HOUSTON – Tim Laird, America’s CEO - Chief Entertaining Officer, is sharing his secrets to hosting a fun and easy Irish brunch at home for St. Patrick’s Day.
Up first, the cocktails.
The star of these drinks is Irish Whiskey. Tim recommends Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey.
Irish Coffee
Makes 1 cocktail
In a mug, add:
4 ounces coffee 1½ ounces Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey
Top with whipped cream
Pot of Gold
Makes 1 cocktail
In a very small bowl, add 10-15 golden raisins and enough Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey to cover them. Let soak for a few hours or overnight.
In a rocks glass with ice, add:
1½ ounces Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey
3 ounces ginger beer
Squeeze of lime
Stir and top with the whiskey soaked raisins.
It wouldn’t be a St. Patrick’s Day feast without adding a hint of green to your menu.
Green Eggs and Ham on Crostini
Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients:
8 eggs
2 cups spinach
6 slices ham, cut in half
3 tablespoons butter
1 baguette, sliced
Salt
Pepper
Parmesan cheese, grated for garnish
In a blender, add the eggs and spinach. Blend until completely combined.
In a medium non-stick pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add the eggs and stir, cooking until very soft or desired doneness. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to a bowl.
Toast and butter 12 slices of the baguette
Top the crostini with a folded slice of ham, spoonful of eggs, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
Irish Rueben Bites
Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients:
5 flatbreads or wraps
5 cups shredded Swiss cheese
½ cup Irish mustard, recipe below
5 teaspoons caraway seeds, toasted
2½ pounds sliced corned beef
2½ cups sauerkraut
Top each flatbread with 1 cup Swiss cheese. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes until melted. Spread a thin layer of mustard on each, and top with a sprinkle of caraway seeds. Add ½ pound corned beef, and then an even layer of sauerkraut. Roll, slice, and serve.
To Make the Irish Mustard:
Combine ½ cup mustard and 1½ tablespoons Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey.
Mashed Potatoes with Pea Puree
Serves 4 to 6
The pea puree adds a festive color and wonderful texture to every day mashed potatoes.
Ingredients:
1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pound Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 tablespoon salt
¼ cup milk, possibly a little more
3 tablespoons butter
1 16-ounce bag frozen peas, thawed
Salt and Pepper
Boil potatoes in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain well. Return potatoes to the same pan. Add milk and butter. Mash until smooth, adding additional milk for desired consistency.
In a blender or food processor, puree the peas until smooth.
Mix the puree into the mashed potatoes.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Irish Stout Beef Stew
Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients:
1/3 cup olive oil
1½ pounds stew meat cut into 1-inch cubes
8 cloves garlic, crushed
3 14-ounce cans (6 cups) low sodium beef broth
1 cup Irish stout beer
1 cup cabernet sauvignon wine
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch slices
3 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 12-ounce package frozen pearl onions
Salt
Pepper
In a large pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the meat and brown on each side, approximately 5 minutes. You may need to do this in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan. With all the meat in the pan, add the garlic and sauté, then add the beef broth, beer and wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to release the brown bits. Add the tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 60 minutes. Add the carrots, potatoes, pearl onions, and simmer uncovered for an additional 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Remove the bay leaves and serve in individual ramekins with a dollop of green mashed potatoes (recipe below). Can be made 2 days ahead
Note: Another serving idea is to hollow out a bread boule, fill with beef stew, top with mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese. Heat under the broiler to melt the cheese.
Tim Laird is the author of “That’s Entertaining!” - a guide to hosting 17 different themed occasions throughout the year.
Follow him @TimLairdCheers for more recipes and entertaining tips.