10 6 4? A 'Wee Bit Perhaps it's the thrill of believing in the good luck that four-leaf clovers and lep- rechauns bring, or the visual delight from the emerald and Kelly green decorations that dress the store windows all across town. Whatever the reason may be, "On St. Patrick's Day, everyone wants to be Irish," writes award-winning caterer Abigail Kirsch, author of "In- vitation to Dinner This mid-March holiday that commemorates Bishop Patrick, the patron saint of Ire- land, marks a day of feasting and merriment. From the reso- nant Celtic music to the deco- rative parades to the tradi- tional meal of corned beef and cabbage, the sounds, sights and tastes of the Irish seem to put everyone in a festive mood. This St. Patrick's Day, get in the Irish spirit with Kirsch's unique twist to the traditional corned beef and cabbage. The following recipes will make you think you've found a pot of gold - with or without the help of a leprechaun. A Wee Bit of Corned Beef and Cabbage on Caraway-Studded Irish Soda Bread Makes 32 sandwiches 41/2 pound corned brisket of beef 8 whole cloves 1 large onion, peeled and quartered 2 large carrots, peeled and quartered 2 ribscelery with leaves, quartered 12. whole black pepper- corns, crushed with the bot- tom of a heavy pan or meat pounder 1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds, crushed 2 bay leaves 8 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 small (1 to 11/2 pounds) green cabbage, tough outer leaves removed, cored and cut into quarters 1/2 cup plus 2 table- spoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons sour cream Caraway-Studded Irish Soda Bread (recipe fol- lows) Garnish 8 cornichons, cut lengthwise into four slices each 1. Place the corned beef in a 6-quart or larger stockpot or kettle with water to cover. Poke the cloves into the on- ion sections and add them to the kettle along with the car- rots, celery, peppercorns, mustard seeds, bay leaves and parsley. Bring the corned beef to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and sim- - mer, partially covered, until the beef is fork-tender, about 21/2 to 3 hours. THE NEW TANNER 2. Remove the corned beef and reserve the cooking liq- uid. Let the beef cool to room temperature, lightly covered. 3. Add the wedges of cab- bage to the corned beef cook- ing broth and simmer it over medium heat, uncovered, un- til tender, about 15 to 20 min- utes. Remove the cabbage and half of the carrots and cool to room temperature. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the cutting blade, pulse the cabbage together with the carrot pieces several times until you have a coarse but spreadable texture. Re- serve this cabbage spread until needed for service. (Re- frigerate this spread if prepar- ing ahead. If the corned beef and cabbage are prepared the day before, save the broth, covered, in the refrigerator, and use it for reheating the meat.) 4. Ina small bowl, whisk 2 tablespoons of the Dijon mus- tard with the sour cream until well blended. Refrigerate, covered, until needed for service. Finishing Touches And Table Presentation Carve the corned beef into 1/8-inch slices, then cut each slice to fit the soda bread. Spread each piece of soda bread with a thin coat of the remaining 1/2 cup of Dijon mustard followed by a spread of the cabbage and a slice of corned beef. Finish the "sandwich" with a small dab of the sour-cream mustard placed in the center of the beef. Set a cornichon slice over the top. Arrange the corned beef sandwiches on a large tray lined with emerald green napkins. Caraway-Studded Trish Soda Bread Makes 32 slices 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening 6 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 11/2 teaspoons salt 11/2 teaspoons baking soda 12 tablespoons salted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 21/4 milk cups butter- 1, Preheat the oven to 425 F. Grease two 13-inch-by-18- inch baking sheets and set aside. 2. Place the flour, caraway seeds, salt and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter, and using your fin- gers or a pastry blender. com- bine until the mixture resem- bles small peas. 3. Mix the mustard and buttermilk gradually into the Kids' Crossword ¢ WOOD BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK IN ALBERTA, CANADA, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST NATIONAL PARKS, WAS ESTABLISHED. * THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL, DESIGNED BY U.S. ARCHITECT HENRY BACON, WAS COMPLETED IN WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2000 of Advice for a Successful St. Patrick's Day Celebration flour mixture. Knead the dough gently, flouring your hands as needed, and gather it into a ball. Cut the ball in half, forming each half into a 6-inch, somewhat flat, circle. With a sharp knife, cut the fig- ure "X" 2 inches long and 1/2 inch deep in the center of each bread, extending the cut to the sides of the bread. 4. Place the bread rounds on the two greased baking sheets. Bake for about 45 min- utes, until the breads are golden brown. Cool the breads on a wire rack. Finishing Touches And Table Presentation Cut the cooled breads into quarters down the cross marks. Cut each quarter into at least four 1/4-inch slices. Don't worry, some of the bread inevitably will crumble, but you Il have plenty to work with. Save now, pay in the future Dear Editor, I would like to add my name to the list of people op- posing the sale of land at the McKenzie-Smith Bennett schools. Angela Tyler. Stella Brunelle and Mike O'Leary expressed the feelings of many resident (The New Tan- ner, March 9, 2000.) What will a few dollars in' their hand now cost the school board down the line? Another concerned Acton citizen, Sincerely, Lois Turkosz How can beneficial land be sold? To the Editor, If push comes to shove between the school board and the Town over the three acres of M.Z. Bennett the final chapter of "The Never End- ing Story" should be written in the Town's favour. With Council's recent ap- proval of another $2.1 million for the twinning of the Alcott Arena and Leisure Centre, the short end of the stick has bro- ken and the shaft is apparent. Affirmative action must be taken immediately before the floodgates open to develop- ers. A letter of intent to pur- chase could possibly buy some time. After talking with our school board trustee about the budget cuts from the Harris government it seems like we are all lodged between a rock and a hard place. How you can sell some- thing so beneficial to the com- munity. that we've paid for through the education part of our taxes, is totally beyond my comprehension! After seeing an increase in allotment. road repairs of a million Dollars to the Fourth Line and a paper trail com- mencing on the and closing of 22 Sideroad down to the Fourth Line. I couldn't see a better time or opportu- nity for one local business to help show us the way. We lost at prospect park yet we can still rebuild. If we lose the three acres the story is definitely over. Steven Grasby. Police Beat Acton firefighters were busy witha cornfield fire and a grass fire last Wednesday. At 1:20 p.m. they responded to a house on the Milton- Halton Hills Town Line to fight a fire in a cornfield. The homeowner had emptied ashes from a wood stove in the field that caught fire. About half-an-acre burned before the fire was extin- guished. DOWN Could we not tap into the At 5:19 on Wednesday. Gate re aire Betieie i hydro redtesobuarisig Sod Pro- crews were called to the 1. Canada or Mexico, 1. Milk-producing * FRENCH FASHION vincial Offences Act monies? Fourth Line, south of High- for example animal DESIGNER PIERRE Possibly a new fund rais- Way 7, after a spark from a CARDIN WAS ing campaign could be garbage fire ignited nearby 4. To bet 2. Impulses BORN ON JULY 7 launched. One is presently vegetation. Neighbours IN VENICE, ITALY. about to start for the Leisure ee 7 put out the fire 6. To play a guitar 3. Abbreviation for Centre. fore the fire crew arrived road ss 9, Type of vezetable =e «oo | THE HALTON FEDERAL WHAT NATIONAL HOCKEY 5. An episode of a TY program that has aired before LIBERAL ASSOCIATION is holding an evening with THE Hon. LLoyp AxEWworRTHY Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Royal Canadian Legion LEAGUE TEAM HAS THE MOST STANLEY CUP WINS? 7 Way word . Tool for cleaning a floor 8. Pa's spouse aL SIN EE Lae mn oc1eL A i Ree gene TE 15 Wright St., Acton 'SaW ] rW's dow: t Deke Si + : F * El pmmce Al pmor ar seme BIN pac) W's WL S c baka sree Friday, Mar 24th. aE Aa aa eae on eee oF ae bs Reception 5pm « Speech 6pm e Dinner 7pm JVAMLNOW SHE NaMSNY diusing "6 wnng 9 JIBVAA "+ Ww cd Tickets Available: Céutlee e 853-0133 (Acton) * 877-7745 (Georgetown) KCI9CIOI sSuamsuy KC99C403 KCQYCHUS * 875-4756 (Milton) ¢ (905) 336-2999 (Burlington) * (905) 849-1891 (Oakville) es