Steve Finds.....

Recipe:

Steak & Guinness pie

-1 kg of steak
-1 tablespoon cream flour
-1 teaspoon brown sugar
-1 tablespoon raisins
-5x onions
-300ml Guinness
-8 slices bacon
-3 oz lard

-Make the pastry before you begin to make the casserole.
-Now cut steak into bite sized cubes
-Put the steak into the flour and make sure it is all covered.
-In a pan gently melt the lard
-Add the steak, bacon and cook until it starts to brown.
-Peel and chop the onion and add to the pan.
-Place steak, bacon and onion in a casserole dish.
-Add the raisins and brown sugar
-Pour in the Guinness.
-Cover tightly and simmer over a low heat or in a very moderate oven (325-350F) for 2 1/2 hours.
-Stir occasionally.
-Add more Guinness or water if the rich brown gravy gets too thick.
-Line a deep pie dish with half the pie crust (bake it blind).
-Then add the Guinness and steak mixture.
-Cover with a layer of pie crust
-Bake until finished about another 10 minutes.

© FoodIreland.com

Song of a place:

The Rocky Road to Dublin

In the merry month of May from my home I started
Left the girls of Tuam nearly broken-hearted
Saluted Father dear, kissed my darlin' Mother
Drank a pint of beer my grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born
I cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghost and goblin,
In a bran'new pair of brogues I rattled o'er the bogs
And frightened all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin,

Chorus: One, two, three, four five, hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky roaad, and all the ways to Dublin
Whack fol-lol-de-ra.

In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary,
Started by daylight next morning light and airy,
Took a drop of the pure, to keep my heart from sinking,
That's an frishman's cure, whene'er he's on for drinking,
To see the lasses smile, laughing all the while,
At my curious style, 'twould set your heart a-bubbling,
They ax'd if I was hired, the wages I required,
Till I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity,
To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city,
Then I took a stroll out among the quality,
My bundle it was stole in a neat locality;
Something crossed my mind, then I looked behind,
No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin',
Enquiring for the rogue, they said my Connaught brogue
Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.

From there I got away my spirits never failing,
Landed on the quay as the ship was sailing,
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he,
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs, I played some funny rigs
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubblin'
When off to Holyhead I wished myself was dead,
Or better far, instead, on the rocky road to Dublin.

The bovs of Liverpool, when we safely landed,
Called myself a fool, I could no longer stand it;
Blood began to boil, temper I was losin'
Poor old Erin's isle they began abusin'
"Hurrah my soul!" sez I, my shillelagh I let fly,
Some Galway boys were by, saw I was a hobble in,
Then with a loud Hurrah, they joined in the affray,
We quickly cleared the way, for the rocky road to Dublin.

Song on the Diaspora:

The Shores of Amerikay

I'm bidding farewell to the land of my youth
and the home I love so well
And the mountains so grand round my own native land
I'm bidding them all farewell
With an aching heart I'll bid them adieu
for tomorrow I'll sail far away
O'er the raging foam for to seek a home
on the shores of Amerikay

It's not for the want of employment I'm going
It's not for the love of fame
That fortune bright, may shine over me
and give me a glorious name
It's not for the want of employment I'm going
o'er the weary and stormy sea
But to seek a home for my own true love
on the shores of Amerikay

And when I am bidding my last farewell
the tears like rain will blind
To think of my friends in my own native land
and the home I'm leaving behind
But if I'm to die in a foreign land
and be buried so far far away
No fond mother's tears will be shed o'er my grave
on the shores of Amerikay

Pictures:






Clare










Sligo








Galway - yes - this is a shot of the bay.....enjoy!