Now that I understand myself I've found that it makes some things easier but its taking time for it all to sink in and I wish I were further along. But I love my life now and not speaking the language is okay - all part of the whole picture.
Last Sunday Faye and I went apple picking, Mike couldn't pick apples due to his fall allergies - but joined us afterward for venison chili. It turned out pretty good. Mike and Faye liked it but I think that I added a bit too much salt. Yesterday, I made a deep dish apple pie with the granny smith apples I picked and mixed in a couple golden delicious. It is yummy and the house smells soooooo good :)
Today's Irish blessing is in honor of St. Francis of Assisi whose feast day was yesterday.
God bless the cow that gives us milk
God bless the lamb that gives us wool
God bless the hen that gives us eggs
God bless the pig that pays the rent
God bless the horse that we may ride
God bless the cat that catches mice
God bless the dog that herds the sheep
God bless the geese for our feather beds
God bless the lark for her morning song
God bless the swan upon the pond.
God bless all friends of fur and feather
And St. Francis protect them in all weather.
............................................................................................................................................................
today's Irish recipe -
Traditional Irish Toffee - Yellowman
To dulse and yellow man
At the old Lammas Fair at Ballycastle-oh?"
The Lammas Fair, or as Mr. John McAuley wrote in his famous song ‘"the Oul' Lammas Fair", takes place on the last Monday and Tuesday in August in Ballycastle, Antrim, Northern Ireland. The town also had a vibrant weekly market day which was founded in 1612, though it is virtually non existent today. The Lammas Fair is also famed for having an 'unbroken history', having taken place annually for the past 300 years but it origins go back to the legends and myths of Ireland. McAuley died in 1937.The Ould Lammas Fair
At the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle long ago
I met a pretty coleen who set me heart a-glow
She was smiling at her daddy buying lambs from Paddy Roe
At the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle - O!
Sure I seen her home that night
When the moon was shining bright
From the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle - O!
======= CHORUS =======
At the ould Lammas Fair boys were you ever there
Were you ever at the fair in Ballycastle - O!
Did you treat you Mary Ann
To some Dulse and Yellow man
At the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle - O!
=====================
In Flander's field afar while resting from the War
We drank Bon Sante to the Flemish lassies O!
But the scene that haunts my memory is kissing Mary Ann
Her pouting lips all sticky from eating Yellow Man
As we passed the silver Margy and we strolled along the strand
From the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle - O!
=====================
CHORUS
=====================
There's a neat little cabin on the slopes of fair Knocklayde
It's lit by love and sunshine where the heather honey's made
With the bees ever humming and the children's joyous call
Resounds across the valley as the shadows fall
Sure I take my fiddle down and my Mary smiling there
Brings back a happy mem'ry of the Lammas Fair
=====================
CHORUS
=====================
In any event, Yellow Man Toffee was definitely always served at the old Lammas Fair at Ballycastle in Co. Antrim. As for the dulse - that's seaweed. One has to assume that the dulse was served as a savory before the sweet?
For these taste buds, we sure hope so!
Ingredients:
1 heaping teaspoon butter
1 cup brown sugar
4 cups corn syrup
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar.
Method:
1. Melt butter in a sauce pan; coat the inside of the pan with the melted butter.
2. Add sugar and syrup and then the vinegar. Stir over low heat until the sugar and syrup have melted together.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer without stirring.Test by dropping a little into cold water to see if it sets.
4. Add the baking powder which will make the mixture foam up.
5. Stir well and then turn into a greased pan. Cut into squares.
Toffee as it used to be made: In the old days, the mixture would have been turned out onto a slab and pulled until it became pale yellow. When it hardened, it was broken into pieces with a small hammer.
To dulse and yellow man
At the old Lammas Fair at Ballycastle-oh?"
The Lammas Fair, or as Mr. John McAuley wrote in his famous song ‘"the Oul' Lammas Fair", takes place on the last Monday and Tuesday in August in Ballycastle, Antrim, Northern Ireland. The town also had a vibrant weekly market day which was founded in 1612, though it is virtually non existent today. The Lammas Fair is also famed for having an 'unbroken history', having taken place annually for the past 300 years but it origins go back to the legends and myths of Ireland. McAuley died in 1937.The Ould Lammas Fair
At the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle long ago
I met a pretty coleen who set me heart a-glow
She was smiling at her daddy buying lambs from Paddy Roe
At the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle - O!
Sure I seen her home that night
When the moon was shining bright
From the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle - O!
======= CHORUS =======
At the ould Lammas Fair boys were you ever there
Were you ever at the fair in Ballycastle - O!
Did you treat you Mary Ann
To some Dulse and Yellow man
At the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle - O!
=====================
In Flander's field afar while resting from the War
We drank Bon Sante to the Flemish lassies O!
But the scene that haunts my memory is kissing Mary Ann
Her pouting lips all sticky from eating Yellow Man
As we passed the silver Margy and we strolled along the strand
From the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle - O!
=====================
CHORUS
=====================
There's a neat little cabin on the slopes of fair Knocklayde
It's lit by love and sunshine where the heather honey's made
With the bees ever humming and the children's joyous call
Resounds across the valley as the shadows fall
Sure I take my fiddle down and my Mary smiling there
Brings back a happy mem'ry of the Lammas Fair
=====================
CHORUS
=====================
In any event, Yellow Man Toffee was definitely always served at the old Lammas Fair at Ballycastle in Co. Antrim. As for the dulse - that's seaweed. One has to assume that the dulse was served as a savory before the sweet?
For these taste buds, we sure hope so!
Ingredients:
1 heaping teaspoon butter
1 cup brown sugar
4 cups corn syrup
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar.
Method:
1. Melt butter in a sauce pan; coat the inside of the pan with the melted butter.
2. Add sugar and syrup and then the vinegar. Stir over low heat until the sugar and syrup have melted together.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer without stirring.Test by dropping a little into cold water to see if it sets.
4. Add the baking powder which will make the mixture foam up.
5. Stir well and then turn into a greased pan. Cut into squares.
Toffee as it used to be made: In the old days, the mixture would have been turned out onto a slab and pulled until it became pale yellow. When it hardened, it was broken into pieces with a small hammer.
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