Recipe - Colcannon

Here is a recipe for one of Ireland's best potato dishs.  I would classify this as an easy to make recipe too.  The dish is called Colcannon and it is more or less mashed potatoes with ham or bacon and cabbage.  I'm sure there are several variations like using salt pork or pancetta instead of the bacon or ham.  Ooo, how about corned beef!?  Sort of like a corned beef and cabbage type thing.  Well, try the recipe then decide how you would like to adjust it.

Colcannon
 Ingredients

    * 3 pounds potatoes, scrubbed
    * 2 sticks butter
    * 1 1/4 cups hot milk
    * Freshly ground black pepper
    * 1 head cabbage, cored and finely shredded
    * 1 (1-pound) piece ham or bacon, cooked the day before
    * 4 scallions, finely chopped
    * Chopped parsley leaves, for garnish

Directions

Steam the potatoes in their skins for 30 minutes. Peel them using a knife and
fork. Chop with a knife before mashing. Mash thoroughly to remove all the lumps.
Add 1 stick of butter in pieces. Gradually add hot milk, stirring all the time.
Season with a few grinds of black pepper.

Boil the cabbage in unsalted water until it turns a darker color. Add 2
tablespoons butter to tenderize it. Cover with lid for 2 minutes. Drain
thoroughly before returning it to the pan. Chop into small pieces.

Put the ham in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and
simmer for 45 minutes until tender. Drain. Remove any fat and chop into small
pieces.

Add cabbage, scallions, and ham to mashed potatoes, stirring them in gently.

Serve in individual soup plates. Make an indentation on the top by swirling a
wooden spoon. Put 1 tablespoon of butter into each indentation. Sprinkle with
parsley.