Colcannon was traditionally eaten at Halloween in Ireland where trying to foretell the future is a crucial part of the Celtic New Year tradition. Fortune-telling charms such as a gold ring, coin, or thimble were wrapped in cheesecloth or parchment paper and hidden in the dish. The gold ring represents marriage, the coin - wealth, and the thimble - poverty. It's a clever way to get children to eat kale by blending it with floury, buttery mashed potatoes. It does seem a little dangerous, but I never remember anyone choking on a charm. <br />The secret to mashed potatoes is to put the cooked and drained potatoes back on a low heat to dry them out before mashing. Trust me, I'm Irish and I understand how to cook potatoes. <br />Cabbage can be substituted for kale if you prefer.

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