A Wee Taste of Ireland

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Somehow having the 17th land on a Saturday, makes the whole idea of Saint Paddy's Day much more festive!

Last year I made a traditional brown Irish soda bread instead of  white, raisin-filled soda bread. And we liked it so much, and it was so easy, that we are having it again this year.  It tastes much like a whole wheat yeast bread and rises up so nicely... I like to slice it in wedges though to make it more traditional, and serve it buttered.

Irish Brown Soda Bread

And I made up an Irish beef stew and let it simmer in the crock pot all day while we went for our 6 mile run and took part in some other activities.  Normally when I make a beef stew I use crushed tomatoes, but I didn't have any on hand so I used diced tomatoes instead, and pureed them in the blender before putting them in the crock pot.  Either way, the P+ values are going to be the same.

To assemble the meal, I steamed some fresh green beans to serve alongside the stew and the bread.  Wonderful!

Irish Beef Stew in the Crock Pot
Makes 4 servings

• 1 pound stewing beef, cubed
• 1/2 envelope dry onion soup mix 
• 1-1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes,  pureed in blender
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1-1/2 cups carrots, cut in 1/2" lengths
• 2 cups potatoes,  cut in chunks
• 1 cup onion, sliced vertically 

1. Layer carrots, potatoes, onions, beef cubes, onion soup mix, tomatoes, water, salt and pepper in slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
3. Ladle into 4 bowls to serve.

Per serving.
Weight Watchers P+ = 8.
Calories 339; Protein 36g; Carbohydrate 30g; Fat 7g; Fibre 5g.

All stew ingredients in the slow cooker and ready to start.

8 hours later, ready to serve.

Cut and butter some bread wedges, steam some fresh green beans.

Happy Meal!

Printable Recipe

Have a wonderful, Happy and Green Day!