Irish Treats

Recipes: Irish Treats for St. Patrick’s Day

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Irish Treats

Cary, NC — Want to have a little Irish celebration at home on St. Patrick’s Day? Try these two festive recipes to makes Tuesday’s dinner a little sweeter.

Irish Treats on CaryCitizen

CaryCitizen has published recipes for Irish Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie and Irish Soda Bread in the past, and folks are still searching them up today. But, we have never written about how to make our own Irish Coffee or a good Bread Pudding–two other distinctly Irish concoctions–and ones that will finish off your night on a sweet note.

Irish Coffee is usually made as a dessert beverage, because it is topped with whipped cream. Bread Pudding is an inexpensive dessert usually made with leftover bread and lots of cream. We up the ante on our recipe by adding semi-sweet chocolate to the pudding.

Irish Coffee

Start by finding a nice Irish whiskey, and brew yourself a pot of good, strong coffee.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coffee
  • 1 shot (1-1/2 oz) Irish Whiskey
  • Whipped cream (either home made or store-bought)
  • Creme de menthe (optional)

Directions

  1. Pour hot water into either a tall footed glass or a stout coffee cup. Let sit; then pour it out (this heats the serving piece so that the coffee stays hot).
  2. Add shot of whiskey
  3. Add coffee
  4. Top with whipped cream
  5. Drizzle a little creme de menthe on top (this looks festive and tastes good!)

Serves one.

Chocolate Bread Pudding

I made this bread pudding once for a Bunko party with a St Patrick’s Day theme. I had never tasted bread pudding before. Having the chocolate and the addition of raisin bread really made this a delicious treat that I highly recommend, especially if your kids blanch at the words “bread pudding” like mine do. They’ll be asking for more.

 Ingredients

  • 1 T butter, plus more to grease the baking dish
  • 8 slices of cinnamon raisin bread
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 oz semisweet chocolate
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 t vanilla extract
  • 1 T confectioners’ sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Lightly butter an 11 x 7 inch (or 9″ square) baking dish; set aside.
  3. Toast the bread slices (in a toaster or the oven) until lightly crisped.
  4. In a medium saucepan, combine milk, chocolate and butter. Place on medium heat, stirring occasionally until chocolate has melted, about five minutes.
  5. Tear bread into large pieces (about 4-5 per bread slice). Scatter evenly in the baking dish.
  6. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Whisk these ingredients into the milk mixture until combined.
  7. Pour mixture over the bread.
  8. Bake until pudding has puffed and is firm, about 25 minutes.
  9. Cool at least 10 minutes.
  10. Dust with confectioners’ sugar just before serving.

Serves six.

“Sláinte!”

That’s “Cheers!” in Irish Gaelic. And may the luck of the Irish be with you today and everyday.

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Recipes by Lindsey Chester. Photo by David Blaikie and Sarah.

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CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Thai Spices and Sushi in Preston Corners.