So being that my maiden name is McCarthy and someone who loves tradition, each St. Patrick’s Day I find myself running to Stop & Shop to get all of the ingredients for a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner for my family. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not one of my favorite dishes, as a matter of fact it’s not even on my top 10 list of favorites, but a tradition is a tradition and so I make it once a year.
This morning when I excitedly told my husband Michael what I was making for dinner and asked that he try to get home early for a “family dinner”, the first thing he did was scrunch up his nose and said “ooohhhh…greaaaaat“.
Michael is Portuguese and he loves all of the traditional Portuguese dishes including Chouriço & Linguiça, things that make ME scrunch my nose up to.
However, I must say that it doesn’t get much better than a fresh slice of Portuguese Sweet Bread toasted with some warm manteiga (yes, manteiga in portuguese means butter!) – now that IS on my top 10 list!
What is the moral of my blabbing when all I wanted to say was Happy St. Patrick’s Day you ask??
Well, it doesn’t matter whether we like the traditional food of our ancestors or even of our spouses ancestors because sometimes we won’t. For our family this annual St. Patrick’s “family dinner” isn’t about the food per say, it is a way for all five of us to sit together, share stories from our day and to break bread so to speak. We are teaching our children about traditions and something that they can share and pass down to their own children someday…you can’t scrunch your nose up about that now can you?
So, whether you are sharing a traditional boiled dinner today with your family and loved ones or a Guinness with friends…enjoy that blessing and Sláinte! (cheers in Irish Gaelic).
