Week 11: Life’s Too Short Not To Be Irish
There are many occasions when I feel like I’m channeling my mom. Sometimes it’s preparing shellfish, checking the tension on my stitches when I sew or remembering the “trick” to the perfect whipped cream(see below). Other times, it’s the complete delight I experience at the coast of Maine or the hunger that led me to visit Ireland. I’m constantly reminded that no matter how hard I have tried over the years to reject her, my mother and her wisdom are woven into the fabric of my being.
Surprisingly, I’ve also realized after all these years… that’s not a bad thing.
My mom was bright, educated, articulate and seemingly worldly, however, she never traveled out of the continental US until she was in her late fifties, when she was finally able to realize her dream of connecting with her ancestral roots and visit Ireland.
At that time, we didn’t have much of a relationship and I now regret not asking her more questions about her trip. Would I have heard the delight in her voice? Did she listen to Trad Music, explore woolen mills (she was an avid knitter), drive the tiny little roads? Would I have discovered we share a similar wanderlust? I’ll never know.
All I know is that she went with a friend who was in a wheelchair. I can’t quite wrap my head around the concept of my obese mother struggling to help her friend in a wheelchair travel around Ireland… but from what I’ve heard, she had a grand time.
After she died, I acquired a tchotchke figurine of a curly horned sheep that she got in Dingle, County Kerry.
Whenever I notice it on the shelf, I’m not only reminded of my first trip to Ireland and how much fun it was, but how it serves as a reminder to always keep dreaming. It might’ve taken my mom a while to go to Ireland, and maybe the travel wasn’t exactly in a fashion she wanted, but she made it before she died… and that makes this Irish girl’s heart dance a jig!
I really enjoyed this week’s recipe selections.
I decided not to convert them to a “healthier version” for a couple reasons:
One, we got 24 inches of snow on Tuesday, I lost power, and couldn’t really get anywhere until Thursday… which really messed up my schedule.
Two, I never made either of these recipes before and I wanted to try them in their traditional form. Besides, there’s not much you can do with soda bread and potatoes to make them “healthy and nutritious”.
Three, I gave myself permission because after all this is my blog, no one’s really paying attention to it, and I can do what I want! How stubborn Irish of me 😉
Last week, I mentioned I couldn’t find a corned beef and cabbage recipe of my mother’s. I also didn’t want to buy a big huge hunk of cow when I prefer to be pescatarian (vegetarian with fish). I looked online and found a vegetarian Irish lentil stew recipe to complement my mom’s St. Patrick’s Day recipes. I prepared it in the crockpot with a couple of adaptations; I dropped the liquid amino, soy sauce, and marmite. Instead, I added mushroom broth for the liquid base, a bottle of Guinness Stout, miso and a little bit of caraway seed.
The St. Patrick’s Day menu…
Colcannon topped with the stew, a side of soda bread and Irish coffee for dessert….
According to Rick it was absolutely delicious and just like being in Ireland!
Irish Soda Bread Recipe
A couple of notes on the soda bread recipe:
I chose to use the variation, omitting cardamom and coriander and adding currants and 1/4 cup caraway seed.
I replaced white flour with whole wheat flour, and it didn’t seem to make any difference, but it adds a few more grams of dietary fiber, reducing the overall carb count.
I cooked the loaves in two ways. One way was to follow the directions by pressing it into the pie pan and the other was to keep it as a ball with the cross cut on the top. I prefer the way the ball loaf looks.
A little history…
- Soda bread was not actually invented by the Irish, but since it’s introduction in the late 1700s early 1800’s, the Irish have really made it their own. It was an economical, “waste not want not” daily menu item using the buttermilk that remains after the daily butter churning.
- The cross on the top of the loaf probably has a kitchen science objective, but the folklore is that it was to ward off evil spirits or let the faeries out… I say, screw kitchen science and BE FREE FAERIES !
- You can adapt this recipe in so many ways by adding molasses, raisins currents nuts and different spices or you can just keep it plain and simple with flour and buttermilk.
- One thing to keep in mind… Do not over knead and be sure you dust the surface and your hands with flour. I also chose to use parchment paper which makes life much easier!
Irish Colcannon
I made the Colcannon exactly as it was on this recipe it was delicious but I have to tell you, I just don’t need that many potatoes…. The addition of the potatoes in the stew was a bit much for me. This will be a once a year thing. By the way, what’s the deal of hiding things in food? It seems like a choking hazard to me!
Irish Coffee
The first time I ordered an Irish coffee I was actually pretty disappointed. It turns out I don’t like the taste of Irish whiskey and the reason why I like my mom’s Irish coffee is… it was definitely sweeter. Then I remembered her telling me the reason her Irish coffee was such a hit… she always added a hint of Irish Mist, a honey liqueur and topped it with fresh whipped cream.
So for the first time, I made my mom’s Irish coffee on St. Patrick’s Day… Wow, was it delicious!
No recipe… but it’s simple
Fresh hot coffee
a shot of Irish Whiskey
1/2 shot of Irish Mist
A bit of sugar if you want it sweeter and top it with fresh whipped cream
Fresh Whipped Cream is so easy to make and delicious, that I never purchase processed whipping cream.
My mom’s trick was to ALWAYS use a stainless steel bowl and ALWAYS chill the bowl and the beaters in the freezer.
Using a standing mixer makes it even easier because you can walk away to do other things while it whips. You can whip the cream alone or add a touch of vanilla and a little dash of sugar once it thickens.
Once you top your favorite fruit, pie, desserts or coffee with your own homemade whipped cream you’ll never go back to store-bought!
All in all, this St. Patrick’s Day meal was easy (much harder to post about it) and fun to make and pretty darn tasty, albeit TOO many potatoes and too much sugar.
Week 11 Recipe Pick: Bibbi’s Burnt Sugar Almonds
UGH! This was hard for me…I have a crazy week ahead and I’m hosting a baby shower for my daughter Kara next Saturday.
Keeping it super easy and will likely just post photos and a few notes… I’ll make these almonds for the shower 🙂
I’m noticing my mother’s handwriting varies a lot depending on her age and the type of pen. Look how neat this one is:
Kit don’t be fooled… I’m reading these blog posts! 😉 This one looked like fun!
I’m reading them, too. What would make you think no one is reading them? It seems to me as though I’ve seen comments on you FB links to each post. I know I’ve made comments. 😉
BTW, I’m looking forward to Dane trying the Soda Bread. Looks good! Also, you’re right about no one else’s Irish Coffee tasting as good as Mom’s. Hers was the best!
Lastly, I think her handwriting was not only affected by age, like everyone else, but by the complexity and length of the recipe.
True….I know some are read. It is odd for me not to “market” this project. I am having so much fun and really appreciate your support and input! <3