“May Nothing But Happiness Come Through Your Door.”

Did you know that the feast of St. Patrick has been celebrated for more than 1000 years?  Irish communities throughout the world normally gather together to dance, drink and feast in honor their Irish heritage and culture. COVID, however, makes large gatherings in the pub difficult. But, you can certainly create your own home St. Patrick’s Day celebration. All it takes is some good food, your favorite ale with some Irish music playing in the background. The challenge, of course, is that many people struggle with diet and acid sensitivity. It takes just a wee bit of creativity to adapt traditional recipes into a form that is more acid friendly.

Light vs. Dark Beers 

If there was ever a day for beer, it’s St. Patrick’s Day. Beers come in many varieties and, clearly, a dark ale or stout (i.e. Guinness®) is often preferred but not ideal for many. Pale ales appear to be less irritating than dark ales or stouts according to a study conducted by the IC Network. Of course, quantity matters as well. Prelief® can help. Just two caplets  of Prelief® will reduce up to 92% of the acid in 12 ounces of beer so you may be able to enjoy some beer again!

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Corned beef never looses its appeal, especially during the cold winter months. You’ll find several prepackaged corned beef products in most grocery stores. If you are worried about the brines and/or peppercorns, leave out the spices altogether to make it more mild. Because a “brisket” can be a tough cut of meat, look for the more tender “round” cut instead. You can go for traditional boil or roast it in the oven, wrapped in foil to preserve the juices.  If one pot meals are your jam, add some organic white potatoes and carrots to the corned beef while it’s boiling. In the last 30 minutes, add a few quarters of cabbage as well!  Unfortunately, cabbage can be a bit acidic and, again, Prelief® can help. 3 caplets of Prelief® will reduce up to  75% of the acid in 1/2 cup of red cabbage.

Another authentic Irish meal is Shephards Pie, preferably with lamb or beef. This is the quintessential comfort food due to the savory meat filling topped with mashed potatoes and cheese. Guinness® has a fabulous recipe on their website worth a try that also includes stout for flavoring. Just leave out the tomato sauce and/or swap with some organic beef broth instead. Remember, heat removes the irritating qualities in alcohol.

Irish Soda Bread

The secret to making great Irish Soda bread is buttermilk which gives it both flavor and texture. Irish Soda Bread does not use yeast but rather baking soda to help it rise. It is a denser bread that is absolutely tasty straight out of the oven and smeared with a little bit of butter. Some recipes call for some caraway seeds that add savory flavors, while others prefer using currants. The combination of sweet and savory make for a truly memorable flavor.

1 3/4 cups  buttermilk
1 egg
4  1/4 cups organic all-purpose flour
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
5 tbsp cold unsalted butter
1 cup (150g) currants

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Whisk the buttermilk and egg together. Set aside. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Using a pastry cutter, cut butter into the flour mixture until crumbly. Add fruit, buttermilk and egg. Mix gently. Place dough onto a lightly floured board and knead until thoroughly moistened.
  3. Form the dough into a round loaf and place on a greased baking pan. To make sure that it heats thoroughly through the center, score an X on top of the bread.
  4. Bake until golden brown, roughly 45 minutes. (Place foil on top of the loaf if it’s getting too brown in the oven.)
  5. Serve warm, with fresh butter!

Colcannon

Here’s a different twist on comfort food. Yes, we know you love mashed potatoes. Steamed cabbage is also a popular favorite among the Irish. But when you combine them together, you create Colcannon, a rich mashed side dish that combines the comfort of potatoes, the nutrition of cabbage (or kale) and the rich flavors of ham or bacon. Give it a try! You might love it!

3 pounds of organic potatoes, peeled
1 stick of butter
1 1/4 cup milk (your choice of dairy, coconut or almond)
1 head of cabbage or kale
1 lb cooked uncured ham or bacon
4 scallions finely chopped

  1. Steam potatoes until tender, approximately 30 minutes. Mash thoroughly while adding 1 stick of butter and hot milk. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Boil cabbage or kale in unsalted water until tender. Drain and then chop into fine pieces.
  3. Dice ham and heat in a skillet with butter until tender.
  4. Stir greens and ham into the potatoes gently. Feel free to add a wee bit of garlic powder for flavor, as well. Serve with butter!

Irish Coffee

Coffee you dare suggest? Actually, we can make this more acid friendly by using an herbal coffee, such as our new favorite Dandy Blend®, or a low acid coffee (Bella Rosa, Simpatico or Tyler’s). Remember that decaf is always preferred especially before bedtime.  Simply combine:

1 cup of freshly brewed hot herbal or low acid coffee
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of Irish Whiskey (optional)
Whipped Cream

Place sugar and coffee in your serving glass, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add whiskey. Top with whipped cream and, if you have it, some grated carob! Don’t forget a few capsules of Prelief® which can reduce the acid in both the coffee and whiskey!