For St. Patrick’s Day I decided I’d go all out. I made Corned Beef, Colcannon, Irish Soda Bread and a Whiskey Cake. Everything was fairly easy and all turned out delish. I doubt we will wait for St. Patrick’s Day to make these again.
Corned Beef
Ingredients
4 lbs. corned beef brisket
½ c. brown sugar
2 (12 fluid oz.) cans or bottles Irish stout beer (e.g. Guinness®)
Directions
1. Rinse the beef completely and pat dry.
2. Rub the brown sugar on the corned beef to coat entire brisket, including the bottom. Place brisket into slow cooker. Pour the bottle of stout beer around, and gently over the beef to wet the sugar.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hrs. During the last hour, you may put vegetables in the slow cooker as well. Allow to rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Colcannon – a traditional Irish dish made from mashed potatoes, kale or cabbage, butter, salt and pepper. It can contain other ingredients such as milk, cream, leeks, onions, chives, garlic, boiled ham or Irish bacon.
Ingredients
2 ½ lbs. potatoes, peeled and cubed
6 slices bacon
½ head cabbage, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
½ c milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1. Place potatoes in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender.
2. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, reserving drippings, crumble and set aside. In the reserved drippings, sauté the cabbage and onion until soft and translucent.
3. Drain the cooked potatoes, mash with milk and season with salt and pepper. Fold in the bacon, cabbage, and onions, then transfer the mixture to a large serving bowl.
Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
4 c all-purpose flour
4 T white sugar
1 t baking soda
1 T baking powder
½ t salt
½ c butter, softened
1 c buttermilk
1 egg
¼ c butter, melted
¼ c buttermilk
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet or stone.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. 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.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 30 to 50 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.
Irish Whiskey Cake
Ingredients
Cake
2 c golden raisins
3 T grated lemon rind
½ c Irish whiskey
12 T softened butter
1 c brown sugar
3 eggs, separated
1 ½ c flour
¼ t salt
¼ t ground cloves
1 t baking powder
Frosting
2 c powdered sugar
Juice of one lemon mixed with a little warm water and Irish whiskey
Directions
Cake
1. Place the raisins, lemon rind, and whiskey in a small bowl and let them soak overnight.
2. Place the raisins, lemon rind, and whiskey in a small bowl and let them soak overnight.
3. Cream the butter and sugar together.
4. Sift the flour, salt, cloves and baking powder into a bowl.
5. Beat the egg yolks and slowly mix into the butter and sugar mixture. As you add the egg yolks, gradually add both the flour mixture and the raisin/whiskey mixture. Mix well but do not overbeat.
6. Beat the eggs whites until stiff and fold them into the mixture. Pour this into your prepared pan and bake for 1-1/2 hours. Cool the cake thoroughly on a wire rack.
Frosting
1. Sift the powdered sugar and then mix in the lemon juice and just enough whiskey and warm water so that you can drizzle the icing over the cake.
