Mid-March Celebration

Some Irish sayings from the wee folks

A cabin with plenty of food

is better than a hungry castle.

May you live to be a hundred years

with one extra year to repent.

May your pockets be heavy

and your heart be light.

Some recipe ideas as you gear up for your St. Paddy's Day celebration.

Do not let the long list of ingredients for the Irish Stew put you in a tizzy. It is well worth your time and if...you only put half the amount of suggested Guinness and save rest for yourself it will make the cooking go even smoother:) Note the stew should be made the day before needed since that will enhance the flavors even more.

Irish Beef Guinness Stew

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 LB. beef stew meat cut in small cubes
• 1 small onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 small box of white mushrooms rinsed and sliced
• 1-6 oz. can of tomato paste
• 1-12 oz bottle of Guinness Stout beer( I used only half because this beer has robust flavor)
• 2 cup finely chopped carrots
• 1 cup finely chopped celery
• 3 small red potatoes cut up in one inch pieces
• 2TB. parsley flakes
• 1/2 tsp. allspice
• 3 Bay leaves
• 1 tsp. marjoram
• 1 tsp. Rosemary
• 1/2 tsp. celery seeds
• 2 TB. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup beef broth (use low sodium one)
• 3/4 cup Bloody Mary Mix (I used Mr. T's)
• 3/4 cup V-8 juice regular but can use the spicy one if want a little more kick
• 1/3 cup water mixed with 3TB. flour

Directions:

• Dredge beef cubes with flour and then fry till browned (3 min on a side) in 3 TB. olive oil-set aside
• In same frying pan saute mushrooms, cloves of garlic and onion about 3 min.
• In a large measuring cup add beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and all spices
• In a soup pot add browned beef cubes, beef broth mixture, V-8 juice, Bloody Mary juice and 1/3 cup water/ flour mixture, carrots, potatoes, celery, mushroom mixture and yes don't forget the beer!!!
• Cook on low heat covered about 1-1/2 -2 hours till carrots and potatoes are done
• Discard bay leaf before serving

Note Recipe would work fine in a crock pot.

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Erin Go Slaw (Cabbage)

Ingredients:

1/2 red onion cut in thin strips

1/2 bag ( 16 oz.) Fresh Express coleslaw 3-color (green cabbage-carrots-red cabbage)

1/2 small head of broccoli-cut up

1 tsp. celery seeds

1 small green pepper diced

shredded carrots

optional bacon bits for topping and crumbled blue cheese

6 TB. Miracle Whip

3 TB. cider vinegar

2 TB. sugar

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 tsp. dried tarragon

Directions:

• In a bowl add spices to Miracle Whip with vinegar and sugar
• Add dressing to the rest of the ingredients (will have to double dressing ingredients if using whole bag of the slaw/vegetable mixture
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours

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Guinness Ginger Cake

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/3 cup Guinness Stout beer
• 1 cup flour
• 1 TB. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/3 cup butter softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/3 cup buttermilk

Directions:

• Preheat oven 350 grease well a glass 8 inch square pan
• In a saucepan combine cocoa and stout. Heat over low heat stirring till smooth, let cool
• In a bowl combine flour and all spices
• In a large bowl beat butter and sugar till fluffy and add in eggs one at a time beating well after each addition
• Beat in vanilla
• Stir buttermilk into cooled cocoa mixture
• Add half of the flour mixture to butter mixture on low speed until well combined
• Add buttermilk mixture with remaining flour mixture beating until smooth
• Bake for 20 minutes
• Frost with Chocolate Ganache Icing

Chocolate Ganache

1-1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream

1 cup sugar

4 TB. light corn syrup

1/4 cup butter

14 oz. bittersweet chocolate chopped

In a medium saucepan combine cream, sugar, corn syrup and butter. Bring to boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and pour over cooled cake