British Isles Menu

Suggested Menu:

Gaelic Casserole
Irish Potatoes
Stonehenge Relish Plate
Welsh Oatmeal Cracker
Green Cool Ade Irish Coffee


Tip: Since March 17th is named in honor of a young man who was born in Great Britain and ended up in Ireland as a Christian missionary, we are using a British Isles Menu to celebrate the occasion of his birthday. Allow the children to make shamrocks from green paper. Use green napkins, tablecloth and candles. Make a centerpiece using greenery from the outside plants. If you have crocus or other early blooming flowers, add a few. If you have items from the British Isles, place around the room.

Food for Thought:
I saw…come from Heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with His glory… cinnamon…odors, ointments, frankincense, wine, oil, flour, wheat, beast, sheep, horses, chariots, slaves, souls of men…Revelation 1:1 & 13.KJV

Family Meal Planning

Potatoes

Potatoes come in two types: sweet or white. There are various varieties of each. The Irish potato is considered the best general-purpose potato. Usually Russets or Idaho potatoes are best for baking. Potatoes are high in carbohydrates. They also have Vitamin C and A. Diabetics should be conscious of the content when planning a meal. A meal without potatoes may be served without bread. Sweet potatoes have an orange-pulp inside. They can be baked, made in cakes, pies or fried. Any variety of potato should be free of green spots and rotten blemishes.

Oats

Oats is the main cereal crop in Great Britain. Oats is a high fiber food because of the husk that adheres to the grain. People with high cholesterol are encouraged to eat a serving of oatmeal each day. The Scottish oatmeal is ground. Oats may come in old-fashioned or quick cooking times. No difference has been found in the nutritional content of each. Oatmeal is a favorite breakfast food. It is also used in oatmeal-peanut butter cookies, cakes and muffins.

From the Nutritionist: Family meal planners will discover this menu is a fun way of providing nutritious foods. The casserole and relish plate have vegetables that are high in vitamins A and C. Use fresh organic vegetables and fruits, if possible. Dip fresh fruit in fruit -fresh mixture to keep from oxidizing.Canned fruits and vegetables may be used. The meat in the casserole provides the protein. The oatmeal crackers and potatoes supply carbohydrates. The dessert cake is also high in carbohydrates. Low sugar pudding and gelatin can be substituted for diabetics. Use fresh fruit for more nutritional value. Not only is the menu colorful, but also beneficial for family meal planners with weight management concerns. Other special need groups like diabetics will find the meal healthy. Choose as lean beef as possible for the casserole. The food recipes are easy. Store any leftovers in food storage containers; place the trifle food airtight containers in gift baskets decorated with shamrocks and give to shut-ins. Family meal planners may substitute cherry syrup for liquor in an Irish coffee recipe and top with tinted green whipped cream. Diabetics may omit the syrup. This meal serves 6 people.


Recipes

Gaelic Casserole

1 lb. Hamburger meat
1 T. oil
1cup English peas
1can chestnuts
1 chopped tomato
1 chopped onion
1 zucchini squash
½ cup chicken or beef broth

Cook hamburger meat in oil. Mix peas, chestnuts, tomato, onions and squash in a sprayed casserole dish. Cover with tin foil and bake 1 hour. May remove foil and sprinkle grated cheese on top and bake until brown.

Irish Potatoes

4 large potatoes

1 stick butter

salt and pepper

Slice potatoes and layer in a in a dish. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste and place pats of butter on top. Bake in microwave about 5 minutes or until when pierced with a fork they are done.

Stonehenge Relish Plate

Cut carrots, celery and other vegetables in strips. May add a bowl of dressing for dipping. Arrange vegetables like Stonehenge formation on the plate.

Welsh Oatmeal Cracker

1cup boiling water
½ c butter or margarine
1 t. salt
4 cups quick oatmeal
White flour

Melt the margarine with water in microwave. Add salt and oatmeal. Make dough. Sprinkle white flour on a sheet of wax paper. Sprinkle more flour on top and top with wax paper. Roll out the thickness of a cracker. Cut the dough into cracker shapes or triangles. Pierce with a fork and bake on a cookie sheet at 375 º for 10-15 minutes.

Trifle

Pound or left over cake
1 large package Strawberry Jell-O
2 cups Vanilla pudding
Mixed fruits, apples, bananas, pears, cherries
1 container of Cool Whip
Green food coloring


Layer pound cake in a large bowl such as a punch bowl. Mix Jell-O according to instructions on package and pour over top; chill to set. Add pudding. Layer with fruit mixture. Top with tinted green Cool Whip.