Food Friday: The Real Story of Saint Patrick and A Recipe for Apple Mash

I'm not Irish, it's the day after St. Patrick's Day, and I usually don't even celebrate the day, so why am I talking about St. Patrick?

Well, today, on Food Friday, I'm sharing the recipe for Apple Mash, which is an Irish dish, or so my daughter, Kelsey, tells me.  She served it for supper last night with Corned-beef hash and a salad.  Kelsey did some research, and bought a book from Voice of the Martyrs, about the real Saint Patrick.  One legend is that he used a shamrock (which is a three-leaf clover), to illustrate the concept of the Trinity.  She nannies for a family of 4 children (3 little boys and a baby girl).  After hearing about the legend, she found a shamrock craft for preschoolers to teach them about the Trinity. I know I'm a day late, but you might find it fun for your kids and a great way to teach a difficult, but important, concept!  (And I don't think they'll care if it's a day late!)


I have learned that the real St. Patrick was a man who I would choose to emulate.  He possessed Christ-like qualities: When in his 40's, he returned to Ireland, where as a youth he had been taken by pirates and held captive as a slave for 6 years, in order to share the gospel with the people there.  (He was not Irish himself--he was actually Scottish.)  And though this day has turned into a day for many to abuse alcohol, he was against it.  Most importantly, he loved God and obeyed when God spoke to him.  So, you see, the real St. Patrick was a man who is worthy of admiring for his godliness.


Here's the recipe for Apple Mash--a delicious twist on mashed potatoes!


Recipe for Apple Mash
Serves: 4 (easily doubled)
Ingredients:

• 1 lb cooking apples
• 2 lbs potatoes
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 2 oz butter

Directions:

• Peel potatoes. 
• Cook in salted, boiling water.
• Meanwhile, peel, core and slice apples.  Place in a pot with a tablespoon of water, and the sugar.  (She added butter to the apples in the pan.)
• Cook until soft.
• When the potatoes are cooked, drain and mash thoroughly. (She added butter and milk while mashing.)
• Beat in the apples and butter. (She left out this butter.)

This mash goes particularly well with bacon, or fried herring.
These potatoes were very good!  Just the slightest hint of sweetness!


Here is another link for an article on the "real Saint Patrick" by Ted Olsen, telling of St. Patrick's evangelistic work, and revealing some common misconceptions about this man.


Below are links to the site for Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), where you can learn about how you can pray for and help those persecuted for their faith around the world, and a link to purchase the book about the real St. Patrick.

The Story of St. Patrick, More Than Shamrocks and Leprechauns was written by The Voice of the Martyrs with Cheryl Odden.
I hope you will never think of St. Patrick's Day in the same way again and that you'll
Enjoy the recipe for Apple Mash!
(Linking to What's Cooking Thursday by Feeding Four.)