St. Patrick's Weekend

It was a busy day at The Whitney last Saturday, serving specially blended Irish Cream black tea to 143 guests.   I always have fun dressing for the holidays at The Whitney and the guests seem to like the festivity it provides.  Below, a photo of server Kayleigh and me.

After church on Sunday my hubby and I had reservations to attend a St. Patrick's tea & luncheon with special friends, Lori and Rick, provided by Pamela's Catering. 

 Our husband's were the only two men in attendance, but they didn't mind.

Below is Francine, the owner of Pamela's Catering.  She does the catering for our church teas and will be doing the one on April 26th. 

~ Hubby and Me ~

The banquet room was festively set for St. Patrick's Day and we had our own table for four.

The meal began with delicious scones served with mock Devonshire cream.  There were two tea choices.  An Irish Cream black tea [different blender from The Whitney] and an herbal.  I drank both throughout my meal and they were very good. 

Scones were followed by a mixed greens salad with Green Goddess dressing.

The main course was Shepherd's Pie with Reuben Sliders, Cucumber Finger Sandwiches and a Radish Sandwich.  All were delicious but we really liked the Reuben Sliders and I want to try making them at home.  [Side note: Paula Deen recently shared a recipe for mini Shepherd's pies made in mini cupcake tins that I'd like to try too.  They'd be perfect for tea parties.]

Dessert was a Guinness Cupcake with Bailey's Irish Cream Frosting and a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream.  It was yummy and we all went home with very full tummies!

We were glad the rain held off for Sunday's 67th St. Patrick's Day parade on Michigan Avenue in Detroit's Corktown.  

Corktown is Detroit's oldest existing neighborhood. In the mid 1800's Irish immigrants, primarily from County Cork, fled Ireland's Great Potato Famine, and became the largest ethnic group settling in Detroit.

The United States holds more St. Patrick's Day parades than Ireland for the millions of Americans who are of Irish ancestry [which includes me].

[Internet Photo]

My hubby and I had planned to go to an Irish Pub in Detroit's Corktown for lunch on St. Patrick's Day, but the pub we went to before [O'Blivions] has closed and a live Facebook video of McShane's Irish Pub was jam packed with patrons, so we opted to eat home instead.  I made a pot of Reuben Soup and we enjoyed it with baked Cod rather than fried.  I didn't have time to make Irish Soda Bread so that's being planned for today.

Michigan Central Train Station [owned by Ford Motor Company] was wearin' the green for the holiday!  Henry Ford's father was an Irish immigrant from County Cork Ireland.

[Internet Photo]

How did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

I'll close this post with St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer:

     Christ with me,

     Christ before me,

     Christ behind me,

     Christ in me,

     Christ beneath me,

     Christ above me,

     Christ on my right,

     Christ on my left,

     Christ when I lie down,

     Christ when I sit down,

     Christ when I arise,

     Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

     Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

     Christ in every eye that sees me,

     Christ in every ear that hears me.

 If you have never read the story of St. Patrick [Ireland's Patron Saint], take time to do it.