In case you didn't notice. Always appreciate the holiday festivity palettes. The family has gone vegan so we're having strips of seitan with pickling spice on it in place of corned beef but the rest of our holiday meal remains untouched.

As a brief history of the holiday in the United States while it has been celebrated since the 17th century, the real push for St. Patrick's day into mainstream america came in the mid 18th century along with the large wave of Irish immigrants seeking refuge from the troubles facing Ireland under British control. With that wave of immigration came a clash from reactionaries in America who opposed the sudden influx of "others" into their society.

However over time Irish Americans were able to both adapt to life in the US as well as put their own stamp on US culture bringing with them a larger focus on St. Patrick's Day. Similar to Irish Americans and Columbus Day, Irish Americans were able to latch onto the festivities as a way to help bridge the cultural gaps as well as shaping US culture to integrate.

Ultimately that is what I choose to celebrate this St. Patrick's day, how a group of hated immigrants were able to persevere and now their culture and holiday is celebrated wildly across the country.

It certainly took more than perseverance; it helps the assimilation process when those Irish immigrants look just like the same people whose country they moved to. It is unfortunate that most non-white immigrants, those who can't help but stand out on sight, have not had that same luxury.

But as a vegan myself, I would love to ask: how did you incorporate the pickling spice into the seitan? Was it ground up or left chunky? I've been adding silken tofu into the seitan for tenderness.

In reply to Boogs (msg # 2):

Actually, I think you mean: they looked like the folks who took the countries they moved to from the folks that owned them.

Thank you. Spot on.