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St. Patty’s Day

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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…

7 magical facts about McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes

For many, St. Patty’s Day is about Guinness, Bailey’s and Jameson, but let’s not forget that other important Irish Day drink, the Shamrock Shake. Sure, a large is loaded with as many calories as 1 and a half Big Macs (820 calories), but after more than 45 years, it’s earned its part in the national St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Here are 7 things you never knew about the iconic McDonald’s seasonal green shake. 1. The first shake was introduced in 1970. It was originally called the St. Patrick’s Day Shake, but was scrapped years later for something a little more creative — the Shamrock Shake. 2. Shamrock Shakes were a charitable endeavor What do Shamrock Shakes have to do with the Philadelphia Eagles and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children? In 1974 after watching his 3-year-old daughter undergo treatment for leukemia, Philadelphia Eagle Fred Hill reached out to the community to raise money for…

Americans plan to spend record $5.9 billion on St. Patrick’s Day this year

Retailers are about to see their own little pot of gold. Americans are expected to spend a record breaking $5.9 billion to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, according to an annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. This number up from last year’s previously record setting $5.3 billion. Nearly 150 million adults are expected to celebrate the March 17 Irish holiday. The average reveler will drop around $39.65, up from $37.92 last year. Food is the biggest expenditure. Fifty percent of people plan to spend money on specific holiday-themed foods. Another 41 percent will spend on beverages — dyed green no doubt. Apparel, decoration and candy are other top categories for St. Patrick’s Day spending. Unsurprisingly the holiday is most popular with 18 to 24 year olds, with 77 percent celebrating the shamrock-themed holiday in some way. But the biggest spenders will be those ages…