St. Patrick's Day!

March 17, is fondly known as St. Patrick's Day...guess what...that's today! What better way to celebrate in the bookish community than by sharing some facts about St. Patrick's Day and a recipe?


Facts:
~ St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland
~St. Patrick's Day always takes place on March 17
~ St. Patrick was born in 385 AD in Britain
~ St. Patrick was actually kidnapped as a teen and sent to Ireland as a slave, he then found     Christianity, became a priest, and went back to Ireland after hearing a voice tell him to, and spent the rest of his life converting the Irish to Christianity
~ St. Patrick died on March 17, 461
~ The Irish flag is green, white, and orange
~ There are about 10,000 three leaf clovers for every 1 four leaf clovers
~St. Patrick used the three leaf clover to explain Christianity the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

~St. Patrick myth- he drove all snakes out of Ireland (no snakes exist on the island of Ireland)
~The petals of the four leaf clover stand for hope, faith, love, and luck
~ 1962 the U.S. city of Chicago, Illinois dyed a portion of the Chicago River green


Homemade Chicken Pot Pie with Irish Soda Bread Crust

Ingredients:
1 pkg. Neill's Irish Soda Bread mix

2 cups milk
5 tbsp of vegetable oil
1/2 cup flour
2 large chicken breasts
1 large onion
1 small can of condensed broccoli & cheese soup
1 can of English peas
1/2 stick butter
1 pkg. mixed broccoli & carrots
salt, pepper, parsley flakes, and garlic

Follow directions on bread mix for 1 loaf of bread (milk & vegetable oil is all that will be used), dust with flour, and set aside.
Bake chicken breasts seasoned with a mixture of flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parsley. When done remove skin, de-bone, and cut into 1 in. pieces. Melt 1/2 stick of butter in saute pan and add onions, cook until tender. Add broccoli & carrot mix, chicken, and English peas. Cook until broccoli & carrots are not frozen. Add can of broccoli & cheese soup and 1 can of water. Stir until everything is mixed. Add salt, pepper, parsley, and garlic to taste. Put mixture into two pie plates.
Cut bread dough in half, roll out both halves. Place on top of pie filling and bake until slightly brown on top. Yay! You are now finished and can eat!
I hope you enjoy!

*Check in tomorrow as my St. Patrick's Day celebration continues for Irish-ish book recommendations, movie recommendations, and Irish folklore.


Sources for St. Patrick's Day facts:
http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day-facts; http://holidays.kaboose.com/saint-patricks-day/quick_facts.html;http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110316-saint-patricks-day-2011-march-17-facts-ireland-irish-nation/;http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/17/st-patricks-day-history-m_n_502386.html#s74433