Springtime greetings, dear reader!
Oh, how it delights my heart to know that today is finally a "hello" to springtime! Soon we will be surrounded by green grass and blooming flowers and shady trees. The birds will be singing their melodies once again and butterflies will be flitting around. The scent of freshly cut grass and honeysuckle will hang in the air, and the refreshing feel after a spring rain will grace our faces. Ah, yes, springtime, you are a welcome dear!
As I mentioned in my St. Patrick's Day post, we enjoyed a lovely and festive tea party in celebration of the Emerald Isle. I spent days perusing my huge pile of Irish cookbooks looking for recipes to make our tea special and fun. All of these recipes, with the exception of a couple, were taken from some of my most favorite Irish cookbooks, some of which I brought back from Ireland and others that I have collected here stateside.
I will be sharing most of these recipes here on my blog over the next wee while, but for today, I thought I would simply show you what we feasted on. I have also included some of the loveliest Irish songs...at least they are in my opinion.
Feel free to make yourself a hot cuppa tea, settle in for a bit, and join me for tea...
you're most welcome!
Irish Soda Bread
{recipe coming soon}
When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.
{When Irish Eyes are Smiling}
Brown Bread
Come over the hills, my bonnie Irish lass
Come over the hills to your darling
You choose the road, love, and I'll make the vow
And I'll be your true love forever.
Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows
Fair is the lily of the valley
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne
But my love is fairer than any.
{Red is the Rose}
Sweetly Simple Lemon Cake
{recipe coming soon}
Springtime Pea Salad in Phyllo Cups
...not an Irish recipe, but it was green and sounded tasty...
{recipe coming soon}
Come by the hills to the land where fancy is free
And stand where the peaks meet the sky and the loughs meet the sea
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken is gold in the sun
And the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done
Come by the hills to the land where life is a song
And stand where the birds fill the air with their joy all day long
Where the trees sway in time and even the wind sings in tune
And the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done
Come by the hills to the land where legend remains
The stories of old fill our hearts and may yet come again
Where the past has been lost and the future is still to be won
And the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done
{Come by the Hills}
Irish Custard Tarts
{recipe coming soon}
If you ever go across the sea to Ireland
Then maybe at the closing of your day
You will sit and watch the moonrise over Claddagh
And see the sun go down on Galway Bay
Just to hear again the ripple of the trout stream
The women in the meadows making hay
And to sit beside a turf fire in the cabin
And watch the barefoot gossoons at their play
For the breezes blowing o'er the seas from Ireland
Are perfumed by the heather as they blow
And the women in the uplands digging praties
Speak a language that the strangers do not know
For the strangers came and tried to teach their way
They scorned us just for being what we are
But they might as well go chasing after moonbeams
Or light a penny candle from a star
And if there is going to be a life hereafter
And somehow I am sure there's going to be
I will ask my God to let me make my heaven
In that dear land across the Irish sea
{Galway Bay}
Ham and Pepperoni Tea Sandwiches
{a non-Irish dish on our menu, but we needed a tea sandwich and this one sounded so good.}
Potato-Leek Quiches
{recipe coming soon}
Chicken, Grape, & Pecan Salad in Bibb Lettuce
garnished with fresh dill
Thank you for joining me for tea, lovely friends!
Oh, how I hope spring is a beautiful season for you and that you savour every bit of goodness that it offers.