St. Patrick's Day

My daughter has invited us for St. Patrick's Day dinner, and suggested that I could bring a dessert, or a traditional drink or cordial. I'm a savory cook, and rarely drink anything but wine. Any ideas?

A bottle of Jamesons will fit the drink and dessert categories. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

What is Jamesons? (sorry, I'm a wino!)

Jamiesons is irish whiskey. It makes lovely "irish coffee" which makes a delicious dessert served with real whipping cream. A dessert flan spiked with irish whiskey is very good too!

LOL....No, I'm a Wino! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Elizabeth, Irish Coffee would be perfect! If you have a favorite recipe, please post it. In the meantime I'll start searching the recipe sites for one.

@ CaWino.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Not that this is Irish in anyway, but it is green! I made this pie on Saturday and everyone loved it.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Cool-Lime-Pie

OK, answering myself here <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I found a couple of recipes. Most seem to involve brown sugar melted in Irish Whisky, with strong coffee poured on top of that and whipped cream floated on top of that. I found one which was called Blonde in a Black Skirt, where the cream was not whipped, but heated and poured into the coffee over the back of a spoon so that it still floated on top of the coffee.

Since I'll be making this at my daughter's house and she has a really small kitchen, I think I'll just do the traditional way with the whipped cream. That way I can have everything prepared when I get there, and just heat the coffee (I'll make espresso at home) in the microwave and assemble them there.

Nothing to it.

Make a pot of really strong coffee, use chickory if you wish. Pour it in a big mug, pour it out. Fill the mug with Irish whisky. Drink away!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Seriously though, use strong coffee, shot of Irish, whipped heavy cream on top. Makes a great after dinner drink.

Jameson's while good, is not one of the better Irish whisky products. For the money, I find Tullamore Dew to be a good bar whisky. There are several others that are really good, but are sipping whisky, not the stuff for mixed drinks. Interesting note: Scotch is double distilled, Irish is tripple distilled. Makes for a lighter product.

Georgia, I always use the original method and many use Jamiesons Whiskey, but I prefer Old Bushmills, perhaps because I toured that distillery and think it is the best Irish Whiskey available. The other very important thing is always rim your glass with white sugar to give that special final touch! Regular brewed coffee is fine as if it is too strong it overpowers the flavour of the liquor. Here is a little video which gives the ingredients with instuctions. Hope you enjoy your St. Patrick's Day dinner!

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-an-irish-coffee

Thanks Elizabeth and Seaside 2, for the whiskey tips. Unfortunately I went to the ABC store this morning and bought Jamesons's mostly because it was the only one they had in a pint size, and I didn't need a fifth since we don't drink spirits most of the time.

I have an espresso machine, and was planning on using that for the coffee, since it says the coffee should be strong. Is espresso too strong?

An additional option to the Irish Whiskey, add in some Bailey's Irish Cream to the mix.

GaKaye,

Not to worry. The luck of the Irish will be with you!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Our St. Patrick's dinner was delicious, and my Irish coffee was a hit. I used decaf espresso beans, coarsely ground, to make the coffee in my french press. I used about half again as much coffee as I usually use, to make it strong. I put a teaspoon of brown sugar in the bottom of each mug and added the Jameson's on top of that. For my 10-year old grandson, I replaced the Jameson's with milk, and used a little more to lighten the coffee. Then I poured the coffee in and topped it with whipped cream. It was delicious, but a little to strong for my daughter..too much whiskey. I loved the warmth going down, but she stirred the whipped cream into hers to soften the alcohol heat.

Reminded me of drinking Irish coffee after dinner at Pineapple Pete, while listening to the music of Ronny Santana.

Just an aside...Irish coffee mugs aren't easy to find. I looked at Target, Stein Mart, and TJ Maxx before I drove by Pier One and pulled in with the certainty that they wouldn't have them. Surprise, they had exactly what I needed, at only $3 each.

We did Bangers and Mash last night. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />Good stuff. Real potatoes, leeks and some sort of mild cheese. Ms Seaside and Lil seaside made this up before I got home. Really tasty, especially on top of a bit of elixir!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

We tried our hands at preparing Colcannon for the 1st time yesterday. Not complicated - smashed potatoes, butter, hot milk, chopped kale (cabbage is also used), scallions, bits of ham, plenty of fresh black pepper -- all stirred together and seved hot. Not bad!

We went to a St Patty's Day Party on Saturday night and the hostess made Colcannon with fresh leeks...
no meat... It was fabulous!

Leeks are apparently very Irish. The recipe Lisa made for the corned beef and cabbage included rutabaga, potatoes, carrots, and leeks cooked with the corned beef in the slow cooker. The cabbage was cooked separately in some of the liquid from the brisket so it didn't get overcooked. It had a separate horseradish sauce that was quite good.

YUMMMM!

Georgia, glad it turned out well for you. Wish I had been closer as I have about two dozen Irish Coffee glasses.Some I bought here and the rest came right from Ireland! I love Irish Coffee any day of the year.

Colcannon made with leeks sounds yummy too, will have to try preparing that sometime! thanks