MYSTICAL ROOTS (History of the Shamrock) ~ CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE GUINNESS BROWNIES

~ Mystical Shamrock

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The History of the Shamrock

Full of symbolism, this plant has mystical roots
by Michelle Gervais
(technical editor of Fine Gardening.)

Shamrocks have been symbolic of many things over the years. According to legend, the shamrock was a sacred plant to the Druids of Ireland because its leaves formed a triad, and three was a mystical number in the Celtic religion, as in many others. St. Patrick used the shamrock in the 5th century to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as he introduced Christianity to Ireland."

"Wearin' o' the green"

The shamrock became symbolic in other ways as time went on. In the 19th century it became a symbol of rebellion, and anyone wearing it risked death by hanging. It was this period that spawned the phrase "the wearin' o' the green". Today, the shamrock is the most recognized symbol of the Irish, especially on St. Patrick's Day, when all over the world, everyone is Irish for a day!The original Irish shamrock (traditionally spelled seamróg, which means "summer plant") is said by many authorities to be none other than white clover (Trifolium repens), a common lawn weed originally native to Ireland. It is a vigorous, rhizomatous, stem-rooting perennial with trifoliate leaves. Occasionally, a fourth leaflet will appear, making a "four-leaf clover," said to bring good luck to the person who discovers it.

~ Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)

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CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE GUINNESS BROWNIES

~ Rich chocolate lover's dream clipped from 2007 Detroit Free Press

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Filling:

8 oz. softened cream cheese

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 room temperature egg

Brownies:

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. salt

6 Tbsp. softened butter

8 oz. chopped premium dark bittersweet chocolate

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

4 room temperature eggs

1 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups room temperature Guinness or other stout beer

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper or grease and flour the pan.
• For filling: In medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in sugar. Add vanilla and egg until just blended. Set aside.
• For brownies: In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.
• In top of double boiler over simmering water, melt butter, bittersweet chocolate and white chocolate chips, stirring until melted. Remove from heat.
• In large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add melted chocolate mixture, beating until combined. Beat in flour mixture and whisk in beer; the batter will seem thin. Stir in chocolate chips - they will sink to bottom. Pour entire mixture into prepared pan. Spoon cream cheese mixture on top and run a knife through it several times to create a marble effect.
• Bake 30 minutes, or until visible cream cheese is lightly browned and wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Remove from oven and cool in pan before cutting into squares. ( 24 servings)