Beef and Guinness Stew

Hi folks!  Winter just refuses to leave this year.  We've had snow today here in North Carolina -- how about you?  It looked like Spring yesterday when I walked Duncan at lunchtime.  There were daffodils blooming and Bradford Pears and Japanese Cherry trees in our neighbors' yards, but it didn't feel like Spring.  Hal and I were out yesterday evening, and one of the coldest winds I've ever encountered was blowing straight through our clothing.  Brrrr!   It's supposed to be cold here the rest of the week, with more chances of snow, so I thought I'd share this recipe with you for some good comfort food. I made Beef and Guinness stew this weekend for St. Paddy's Day, and I think it was a hit.  It was my first time to make this, although I have eaten it before.  We used to have an Irish restaurant in the next town over, and the owner had immigrated here from Ireland.  We found her food to be more authentically Irish than a lot of the Irish pubs around here.  

A Cottage With A Touch of the Irish

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!  Are you wearing your green today?  We've just returned from a quick trip to the coast.  We had three whole days there, and even though it rained all day Saturday, we still had a wonderful time.  It's always good to get away when we have a chance.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!  Unfortunately, things aren't looking real green and cheerful around here today.  More dismal weather, filled with gray skies and cold rain.  To be fair though, it rains an awful lot a wee fair bit in Ireland, too.  That's why everything is so lush and green there.  They're not plagued with the hot, humid weather that we get here in the summer, or the frequent periods of drought.

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