It’s rare that the U.S. celebrates an international holiday dedicated to a specific culture and country. St. Patrick’s Day is only 11 days away and it’s time to start thinking about how you can immerse yourself in Irish culture for a day (or how much green you can wear in one day). One way to immerse yourself in a culture is with food. Below are food and drink recipes that you should make this St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate the holiday.
Irish Coffee Pie
(courtesy of www.food.com)
Yield: 8 servings
Ready in: 1 hour 5 minutes
1 readymade chocolate wafer pie crust
2 packages chocolate pudding
3 cups skim milk
¼ cup Irish whiskey
2 tablespoons instant coffee
1 (8 oz.) container fat free whipped topping
Cook pudding with milk, whiskey, and instant coffee until mixture begins to bubble and thicken. Allow to cool slightly, but not to settle. Pour into pie shell and refrigerate. Top with whipped topping before serving.
Cornbeef and Cabbage
(www.allrecipies.com)
Yield: 4 servings
Ready in: 2 hours 35 minutes
3 lbs corned beef brisket with spice packet
10 small red potatoes
5 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces
1 large head cabbage cut into small wedges
Place corned beef in a large pot and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with it. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and let simmer for approximately 50 minutes per pound, or until tender. Add whole potatoes and carrots and cook until the vegetables are almost tender, then add the cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove meat and let it rest for 15 minutes. Place vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much broth (cooking liquid from the pot) as you want. Slice meat across the grain and serve.
Black and Tan
(courtesy of drinkmixer.com)
Yield: 1 servings
Ready in: 5 minutes
1 part Bass pale ale
1 part Irish stout beer
(such as Guinness)
Fill half of glass with Bass. Next, pour the Guinness (or stout beer) over a spoon slowly until the glass is full. If done correctly, the Guinness will stay on top and the lager beer on the bottom.
Irish Soda Bread
(courtesy of allrecipes.com)
Yield: 8 servings
Ready in: 1 hour 25 minutes
½ cup white sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. salt
3 cups raisins
1 tbsp. caraway seeds
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 ¼ cups buttermilk
1 cup sour cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9-in. round baking or cake pan. In a mixing bowl combine flour (reserve 1 tbsp.), sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, raisins and caraway seeds. In a small bowl, blend eggs, buttermilk and sour cream. Stir the liquid mixture into the flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Knead dough in a bowl about 10 to 12 strokes. Dough will be sticky. Place the dough in the pan and pat down. Cut a four, ¾ inch deep slight into the top of the bread. Dust with reserved flour. Bake in the oven for 65-75 minutes. Let cool and turn bread onto a wire rack.
Homemade Shamrock Shake
(courtesy of browneyesbaker.com)
Yield: 2 shakes
Ready in: 5 minutes
3 cups of vanilla ice cream
1½ cups whole milk
½ teaspoon mint extract
Green food coloring (enough to get the shade of green you want)
Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth and blended. Divide between two glasses, top with whipped cream and enjoy.
