🌲Turquoise Trail Tales: On the Homefront: St. Patrick's Day Table

Sunday, March 17, 2013

On the Homefront: St. Patrick's Day Table

Meet Paddy O'Dalley!

A Dalmatian dog in a hat

Is ready to honor St. Pat.

His topper is green.

Though not Irish, he's keen

To proclaim he is really just that!

Welcome to my St. Patrick's Day table! I don't have a lot of green tableware, but I used what I had to achieve the appropriate setting.

Dark brown wooden bead placemat from Target; dark green velvet placemat from The Cupboard in Fort Collins, CO; white dinner plate (Tivoli by Studio Nova); green fern print napkin from Kmart; dark green dessert plate for bread from Target; small white scalloped bowl for butter from Pier 1; white flatware from Target; green shamrock votive candle holder from Hobby Lobby. I can't remember where I got the black-stemmed wine glass or the water glass.

Fresh ivy from the garden for the centerpiece.

On the menu for St. Patrick's Day:

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Butter

Pan-Fried Gammon Steaks with Whiskey Sauce*

Colcannon

Easier-Than-Apple Pie

Coffee or Tea

Bailey's Irish Cream

*Pan-Fried Gammon Steaks with Whiskey Sauce

4 gammon (ham) steaks
2 T. butter
1 tsp. minced onion
2 T. flour
1 T. brown sugar
1 T. Irish whiskey
1/2 C. water or stock
salt and pepper to taste

Pan fry ham steaks in a skillet to heat through (a little water in the skillet will keep the ham from drying out). Remove to a plate and keep warm. Melt the butter in the skillet and add the onion, cooking until translucent. Stir in the flour. Remove from the heat and slowly add the water or stock, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Return to the heat, add sugar, and bring to a boil. Simmer gently for two minutes to cook the flour. If the sauce seems too thick, stir in a little water. Add the whiskey and season to taste. Pour the sauce over the ham steaks. Serves 4.

Recipe adapted from Broth & Blarney: The Irish Eye Cookbook

Please feel free to help yourself to some Lindor truffles (white chocolate or dark peppermint) while we wait for dinner. Just don't spoil your appetite!