St. Patrick's Day Feast

Well, for the St. Patrick's Day participants... here is meal that you can make tomorrow for little money and little time!  I made this meal for my husband on Saturday.  My intention was, as always, something that would say "I love you" to him after a long week at work.  So I started chopping cabbage, slicing and grating potatoes.  That's when I realized that this would make the perfect St. Patty's Day dinner.

Typically I do not participate in this holiday.  I have only ventured out once to celebrate the day with green beer and good friends.  So if you are anything like me and prefer to avoid the bar crowds... I hope this dinner will bring a little bit of Ireland to your kitchen.

I made 2 kinds of potatoes because I found a bag of gold potatoes for $2.99 a couple weeks ago.  I used one steak that came in a pack of 2 for $6.00 - so the steak was only $3.  The cabbage was 59 cents.  There are little ingredients, a few new techniques and whole lot of time saved!

Some of these recipes aren't really a big deal but, just something fun and different.  I found the potato pancake recipe in a magazine from Taste of Homes; of course I tweaked it to make it my own.

Irish Potato Chips
- 3 or 4 medium potatoes, sliced paper thin (you can do this with great knife cuts or with a mandolin)
- 1 TBSP of butter of olive oil
- 1 clove of grated or minced garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste

That's IT!!  In a medium skillet, add all the ingredients over a medium heat.  Fry in the pan until golden brown.  It really doesn't get any easier than that.

St. Patty Potato Pancakes
- 2 cups of grated and peeled potatoes
- 1 egg
- 2 TBSP of all-purpose flour
- 1 or 2 TBSP of milk
- Salt and pepper to taste

Yes, it really is that easy!  Grate the potatoes until you have about 2 cups.  When you are done grating, add the potatoes to a cold bowl of water (this will keep them from turning brown).  Use a towel to squeeze out the excess water. 

In a large bowl combine all the ingredients and stir thoroughly until completely combined.  The consistency should be just a little thicker than regular pancakes.  If your pancakes are too dry, add a little more milk.  On a skillet or grill pan, add a spoonful of batter and spread out to make a flat pancaked.  Fry on both sides until golden brown.  Serve with butter or apple sauce over the top.  Yumm!!

Steak and Cabbage - Irish Style
- 1/2 a head of green cabbage (you want about 3 or 4 cups dry)
- 1 cloved of minced or grated garlic
- 1 steak; sliced into chunks
- 1/2 cup of diced sweet onion
- 1/2 TBSP of olive oil
- Salt and pepper

Put the steak on a grill pan or skillet.  Cook until your preference (mine is medium-well).  Sprinkle the steak with salt and pepper on both sides.  Let it set when done cooking.  Cut into thin strips or chunks.

In a large skillet, add the cabbage and season it.  Allow the cabbage to reduce a bit and then add the garlic and onions.  Continue to stir until the cabbage has become translucent.  Add the steak and heat through.  Serve!

If you are looking to kick up the steak and cabbage recipe, try this recent recipe post.  It is delicious!!

Dine in and enjoy!