| Everyone's Italian on St. Patrick's Day. My Irish friends may disagree but it goes something like this. The food traditions of Italy began with the ancient Etruscans, a pre-Roman civilization that apparently liked to eat and eat well. Archeological remains of clay pots, bronze cooking vessels and cheese graters may have established the Etruscans as the original "foodies".
Enter the Irish - Celtic tribes from central Europe, hearing of the well laid tables of the Etruscans, were attracted to the region of Eturia (now known as Italy). Around 350BC the Celts built a settlement alongside an Etruscan village near Monterenzio (BO) and began to invite themselves over for dinner. So began a Celtic-Italian fusion that inspired me to celebrate St. Patrick's Day "wearin' the green", white and red colors of
Il Tricolore, the Italian flag. |
A Green, White and Red St. Patrick's Day Menu
Try these Celtic-Italian fusion recipes for an Italian inspired St. Patrick's Day Celebration
The Dirty Grasshopper - chocolate goes green, fill a martini glass with 1 oz of coffee liqueur, 1 oz of creme de menthe then top with whole dairy milk (for a non-alcoholic version use 1 1/4 oz of Italian Torani Chocolate Mint Syrup, 2 oz half and half and 2 oz soda water)
Corn Beef Pizza - the ultimate Celtic Fusion . . . Read more
Italian Lamb Meatballs - combine Ireland's taste for lamb with Italy's love of meatballs. Mix all ingredients well and shape into tiny meatballs. Brown in olive oil (4-5 minutes) and serve with homemade tomato sauce and your favorite pasta. You can also serve the meatballs senza (without) sauce. Mix 1-3 oz package of chive flavored cream cheese into warm pasta until melted (use a little of the hot pasta water if sauce becomes too thick). Serve meatballs with a side of warm chive cream cheese pasta sauce.
- 1lb ground lamb
- 1/2 c instant mashed potatoes
- 1/4 c Irish whiskey
- 1-2 cloves garlic,chopped
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1/4 c finely chopped parsley
- 1/2 c milk
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tablespoon chilli sauce
- salt and black pepper
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