Add Some Irish to Your Dinner Tonight

St. Patrick's Day is finally here! If you haven't planned for something special for your dinner this evening, here is an idea for a dish that's easy to make and very Irish: Colcannon or perhaps even Champ.

Colcannon is a traditional Irish meatless meal, but it may also be used as a side dish with sausages, meat or fish. Potatoes are such a large part of Irish cuisine, as are vegetables in general. I have made this dish with kale and found it to be too bitter for my tastes, but with cabbage it is very nice indeed.

Champ, which is similar to colcannon. is made by combining mashed potatoes and chopped scallions with butter and milk, and optionally, salt and pepper. It is simple and inexpensive to produce. In some areas the dish is also called "poundies."

Ingredients for Irish Colcannon

• 1 ½ lbs potatoes
• 1 ½ cups of milk
• 1 ½ cups of boiled green cabbage or curly kale
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Some folk will also add green onion which is commonly used with the recipe for Champ.

How to Make Colcannon

Boil the potatoes until tender.
Drain well.
Mash the potatoes well.
Toss the cooked cabbage in the melted butter.
Add the cabbage and butter to the potatoes and fold well.
Season with the salt and pepper to taste.