When I was growing up, St. Patrick’s Day was always celebrated in our family. My dad is of Irish descent and would tell us all manner of stories that included leprechauns, fairies, pots of gold at the end of rainbows, along with tales of how St. Paddy rid Ireland of the snakes by playing his pipe and having them follow him to the cliffs where they fell into the sea and drowned.
Even though today is the 18th, it’s still not too late to try one of these Irish recipes. The first is sure to be a favourite of most families and the second is a traditional cabbage and spud dish.
Easy-Triple-Layer-Pistachio-Pie
1-1/4 cups Oreo Baking Crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 oz. Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate, melted
1/4 cup canned sweetened, condensed milk
3/4 cup chopped pistachios, toasted, divided
2 pkg. (4-serving size each) Jell-O Pistachio Instant Pudding
1-3/4 cups cold 2% milk
2 cups thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping, divided
Combine baking crumbs and butter; press onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate 30 min.
Mix chocolate and condensed milk until blended. Spread onto bottom of crust. Sprinkle with half the nuts. Refrigerate until ready to use. Beat pudding mixes and 2% milk with whisk 2 min. (Pudding will be thick.) Spread 1-1/2 cups over chocolate layer in crust. Stir half the Cool Whip into remaining pudding; spread over pudding layer in crust. Top with remaining Cool Whip and nuts. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.
Creamy Irish Potatoes
2 lb. (900 g) baking potatoes (about 6), peeled, quartered
1 lb. (450 g) cabbage, shredded
1 pkg. (250 g) Philadelphia Brick Cream Cheese, cubed
2 green onions, chopped, divided
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
Cook potatoes and cabbage in separate pans of boiling water until tender, cooking cabbage 10 to 12 min. and potatoes 15 to 17 min.; drain. (Do not combine.) Heat oven to 350 F. Place potatoes in large bowl. Mash with cream cheese until blended. Add cabbage and half the onions; mix well. Spoon into 1.5-L casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 35 to 40 min. or until heated through. Top with bacon and remaining onions.
