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Looking for some fun and festive St. Patrick’s Day dinner ideas? Look no further! In this blog post, we will share some of our favorite recipes that are perfect for celebrating the holiday. From Irish stew to corned beef and cabbage, we have something for everyone. So get your pots and pans ready, and let’s get cooking!

Irish Stew Recipe

Ingredients:

  • ½ pound of bacon, diced
  • ½ cup of flour
  • ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
  • salt to taste
  • a beef chuck roast or lamb shank, cut into small pieces) (or you can use pre-cut stew meat from the grocery store)
  • one large onion, diced
  • three cloves of garlic, minced
  • one cup of red wine
  • two cups of beef broth or lamb broth (or you can use any type of stock)
  • one tablespoon of tomato paste
  • one teaspoon of dried thyme leaves )

Instructions:

In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on paper towels to drain. In the same pot, whisk together the flour and pepper. Add the beef and onion and cook until browned. Add in the garlic, red wine, broth, tomato paste, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for two hours. Stir in the bacon and serve hot with some crusty bread on the side.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe

Ingredients:

  • one corned beef brisket (about three pounds) )
  • one large onion, peeled and chopped )
  • one head of cabbage, cored and chopped )
  • three carrots, peeled and sliced into thin coins )
  • two tablespoons of butter) • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a large pot or Dutch oven, place the brisket in and cover with cold water. Add the onion, cabbage, carrots, butter, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for three hours. Remove the brisket from the pot and slice against the grain into thin pieces. Serve hot with some of the vegetables on top of it. Enjoy!

Meals

Bay Port, located on the western shore of Lake Huron in southwestern Michigan, is a quiet community nestled between the quiet Lake Michigan and the wild waters of the St. Lawrence River. Its easy proximity to Detroit and its location make it a popular destination for families looking for a vacation home or retirement getaway. For travelers, Bay Port offers great fishing and boating, but one more popular attraction that draws people here year round is the annual Fish Sandwich Festival.

In years past the festival was held annually during the late summer months. It brought large crowds of visitors to Bay Port, who would gather on the pier, along the harbor, and nearby restaurants and bars to watch as fishermen arrived with their catch. Those who didn’t make it to the festival in years past are treated to watching the spectacle again this year. The event is bigger than ever before with boatloads of fishermen and their family and friends coming to town to share in the joy of catching the biggest fish of the year! It’s a great excuse to enjoy a Guinness with some good company.

Pints of Guinness.

The beginning of the festival is at the beginning of August, with parades, lectures, live entertainment, and competitions throughout the rest of the month. The highlight of the month is the Herring Rodeo that occurs on the second weekend in August. Thousands of people turn out to watch as the world’s best fishermen take to the water to compete for the largest prize. It also marks the beginning of fishing season in the region, which runs from mid June through mid September. The festival is just as much fun for locals who love to vacation on Lake Huron as it is for tourists who venture out to see the large fish swimming and playing in the water.

In years past, if you wanted to catch some great fishing, you had to drive or travel down to the harbor and look for the best spots. You also had to spend hours trying to find the spots because the fish were so plentiful that they were practically guaranteed to bite. Not any more. If you want to catch some good fish this summer, all you have to do is head out to Bay Port Michigan and enjoy fishing for those small and large fish that like to call the lake their home. The area is teeming with small mouth bass, crappie, and catfish that are caught and fried up and served on special ferries and boats that make their way out on Lake Huron during the summertime.

Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron.

While you might do all you can to make your home a nice place to enjoy time with family, if you like to get out into the water and don’t mind camping there are plenty of campsites and parks to visit on Lake Huron. You can camp with a group of your friends and family for cheap and find a good spot for you to fish. If you like to go it alone, you can still learn a few techniques from the seasoned anglers out there. You might want to bring an old fishing rod that you no longer use and practice those skills that you have been wanting to master for years ago. Some of the more common fishing spots on Lake Huron include the Tawas Bay Campgrounds, Sleeping Bear Lake, and the Stearns Inlet Campgrounds. The Tawas Bay Campgrounds offers all the amenities of a nice campsite including free electricity, bathrooms, showers, and even a lake view. Of course, you can always bring your own fire pit to bring some extra excitement to the trip – a nice portable model designed for camping should do the trick.

The Stearns Inlet Campgrounds is also another great option for camping in the Great Lakes and offers a park area where you can have a picnic and then go back to your car to load up some food and equipment for the day and to take it down to the river when you are done for the night. At the end of the day, you will be happy to know that your catch would be at the end of the line. There have been years when fishing the Bay Port of Michigan has been a favorite summer pastime for many people and there are probably plenty of opportunities out there to help you beat the crowds this year.

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Electrical fireplaces are common in living rooms. They make your living area more comfortable especially during winter. But should you install an electric fireplace in your dining room? Why not. You and your family spend a lot of time in your dining room. You don’t always eat there. The dining room is also a place where families talk to each other and update each other with what’s happening in each ones life. It is just right to make it comfy and cozy. And one of the best ways to achieve this is by installing an electric fireplace, which is more practical and affordable than a real fireplace.

Installing an electric fireplace in your dining room will not only make it one of the most comfortable rooms in your home. It will also add to the aesthetic value of the room. The advantage of an electric fireplace is that it is easy and inexpensive to install. The reason why fireplaces in the pas are usually just found in the living room is that they can be difficult to install and are quite expensive. Electric fireplaces come in many beautiful designs. For sure, it will add to the beauty of any room, especially the dining room. It is one of the best upgrades that you can make in your dining room.

If you have a breakfast nook in your dining room then adding an electric fireplace in it will make it cozier. Can you imagine sipping hot coffee or cocoa on a chilly winter morning on your breakfast nook while the electric fireplace is running? Now can you imagine having breakfast there without the fireplace? Does it make a lot of difference right? An electric fireplace is very easy to install. You just need to place it against a wall right above the family dining table to make sure that it will work properly. Even during mornings when it is not that called, having an electric fireplace can still be comforting.

If you like receiving guests in your home, then you should make sure that they are always comfortable, especially when they are having lunch or dinner. For sure they will appreciate the comfort that your electric fireplace provides. Choose one that has a design that will match your dining room walls. Electric fireplaces can double as ornaments for your dining room, especially those that come in elegant and stylish designs. Depending on the style of your home, you can choose one that has a minimalist design or elaborate ones ornamented with stones, glass, etc. Your choice of the electric fireplace should also reflect your personal taste.

If you have a bar, then the electric fireplace can also serve as a bar accent. It can convert your bar from a boring one to the perfect place for entertaining your guests. If you loke to display your collection of wines and spirits in your bar, then an electric fireplace would be the perfect complement to it. You will enjoy your favorite drink more if you are feeling cozy and comfortable with the help of an electric fireplace.

For more articles and information about electric fireplaces, go to This Electric Home.

Decor

Have your Irish relatives invited you over for dinner?

Are you wondering what to expect when having dinner with Irish relatives?

Worry not! We will today share with you some of the basic and general etiquettes which you should follow and expect from your hosts as well. Once you go through this guide, having dinner with your Irish relatives will not be an awkward experience for you.

1. Conform to the timings lightly.

Say you have a dinner invite for 9 PM. When would you arrive?

Instead of reaching precisely at 9 PM, it is better to arrive 15 minutes late. If you reach at 9 PM, you are likely to find your relatives still setting up things or getting ready. That is why you have to stick to the timings a bit lightly. Fifteen minutes after the scheduled time is an excellent time to reach.

2. Contribute to the beer collection of your host.

No, we are not asking you to carry a pack of beers when you’re going to a restaurant. This step is only applicable when you’re invited for dinner at Irish home.

Irish love beer. That is why an excellent gift to carry when you’re heading for dinner to Irish households is a pack of beers. In the Irish culture, it is expected that you might contribute something to the dinner when it is organized at home. The pack of beers is a versatile and easy way to conform to this custom.

3. Toast accompanies beer.

An Irish dinner is not complete without the beer. However, beer never goes without a toast. That is why, instead of directly gulping down beer when you’re served one, it is a good idea to wait for the toast.

4. Proper food passing etiquette.

Did you know that Irish have an appropriate way of passing food around?

It is a good idea to pass all dishes to your left. That is the basic Irish dinner custom that you can stick to.

5. Impeccable seating system.

When you’re having dinner with your Irish relatives, the most privileged position is the head of the table. The most important guests will be to the left 1st and then to the right of the head of the table. If a couple is hosting the dinner, then one spouse will be at the head of the table and another one directly opposite him/her at the other end.

Are you confused about where you should sit?

Worry not! Instead of trying to choose your position yourself, it is a better idea to let your host do that for you. You have to wait for a few seconds, and someone will surely guide you to your seat. Irish people follow a proper seating system, and that is why rushing to your seat is not advisable.

6. Completing your meal is considered polite.

Having leftovers on your plate after the dinner is deemed to be rude. That is why, whether you’re going to a restaurant or a private home for dinner with your Irish relatives, it is better to complete whatever is on your plate.

7. Do not say no to a drink.

Simply put, if you refuse a drink, it is considered a rude gesture. That is why having at least a single drink (whichever you prefer) is the way to go about it.

8. Hosts expect some gratitude.

Whether you’re going for a dinner with your Irish relatives at a restaurant or home, it is always a good idea to thank them at the end of the dinner and send them a thank you text message the next day. Hosts do expect some gratitude. On your part as well, you will come along as a courteous and respectful guest.

So, now that you’re aware of most Irish dinner etiquettes, that dinner with your Irish relatives will certainly not be awkward. You are well prepared for it. It is time to enjoy the experience rather than worry about embarrassing yourself or others when you go to dine with your Irish relatives.

Meals