While Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a parade and adding green colour to their river, and Canadians are adding a little green colour to their shakes or beer, we can also add a touch of green to breakfast, lunch or dinner to celebrate this festive Irish occasion. Start your day with a Healthy Green Smoothie for Breakfast, a Big Green Salad for lunch, some Irish Stew with Green Peas and Potatoes for dinner. Serve with a glass of “green” beer or add a few drops of green food colouring to your ginger ale or serve green limeade.
Healthy Green Smoothie
Ingredients; (1 serving)
1 kiwi
1 cup spinach
1 scoop of vanilla flavoured protein powder
1 cup soy or almond milk
2 tsp honey
3 ice cubes
Put all ingredients into a blender or smoothie maker and mix until smooth and creamy. Pour into a large glass and enjoy!
Irish Stew with Green Peas or Beans
Ingredients
2 lb of stewing beef or lamb pieces cut into small bite size pieces
1 lb. Carrots, peeled and cut into bit size pieces
1 large onion, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
1 cup of frozen peas or green beans
1 large can of tomatoes (juice and tomatoes)
½ to 1 cup of water
2 medium sized potatoes, chopped into bite size pieces
3 tsp of beef bouillon liquid flavouring
1 Tbsp oil
Salt and pepper to taste
In a large pot add 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil and heat on medium high until the oil starts to sizzle. Add beef or lamb chunks –don’t crowd pieces. You may have to brown meat in two batches. Place the browned meat on a plate until all meat is browned, and then return all of the meat to the pot. Add the carrots, onions, potatoes and the entire can of tomatoes along with the spices and liquid bouillon flavouring. Add ½ cup of water or more liquid if needed. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and cover with a lid and cook on low for approximately one hour. Add frozen peas or green beans and return to oven and cook for another 20 minutes. Ladle stew into soup bowls and serve with big slices of fresh Irish Soda Bread or sour dough bread if available.