Tomorrow is St. Patrick's day, and as an Irish lass, I thought I'd impart some fun suggestions to spice up your holiday! Whether you're hosting a party or a pre-game or staying in alone, treat yourself to a little bit of that fun and festive Irish spirit! Below are some tips on fun Irish things to make and enjoy!
St. Patty's Cocktails
Irish CoffeeIngredients: 2 1/2 oz strong, hot coffee, 1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 oz whipped cream
* Pour the coffee, whiskey and brown sugar into a glass or mug, stir well, and float the cream on top!
Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Irish Mist Liqueur, 1 1/2 oz Carolan's Irish Cream, 1 1/2 oz Vodka, 1 oz Chambord Liqueur, 1 oz Fresh Cream
* Mix all ingredients in a martini shaker with ice, strain into chilled glass, garnish with a mint leaf!
Irish Martini
Ingredients: 3 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey, 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth, Lime
* Fill martini glass with whiskey and swirl around until it is coated, drain excess whiskey. Then mix vodka and vermouth in martini shaker with ice, strain into the glass and garnish with slice of lime
Irish Snake Bite
Ingredients: 6 oz Irish Stout Beer, 6 oz Hard Cider, Bailey's Irish Cream
* Pour the ingredients except the cream into a glass and stir. Then pour a dash of the cream on top
Purist? Not into cocktails? Here are some sure-fire Irish classics that taste great all on their own:
Beers: Beamish, Guinness, Murphy's, O'Hara's, Porterhouse Brewing Co., Harp, Kilkenny, Murphy's, Smithwick's
Whiskeys: Bushmill's, Jameson, Michael Collins, Redbreast, Greenore
Irish Munchies
Irish Soda Bread
Soda Bread is a tasty and very traditional Irish meal. Here is an easy recipe!
How To Make It:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease large baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. 3. Stir in 1 cup buttermilk and egg.
4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet.
5. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
*You may continue to brush the load with the butter mixture while it bakes if you want!
** ALSO, a lot of people mix raisins into their bread, so you can try that if you like!
Bittersweet Chocolate Irish Whiskey Cake
Ingredients:
How To Make It:
1 Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour 8-inch-diameter springform pan.
2. Boil 1/2 cup whiskey in small saucepan until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 2 minutes.
3. Combine bittersweet chocolate, espresso powder mixture, and 1/4 cup boiled whiskey in small metal bowl. Place bowl over saucepan of simmering water; stir until mixture is smooth. Remove bowl from over water.
4. Finely grind almonds with 2 tablespoons flour in processor.
5. Using electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter and 6 tablespoons vanilla sugar in medium bowl until fluffy. Beat in egg yolks 1 at a time, then sea salt. Fold in chocolate mixture, then ground almond mixture.
6. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold whites into batter alternately with remaining 4 tablespoons flour in 3 additions.
7. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
8. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool in pan on rack 30 minutes. Remove pan sides and cool cake completely.
For the Icing:
1. Combine semisweet chocolate and remaining 2 tablespoons whiskey in small metal bowl. 2. Place bowl over saucepan of simmering water and stir until smooth. Remove bowl from over water.
3. Add remaining 1/4 cup butter to chocolate mixture, 1 small piece at a time, whisking until each piece is melted before adding next. Place bowl over larger bowl of ice water.
4. Using electric mixer, beat icing until thickened to spreadable consistency, about 1 minute. 5. Spread icing over top and sides of cake. DO AHEAD Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover with cake dome and let stand at room temperature.
Want Somethin More Simple?!
Clover Cupcakes
Ingredients:
Cupcake Mix any flavor you like, with whatever other ingredients it requires (egg/oil/water), white frosting, green food coloring. PLUS tinfoil and cupcake liners
How To Make It:
1. Preheat oven and mix cupcake mix as instructed on box
2. Place paper liners in muffin trays and then fill each halfway with batter
3. For each cuocake, roll 3 balls of foil (think about 2/3" in diameter) and insert them evenly around the edges between the liner and tin (see below photo)
4. Bake the cupcakes for a few minutes less than the box says, because there's less batter per cup than they suggest - until a toothpick comes out clean, and allow the cupcakes to cool and remove them from tin
5. While they cool, mix the green food coloring into your white frosting(use about 1 teaspoon to a 16oz thing of frosting) and cover the clover shaped cupcakes
*Optional: use a toothpick to draw leaf veins, and put about a 2" piece of green licorice for a stem!
St. Patty's Decor
Hostessing with the mostessing? Better Homes and Gardens has some fantastic and simple decor ideas that aren't too kitschy and that will spruce up your place and give a little taste of Irish to your fete! Click Here to check it out!
Hope you like these tips and ideas! Have a fantastic St. Patrick's day!
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