Saturday, March 12, 2011

Its Cookin' Thyme celebrates St. Patrick's Day!

     "Like the warmth of the sun, And the light of the day,  
                                                  May the luck of the Irish shine bright on your way." 

     March 17th is approaching fast and Here's hoping that the following EASY recipes will help you celebrate!!
             
        

Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups raisins
  • 2 eggs, (lightly beaten)
  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
  • 1 cup sour cream
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees  Grease  9 inch round cast iron skillet or a 9 inch round baking or cake pan.
  2. In mixing bowl, combine flour (reserve 1 tablespoon), sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and raisins. In a small bowl, blend eggs, buttermilk and sour cream. Stir liquid mixture into flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Knead dough in bowl about 10 to 12 turns. (Dough will be sticky). Put  dough in greased skillet or pan and pat down. Cut a 4x3/4 inch deep slit in the top of the bread. Dust with reserved flour
  3. Bake in 350 degree oven for 65 to 75 minutes. Let cool and turn bread onto wire rack.

Irish Beef Stew
St.Patty's Day done right with Ireland's best beer.
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 pounds beef stew meat, cubed
  • 3 cups stout beer (such as Guinness)
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and sliced
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 4 carrots, peeled and chunked
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
Directions
  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the beef, beer, sliced potatoes, and quartered potatoes. Bring to boil over high heat,  reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until beef is tender, about 2 hours.
  2. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 
 
    
Colcannon
This is a yummy side dish for St. Patty’s Day and a wonderful anytime dish!
Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 1/2 small head cabbage, chopped
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions
  1. Place potatoes in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, 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, reserve drippings, crumble and set aside. In reserved drippings, saute cabbage and onion until soft and translucent.
  3. Drain cooked potatoes, mash with milk, season with salt and pepper. Fold in bacon, cabbage, and onions, transfer mixture to a large serving bowl. Make a well in the center, and pour in the melted butter.

Irish Potato Candy
A cute little confection that looks just like little potatoes.
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • ½  package cream cheese (4 oz)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
  • 1 T ground cinnamon
Directions
  1. In a medium bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Using hands, mix in the coconut.
  2. Roll into balls or potato shapes, and roll in the cinnamon. Place onto a cookie sheet and chill to set. Roll potatoes in cinnamon again for darker color.

 Here's a last recipe a friend of mine would like to share......... (Thanks!)
"Your friends will definitely feel the luck of the Irish smiling on them when you serve this fantastic cake! What's the magic ingredient that makes this cake the perfect St. Patrick's Day treat? A cup of Irish beer—Guinness stout, to be exact. The beer adds a hint of coffee-like flavor to the cake. If you'd prefer a non-alcoholic cake, substitute milk for the beer... it's still a great cake!"
Guinness Cake
16 T. butter (1/2 lb.)
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 2/3 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1 cup Guinness stout
6 eggs
In a bowl, cream together the butter and both sugars. In another bowl, mix together the baking powder, spices, salt, flour and cocoa. At the very last moment, add the Guinness to the eggs. (Don't let it sit too long,the alcohol will begin to cook the eggs!)
Add half of the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture and blend, then add half of the wet ingredients. Repeat this process until all the ingredients are combined.
Pre-heat the oven to 350°, and line the bottom of at least 2 9-inch diameter cake pans with wax paper. Divide the batter between pans, and bake until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans for about 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack and peel off the wax paper. Let the layers cool completely before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 pounds confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
In a bowl beat together the cream cheese and butter until mixed, then beat in the sugar. Finally, add the vanilla.
Place one cake layer, bottom side up, on a platter. Spread with frosting, then top with another layer, bottom side down. Repeat with each layer, then spread the remaining frosting smoothly over the top and sides of the cake.

 Enjoy!!!!    And.....
 

  May you have:

            "A world of wishes at your command
                 God and his angels close at hand
              Friends and family their love impart,
                   And Irish blessings in you heart."
......................... check back next week for more March recipes!!



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