Ireland

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Book of the Month


Brooklyn

 

Colm Toibin, Brooklyn, New York, New York:
Scribner, 2009

 

Here's what The Thursday Night Gourmet Book Club thought of the book...

"Loved the story.  Wondered about how different immigration was back at the turn of the century, at the time the book is set and how it is today.  Lively discussion ensued about the conditions endured during travel to America but also how lonely and scary it must be to come to a new land, without anything but the clothes on your back, maybe some money but not always, not knowing anyone, and leaving the only place you ever knew prior.  Well written, movie is good too"!

 

Destination

Ireland
Featuring Irish Cuisine

 

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Menu

Cocktail: Whiskey Ginger
Appetizer: Irish Stew Lamb Meatballs
Soup: Potato Leek Soup
Main Dish: Corned Beef & Cabbage with
Irish Soda Bread
Dessert: Guinness Chocolate Cake

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Whiskey Ginger

Ingredients:

Irish Whiskey
Ginger Ale
Lime Juice

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Potato Leek Soup

Ingredients:

In a soup pot add:
3 Tbls. Butter - I use Kerrygold Irish Butter
4 C. Chopped Leeks - Use only white and light green portions, disregard darker green portions.
Cook until soft and translucent.

Add:
24 Oz. Bag of Honey Gold Baby Potatoes peeled and chopped.  Not necessary to peel if prefer skin-on however. 
3 Tbls. or 3 Cloves chopped garlic
6 C. Vegetable or Chicken Broth
3 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
1-2 Bay Leaves
Salt and Pepper to taste
Bring to a boil, cover and cook on low heat until potatoes are soft.

Remove bay leaves and thyme.  Using an emersion blender in pot or pour into blender and puree until soup is smooth and no lumps from leeks or potatoes exist.

On low heat, add and simmer;
1 C. Heavy Cream, stir and heat until ready to serve.

Salt and Pepper to taste

Garnish with a sprig of Parsley or Chopped Chives.

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Crock Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage

Ingredients:
Prepared/cured 4lb. Corned Beef brisket.  It comes in a bag with spice packet. 
3 Carrots sliced - pre-sliced carrots are available in the vegetable section.
1 Large Onion sliced
1 Head of Green Cabbage cored and sliced into wedges - Set aside, to be added an hour before serving.
1 Can Guiness Beer

1. Place carrots and onion in bottom of Crock Pot, cover with 4 cups of water.
2. Place corned beef in Crock Pot on top of vegetables.
3. Pour Guiness beer over meat and vegetables.
4. Sprinkle spice packet on top of meat.
Cook on high for 7 hours.
5. At 6 Hours in, add cabbage wedges and finish cooking for an additional hour.
 

Irish Stew Lamb Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Lamb
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Onion Powder
1 Tbls. Worchester Sauce
Set aside

In food processor add and pulse until pureed
1 Small Onion
1 Carrot 
Add onion and carrot puree to meat mixture and blend

Add directly to meat mixture
1 Beaten Egg
1 Cup Cracker or Bread Crumbs
Salt and Pepper to taste
Form into meatballs - Golf ball size.

Cook over low heat.  Turning to ensure all sides are browned and cooked thoroughly.  Add the following "Tomato Mango Chutney" to meatballs.  Continue heating until fully cooked.

Make ahead and refrigerate if going to be used longer than a day.

Quick and Easy Tomato Mango Chutney
1 C. Frozen Mango thawed and chopped or you can use about 5 chopped fresh mangoes.
1 - 15oz. Can Diced Tomatoes - You can use canned or chop about 8 fresh Roma tomatoes
Add mango and tomatoes to a sauce pan on the stove.

To the Mango and Tomatoes:

Add
1 tsp. Coriander
1/2 tsp. Cumin
1/2 tsp. Fennel Seed
1/4 tsp. Tumeric
1/4 tsp. Cardarmon
1/4 tsp. Ground Cloves
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
1/4 tsp. Ground Ginger
1 tsp. Chili Flakes
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Ground Pepper
3 Tbls or 3 Cloves Chopped Garlic or 1 Tbls. Garlic Powder can be used as an alternative
2 1/2  Tbls. Sugar
2 Tbls. Sherry Wine
2/3 C. Vinegar

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally

Pour into jars if desire to can or use later.  If using right away, add about 1-2 cups to meatballs on the stove.  Cook for about 20 minutes until well incorporated. 
Place meatballs on serving plate, use tooth picks to serve as an appetizer. 

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Irish Soda Bread

Recipe from AllRecipes.com

Ingredients:
4 C. Flour
4 Tbls. White Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 Tbls. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 C. Softened Kerrygold Butter
1 C. Buttermilk plus 1/4 C Buttermilk
1 Egg

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees
Grease Baking Sheet

1. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda and baking powder, salt, and butter.
2. Stir in 1 C. Buttermilk and Egg.
3. Turn dough out on to a floured surface and knead slightly.
4. Form dough into a round dome and place on baking sheet.
5. Brush top with 1/4 C. Buttermilk.
6. Using a knife cut an cross/x into the top, see picture.
7. Bake 45 mins but check at 30 minutes until browned and with toothpick or cake tester insert into center and if comes out clean, the bread is done.

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Guinness Chocolate Cake

Recipe from Ashley Manila - bakerbynature.com

Ingredients:
Chocolate Bundt Cake

Spray Bundt pan with non-stick baking spray
1 C. Granulated Sugar
1 C. Light Brown Sugar Packed
2 C. All Purpose Flour
1 C. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
2 tsp. Espresso Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
5 Large Eggs at room temperature
1 C. Full Fat Sour Cream at room temperature
8 Oz. Guinness Beer
3/4 C. Vegetable Oil
1/2 C. Whole Milk
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
2. In large bowl, combine sugars, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Mix until thoroughly blended and sifted.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, beer, milk, oil, and vanilla until completely combined.
4. Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients and mix until incorporated, do not over mix.
5. Generously grease entire 10 Cup Bundt pan.  Pour batter into pan.
6. Bake for 50 minutes until toothpick or cake tester comea out clean.
7.  Cool cake for 15 minutes before inverting on plate to cooling rack to cool completely.  Once cool, flip right side up to frost.

Bailey's Irish Buttercream
1 C. Butter at room temperature
2 1/2 C. Powdered Sugar
3 Tbls. Bailey's Irish Cream
1 Tbls. Whole Milk at room temperature
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp. Salt
4 Oz. white melting chocolate

1. In large bowl, either standing mixer with paddle or handheld mixer beat butter until smooth.
2. Gradually add sugar on reduced mixer speed until incorporated and completely combined.
3. Add Bailey's Irish Cream, milk, vanilla, and salt and beat until smooth.
4. Add in melted white chocolate and beat until smooth.
5. Increase speed to medium high and beat until light and fluffy consistency.
6. Spread frosting on the top and sides of the cooled cake.

For added decor, drizzle with caramel or sprinkle with semi sweet chocolate shavings.