Tag

St. Patricks Day

Browsing

Lucky Licorice Rainbows

These licorice rainbows are easy to make and they just look so pretty! Twizzlers already come in rainbow colored assortments, so it’s really just all about assembly. These are perfect for spring, St. Patrick’s Day, or a rainbow themed party or shower. Kids will adore this cheerful snack. Put them in cellophane baggies for take-home bags or display them on the table for a tasty treat for your little leprechauns to enjoy  now. If you’re lucky, you might even sneak one for yourself! Looking for an adult treat? Try this Baileys Irish Fudge. Lucky Licorice Rainbows I ordered the licorice on Amazon Prime, but I’ve also seen it at Walmart. What you will need:  Parchment paper Rainbow Twizzlers 1-2 tbsp butter 1 bag of mini marshmallows, divided Shredded coconut (sweetened) Knife or scissors Cellophane bags and ribbon (if making goodie bags) Small saucepan Spatula Directions Cover a hard surface with…

Irish whiskey chocolate chip cookies

So, you say you like whiskey AND you like chocolate chip cookies? These might just be your new favorite cookies of all time. Chocolate and whiskey (or is it spelled whisky?), perhaps unsurprisingly, go together extremely well. A subtly smokey, nutty whiskey complements the creamy chocolate morsels quite nicely. You can go with any whiskey, normally I would choose Jack Daniels, but being that it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, it was an easy choice—Jameson. While the alcohol evaporates when you cook them, you’re still left with an insanely delicious flavor combo in this whiskey chocolate chip cookie. Love boozy recipes this time of year? Try this Crock Pot Guinness Roast Beef recipe or this Easy White Chocolate Baileys Irish Fudge recipe. Whiskey chocolate chip cookies Makes about 12 cookies  Ingredients 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1/3 cup sugar 1 egg 2 tbsp whiskey 2 tbsp vanilla…

Whiskey vs. Whisky: What’s the difference?

Whiskey or whisky? You may have found yourself, at one time, doing a double take at a liquor store. Yes, if you’re a whisk(e)y fan, you may have noticed some brands are spelled with an “e” while others skip the extra vowel. But why? In short, it has to do with a particular brand’s country of origin. Generally speaking, Irish whiskeys add the extra “e.” Likewise, the United States, with its heavy Irish heritage, typically spells whiskey with the extra letter, as well. Scottish distillers prefer “whisky”—without the “e”—as do other major distillers in Canada and Japan. A few notable exceptions to this rule include American brands Maker’s Mark and George Dickel, which refrain from using the “e.” In the case of Maker’s, this omission was a nod to the brand’s founding Samuels family’s Scottish ancestry, according to Scotchwhiskey.com. Another notable exception to this rule: legal usage. The Bureau of…

Irish soda bread recipe

Contrary to popular belief, soda bread didn’t originate in Ireland. It actually got its start with the Native Americans well before European colonization, yet the simple bread was easily adopted during the increasing poverty and famine of 19th century Ireland. Soda bread requires only a few ingredients—flour, buttermilk, baking soda, and salt, so it was an economical choice and soon became a staple in the Irish diet during those difficult times. Legend has it that a cross was cut into the top of every loaf to ward off the devil and protect the household. The original loaves were generally baked in iron pots or griddles in open hearths. Today’s Irish soda bread typically includes add-ins to enhance the flavor. Butter, sugar, raisins, and seeds are almost always included nowadays. Pair your hearty Irish soda bread with soup, stew, or this Crock Pot Guinness Pot Roast for a true taste of the…

Crock pot Guinness pot roast recipe

Get ready for the heartiest and richest pot roast you’ve ever made. The addition of Guinness to this traditional recipe makes for the perfect St. Patty’s Day dish—but it’s also just as delicious served on a cold winter day. Guinness’s dark, rich flavor adds great depth, but it also keeps everything super tender. Feel free to substitute your favorite stout beer instead. See 10 other recipes you need to make with beer this St. Patrick’s Day.  Crock Pot Guinness Pot Roast Serves 4. Double recipe to feed 8. Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil ~2.5 pounds boneless roast 2 tsp salt, divided 2 tsp black pepper, divided 1/2 yellow onion 1-2 carrots, peeled and diced 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced 1 pound red potatoes, scrubbed and halved 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp fresh rosemary 2 tbsp tomato paste 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 cup Guinness 1 cup beef stock Directions In a…

Lucky Charms Bars

Lucky Charms is probably one of those cereals you only spring for occasionally — like around St. Patrick’s Day when that devilish little leprechaun gets the best of your diet. But we must admit, the luck-themed sugary marshmallow shapes do add a fun flair to the holiday. This year, upgrade your classic Rice Krispie squares to these Lucky Charms bars. You basically just swap out the cereal in your favorite Rice Krispie recipe. Lucky Charms bars Makes 16 squares Ingredients 6 cups Lucky Charms 4 tbsp butter 1 (10-ounce) package of mini marshmallows Cooking spray Directions Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. (This will help you remove squares and cut them later.) On low heat, melt butter in a large saucepan. Add marshmallows and stir constantly until everything is melted. Pour in cereal and fold until cereal is completely coated with melted marshmallow. Transfer cereal…

Super Simple Shepherd’s Pie

A 20-minute dinner doesn’t get much better than this classic Irish comfort food. It’s perfect for your St. Paddy’s Day celebration, but it’s plenty delicious enough to make all year long. Shepherd’s Pie is one of those foods you’ll find on any March 17 restaurant menu. You’re practically required to eat it at some point in the month of March. It has become as synonymous with the St. Patrick’s Day celebration as pints of green beer — which is to say, that neither the green-dyed drinks nor this beef-based dinner are exactly Irish. Traditional Shepherd’s Pie uses lamb or mutton (It’s Cottage Pie that uses beef). But here in the U.S., we’ve definitely put our own spin on the holiday, so I think this dish gets a pass, too. I like to cut corners with this recipe and get everything pre-chopped so all I have to do is brown some…

10 recipes with beer you need to make for St. Patrick’s Day

You may like to crack open a cold one while you’re cooking, but on March 17, beer is the celebrated drink of the day. Let it inspire your cooking. Enjoy the distinct flavor of your favorite Irish brew at mealtime with one of these popular beer-infused dishes. And don’t worry, the alcohol is cooked out of the recipe, so you’re still free to cheers to St. Paddy with a few extra pints. Also, learn to make the original Irish Coffee. Beer and honey BBQ Chicken Skewers Let these beer beauties marinated overnight, then grill the next day. Recipe here.  Irish BeeF and Guinness Stew Guinness stew is traditionally made with lamb, but you’ll love this delicious big, chunky beef version. Check out the recipe. Slow Cooker Beer Mac & Cheese How do you improve upon mac and cheese? Beer, of course! Get the recipe here. Beer butter mushrooms These smooth and…

Colcannon is the traditional Irish dish you must try

Lots of foods have become synonymous with Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day — Soda Bread, Shepherd’s Pie, and corned beef, to name a few. But have you ever heard of colcannon? It might be lesser-known on a global scale, but to the Irish, it’s a true taste of home. Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made with mashed potatoes, cabbage (or kale) and leeks, yet somehow, most parade-going, Irish heritage-loving Americans have never heard of it. It’s tasty (picture rich potatoes and lightly crunchy cabbage cradling a pool of melty butter) and easy to make, so it’s surprising it never caught on here on our side of the pond. The name colcannon is said to have originated from the Gaelic phrase “cal ceannann,” meaning white-headed cabbage — the vegetable most commonly mixed into the potatoes. During the 17th and 18th centuries, potatoes, cabbage, and leeks were considered to be food for the…

What is corned beef and why do we eat it on St. Patrick’s Day?

Dig your “Kiss me I’m Irish” T-shirt from the drawer, get ready to guzzle pints of green beer, and crank up your Crock Pot for corned beef and cabbage because St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. Wait… what’s that you say? None of these things are actually Irish? You would be correct. They’re about as Irish as a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. The now iconic T-shirts are for sale only in touristy gift shops. The Irish would never pollute good beer with green dye, and while they do eat corned beef and cabbage sometimes, they’re probably not sitting down and eating it on March 17. So how did this meal become synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day — especially in the United States? The Irish have a long history with cattle that shaped their views of eating beef in general. From early on, cows were not slaughtered for their meat…