoes with boiled bacon and cabbage. In America - instead of pork shoulder or collar (boiling bacon) - we cook corned beef with the cabbage. Coloring the beer, rivers, and everything else we can a brilliant green adds a bit of whimsy to the day.

Several of my friends here at Calorie Count enjoy cooking special dishes on St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve included a few of their recipes below. To round out the selection, I visited a few Irish cultural websites and found quite a few traditional recipes – and this colorful story about the origins of the holiday at the Irish Culture and Customs website. After reading about how the celebration began, click on their recipe page for even more Irish deliciousness!

This Irish Potato Soup is inexpensive and satisfying. The nutrition facts are here.

Don't let the words "boiled bacon" fool you, it's not the fatty strips only lightly dotted with meat that Americans call bacon. In Ireland, boiling bacon is pork shoulder or collar. If you love all things Irish, make Boiled Bacon and Cabbage tomorrow.The recipe also includes a very helpful description of the cuts of meat to use so you can make it as authentic as possible. I ran the nutrition facts for you on the entire meal – including the potatoes and parsley sauce.

Sharpshootinstar’s Irish Lamb Stew will please the entire family and get them asking for more!

Recipes passed down within families are a wonderful find. Thanks to Bonnie for agreeing to share her family’s traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe.

Susan D.’s Irish Soda Bread has, as do so many things Irish, a delightful story to go along with it.

Sharpshootinstar’s Irish Potato Skillet Bread is another great twist on an Irish staple.

Your thoughts…

If you are Irish, what is your favorite way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? If you do not live in Ireland, how do people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in your country? If you have a traditionally Irish recipe to share, add it to the comments below! If you have a variation on an Irish theme recipe, share that with us as well. Will you wear green and pinch those that do not? If you would like to have your recipe considered for CC Palate, send it to me via pm.