By Alden Smith

Being of the Irish persuasion, I offer this great recipe for Boxty. Boxty is a traditional Irish dish, and has been around for many a year. I especially like this dish with butter and a dollop of maple syrup for my breakfast. I do not have the usual “required” nutritional evaluation, but in my way of thinking, I can live without it to just have the pleasure of enjoying this fine old traditional side dish.

Boxty (Irish Potato Griddle Cakes)

8 Servings (Halve this recipe for smaller families)

• 1/2 lb raw potato,
• 1/2 lb potato,mashed,
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour,
• 1 Milk,
• 1 Egg,
• Salt and pepper to taste

Grate raw potatoes and mix with the cooked mashed potatoes. Add
salt, pepper and flour. Beat egg and add to mixture with just enough
milk to make a batter that will drop from a spoon. Drop by
tablespoonfuls onto a hot griddle or frying pan. Cook over a moderate
heat for 3-4 minutes on each side. Serve with a tart apple sauce: or
as part of an Ulster Fry, with fried bacon, fried sausage, fried eggs,
fried black pudding, fried bread, fried soda bread.

An old poem says: . Boxty on the griddle, boxty in the pan, if you can’t make boxty, you’ll never get a man. (The accuracy of the poem is uncertain.)

Alden Smith is the webmaster of http://www.allthebestrecipes.com
Visit his website for free recipes, articles, and many great cookbooks.

Londoners have the chance to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and taste the best of Ireland’s food and drink at the Bord Bia Speciality Irish Food Market in Covent Garden this weekend (11 - 12 March 2006).

Bursting with Irish fare - from farmhouse cheeses and traditional breads, to smoked fish and luxury confectionery - the market promises to be a gastronomic delight for food and drink lovers.

It also is key part of London’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations, which culminate this Sunday (12 March 2006) with the fifth annual St Patrick’s Day parade and festival in central London, which is supported by the Mayor of London in partnership with Tourism Ireland.

Visitors to the market on Sunday will also have the chance to catch acoustic performances by Bap Kennedy, Declan O’Rourke, Claire Sproule and The Men They Couldn’t Hang as a part of the festival, and enjoy the best of traditional Irish music with performances from a variety of choirs and Irish music schools. More live music and other activities are taking place in Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square – where the fountains will be turned green.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who is backing the celebrations, said:

‘On St Patrick’s Day Londoners get the chance to celebrate and enjoy all things Irish. This year’s events, organised in partnership with Tourism Ireland, will include the annual parade through the centre of London, with Irish bands and floats, a free festival in Trafalgar Square, a traditional Irish dancing Ceili in Leicester Square and an Irish food fair with Irish music in Covent Garden.’