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Rumbledethumps - Celtic Potato, Cabbage & Cheese Gratin

from the Auberge de la Fontaine  

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. potatoes, peeled & cut into small even size pieces
• 6 -8 large savoy cabbage leaves, washed, trimmed & cut into 1/4-inch strips
• 4 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
• 2 ounces butter
• 2 -4 tablespoons milk
• salt and pepper for flavor
• 4 ounces of Scottish cheddar cheese or another variety, grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450F. 
2. Lightly grease a serving or baking dish.
3. Boil the potatoes in water for about 20 minutes or until soft.
4. At the same time, boil the savoy cabbage for 5 minutes maximum - take off the heat, drain & allow cooling in a colander.
5.  Drain the potatoes and add the butter, milk, salt and pepper. Using a potato masher or hand held mixer - mix & mash the potatoes until smooth & no lumps.
6.  Add the cabbage & chives to the mashed potatoes - gently mix together.
7. Pile the mixture into a baking dish and scatter grated cheese over the top . Bake for 15-20 minutes in the oven, until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
8. Serve immediately with grilled or roast meat, crusty bread or extra vegetables. Serves 4 people as a side, or 2 people as a light dish.

• Decorate with Holly & Ivy: Years ago, families used holly bushes and ivy to decorate the mantelpiece and other parts of the house. Finding a holly bush with lots of berries was considered a harbinger of good luck in the coming year. Holly allowed the poor to decorate their homes in the same way as those who were better off.
• Display a Welcoming Candle: A Christmas candle in the window, still popular around the world, is displayed as a symbol of hospitality. In Ireland they were a symbol that the homeowner would welcome the Holy Family- unlike the inn keeper in Bethlehem who bore the guilt of having turned them away.
• Skip cookies for Santa: gift Guinness! Leaving mince pie and a bottle of Guinness out on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus was once popular in Ireland.
• Create an Irish Christmas dinner: A fairly traditional menu includes either a Goose or Turkey with stuffing (usually a sage and onion type), ham, roasted and boiled potatoes (Irish meals often include potatoes prepared several ways), brussell sprouts, carrots, cauliflower and parsnips, followed by mincemeat pie, Christmas cake, or a Christmas pudding.
• Go Caroling: The Welsh are great lovers of music, and every Christmas carol singing is a favorite activity. They sing in churches, at home around Christmas trees, and at the doors and windows of others. Carolers also make their rounds at dawn on Christmas morning, receiving refreshments of thanks by the families they visit.
• Celebrate Boxing Day: This tradition began with the wealthy, often 
  owners of castles or estates. On the day after Christmas, they gathered together their staff and distributed gifts, done according to the status of the worker and the size of the family. Cloth, leather  goods, new tools and supplies of salt and spices as well as food items were very common. They were presented in boxes, thus the day became known as "Boxing Day". Nowadays, Boxing Day seems to mean exchanging unwanted gifts/boxes at stores, while taking advantage of after-holiday bargains.
• Welcome the First Footer: The 'first foot' in the house after midnight on New Year's Eve is a popular tradition in Scotland. To ensure good luck, a First Footer should be a dark-haired male, not a fair-haired first footers who were feared. Light-complexioned callers in the night were also not welcome after the Viking invasions of ancient times. Even now, it is very common for people to subtly arrange for the right person to arrive! First Footers should arrive with a lump of coal (to lovingly place on the host's fire), shortbread, a black bun and whisky to toast to a Happy New Year.

It's during the holidays that we think most about our families, memories and traditions. We'll be sharing tips to help you learn more about your ancestors, family genealogy, and the fascinating people who have made you who you are today!

Join the Celtic Circle Ceilidh Band for a night of Celtic music. This seven-member band specializes in traditional Celtic music. Admission: $10 or free to Buff State Students.