10 Tasty Dishes For Saint Patrick’s Day
The Saint Patrick’s Day celebration is held every 17th of March. This is the annual death ritual for the saint who died during the 5th century. Irish people have been celebrating this holy occasion for more than centuries now.
This occasion usually falls every Lenten season. This is the period when meat consumption isn’t allowed. However, the occasion is fun for everyone, regardless of race.
There have been assumptions to explain why most people use or wear clothes that are green in color during this occasion. The green symbolizes the Catholics while orange symbolizes the Protestants. But in the US, the green color is observed although Irish people don’t really require the green color.
To maintain the tradition, herewith are just a couple of all time favorite recipes for the celebration.
Salad: Green Vegetable Salad – this is plain green vegetable salad made from the leaves from the Mache plants, chopped mushrooms, onions (green, of course), hard-boiled egg seasoned with mustard salad dressing. Very vegetarian and no meat at all.
Soup: Cream of Spinach – this creamy and smooth soup is made from spinach, leeks and turnips. Still no meat at all, this soup dish is purely vegetables and then some cream.
Bread: Soda Bread (Irish-Style) – this is actually a kind of Irish traditional bread baked from buttermilk, salt, flour and baking agent. Traditionally served during this particular celebration. Very good bread!
Beef: Corned Beef Brisket and Cabbage That Has Been Slow-Cooked – this menu involves corned beef brisket and cabbage which have been slowly cooking. Onions or tomatoes can also be added. Makes for a great filling meal.
Lamb: Irish stew – this yummy and invigorating lamb stew is combined with onions, potatoes, and carrots. Another great recipe and dish to serve to your guests during St. Patricks Day.
Pie: The Shepherd’s Pie – this recipe is made from ground beef casserole combined with some vegetables and some potatoes that are perfectly cooked and mashed.
Pie: The Grasshopper Pie – this recipe is made from chilled or frozen creamy mint pie and a sweet chocolate base or crust. This is very popular in Ireland as well as in England and is really quite good. Your guests will ask for seconds.
Pudding: Bread Pudding In Irish Whiskey-Laced Sauce – this yummy pudding is created from bread, Irish sauce (whiskey) and raisins. Very delicious and traditional pudding.
Beer: Cold Green Beverage – this serving or shot of cold beer blended with some green edible color.
Lemonade: Refreshing Green Lemonade – this serving of lemonade which are extracted from fresh lemons blended with some green edible color in view of the celebration.
During this holy occasion, you may prepare these wonderful recipes to make your celebration more enjoyable with your family.
Fun And Easy 4th July Celebration Dishes For A Great Time!
Everyone is excited every time July 4 is approaching. This is one of the colorful and most celebrated holidays in the US. American flags, merry making, fireworks and delicious food are important elements of this occasion. Colors such as white, blue and red are found everywhere.
Since friends and families are gathered to have fun on this day, dining outside is one of the best means to enjoy the occasion. Because July has a warm climate, picnic recipes are very much in fad. Barbeques, burgers, hotdogs and brats are popular choices. However, healthier menus must also be included to serve your health conscious guests.
Some meat lovers are probably unaware that vegetarian burgers are also good when grilled. Kebabs with tomatoes, mushrooms and squash will surely satisfy your health conscious or vegetarian guests. Another approach to make your friends enjoy the picnic is to allow them to choose their vegetables and make their very own veggie kebabs. Children will surely enjoy this too.
During the July 4 celebration, you can also include seafood such as fish in your recipes. Fish that are really fresh easily cook on the grill. You may use salmon, shrimps and marinated vegetables for a healthier and more nutritious menu.
You may also serve healthy salsa made from tomatoes, cilantro, bell peppers, onion and garlic. This thirst-quenching salsa goes well with pita, pretzels, fresh vegetables and chips. This light snack will make sure that everybody will retain their cravings while you prepare the barbeque on your grill.
If you do not want to have barbeque and rather have picnic in the park to witness the amusing fireworks, you can prepare sandwiches loaded with fresh tuna, vegetables, smoked fish and chicken. These picnic recipes can be easily prepared, cooked and savored afterwards.
You have to keep in mind that the foods you bring in the picnic will not be refrigerated for quite some time, so do not bring condiments that spoil easily such as yoghurt sauces and mayonnaise. However, you can use alternative dips such as avocado, salsa and hummus.
For your desserts, you may incorporate the three main colors (red, white & blue) in your cupcakes and pastries. You can use colorful toppings, frostings and little flags to bring in the spirit of the occasion. If you don’t like baking, you can simply mix blue berries and red fruits coated with whipped or heavy cream.
You can also make some fun treats for children by creating red, blue and white popsicles and jelly treats. You can simply make these from fruit saps. Keep them simple since children are more excited to see the colorful fireworks display rather than eat the food you prepared.
The colorful fireworks displays are definitely thrilling during July 4, but giving out food and sharing your recipes with families or friends are wonderful bonuses of the occasion.
How To Make That Delicious Dessert Cake Red Velvet Goodness!
Family gatherings are always fun and great parties because you get to see your loved ones and renew ties with them. Normally gatherings involving family are held during special celebrations and most importantly during holidays.
During these special holiday occasions, a party wouldn’t be complete without some cake. Here is my most favorite recipe for that delicious Red Velvet cake. Although there are lots of recipes out there for this kind of cake, this one is what works best for me.
After you’re done with baking & icing your velvet cake then store the cake inside any airtight container big enough for it to hold the cake then place inside your fridge and take it out an hour prior to serving it up to your guests.
For the Cake: You’ll need 1/2 c of shortening, 1.5 c of sugar (granulated), 2 ozs food color (red), 1 tbsp powdered cocoa, 1 tsp salt, 2.5 c of flour (all-purpose), 1 tsp baking soda, 2 pcs eggs, 1 tsp vanilla-flavored extract, 1 c of buttermilk and 1 tsp vinegar.
To make the cake: Get a big bowl and then cream shortening and sugar together. Slowly add in eggs then mix everything well. Next, add powdered cocoa and food color and continue mixing until everything is blended well.
In another bowl, mix salt & flour together then slowly incorporate the flour & salt mixture to your 1st bowl. Blend well then add buttermilk, baking soda and vanilla extract. Then pour the vinegar into mixture and blend well.
Grease lightly 2 pcs of 9-inch in round diameter cake pans and sprinkle some flour on them. Divide the batter into 2 then pour it on your greased pans then bake them at 350 deg. F for about 25 mins. or just until the middle of your baking cake has been cooked already.
For cake icing you’ll need: 1 tsp of vanilla-flavored extract, 1/2 c of butter/margarine, 2 tbsps of flour (all-purpose), 1 c of sugar, 1/2 c of shortening and 1 c of milk (cold).
To make the icing: Inside a medium-sized saucepan, mix together milk & flour at medium flame and stir it constantly just until mixture gets thick. Take off the heat then allow to cool ’til it’s cold enough for it to be placed inside your fridge for it to get chilled.
After it has chilled, take out of your fridge then add sugar, margarine & shortening using your electric hand-held mixter at medium settings until your icing appears creamy and smooth.
Then, add vanilla and continue to beat it for another 30 secs. at medium settings also. After your icing is already done, then spread it evenly on your cake. Add some other decorations if you’re wanting to do it. Get creative with your holiday red velvet cake!
Mushroom & Stilton Tart Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 c of crumbled bluecheese
3 eggs (large)
2 c of thick cream
2 garlic cloves; chopped
4 c of mushrooms; sliced
3/4 teaspoons of pepper (black)
3/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 c of leeks; minced
2 Tablespoons of butter
2-3 Tablespoons of cold water
1 c of cold butter; cubed
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne
2 teaspoons of salt
2 & 1/2 c of flour plus 2 Tbsps
Instructions:
Combine cayenne, salt & 2 & 1/2 c of flour. Blend butter in ’til it appears like a coarse-meal. You add cold water then mix w/ wooden baking spoon ’til dough does not stick to bowl’s sides.
Have dough formed into ball then cover w/ plastic cling wrap. Refrigerate about 60 mins.
Have oven preheated to three hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit. You remove dough then sit for 5 mins. Dust working surface lightly w/ flour.
You roll dough carefully into 12″ round that is 1/4″ thick. Have dough folded into four then place them in 10″ tart plate then unfold.
Slowly roll rolling-pin over pan’s top then trim extra dough off then prick crust’s bottom w/ fork.
For the filling: Have butter melted in pan set over mid-heat then add leeks. Generously season w/ pepper & salt then saute about 60 secs.
You add the mushroom then saute for 3-5 mins more ’til browned. Add garlic then remove them from direct heat. Completely cool.
Combine eggs & cream in bowl then add pepper & salt, mixing well. You pour mushroom-mixture onto pastry shells then sprinkle w/ bluecheese.
You pour cream-mixture in then bake it for 55 mins ’til center sets & top becomes golden. You remove it from oven then cool about 5 mins prior to slicing. Best when served w/ bread loaf.
>> Mushroom & Stilton Tart Recipe
Mandelbrot Recipe
Ingredients:
1/3 c of coarsely-ground almonds
1 & 1/2 tsps of baking-powder
1/4 c of whole-wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon of extract (lemon)
1 teaspoon juice from lemon
A pinch seasalt
2 Tbsps of oil (canola)
1/4 c of honey
1 egg
Instructions:
Have oven preheated to three hundred seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. Beat the egg & honey ’til foamy. Add almonds, baking-powder, extract, juice, salt & oil.
Combine forming a dough. You pat onto 3×8x1-inch loaf then bake it for 20-25 mins ’til browned lightly. Slightly cool then slice into square bars that are 1/2″ wide.
>> Mandelbrot Recipe
Savory Sausage & Fennel Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients:
Pepper
Salt
2 Tablespoons of chopped parsley (fresh)
6 c of stale wheat bread; crumbled
1 c of chicken stock
3 Tablespoons of wine (white)
1 teaspoon of fennel seeds
2 garlic cloves; minced
2 c of white portion of fennel bulb; chopped
1/2 c of chopped celery
1 c of diced onions
1 pound of mild sausage (Italian)
2 Tablespoons of oil (olive)
Instructions:
Have oil heated in large pan set over mid-heat. You add Italian sausage then break the meat up while cooking. You saute them ’til thoroughly cooked & browned lightly for mins.
You add fennel, celery & onions then saute for 7 mins ’til onions become soft. You add fennel seeds & garlic then continue sauteing about 2 mins.
You add wine then simmer about 2 mins. You add broth then remove mixture from the heat. You place the parsley & bread in large-sized bowl.
You pour the sausage-mixture over the bread. Lightly toss to combine. Season w/ pepper & salt. Bake about 30 mins at three hundred twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit as desired.
>> Savory Sausage & Fennel Stuffing Recipe
Cranberry Almond Biscotti Recipe
Ingredients:
1/4 c of dry cranberries
1/4 c of almonds; chopped
Finely-grated orange zest
1/4 teaspoon of extract (almond)
1 Tablespoon of oil
3 lightly-beaten eggs
Pinch of salt
2 teaspoons of baking-powder
1 & 1/4 c of sugar
2 & 1/4 c of flour
Instructions:
Grease & flour one flat bake sheet. Sift salt, baking-powder, sugar & flour in bowl. Create a small well at center then add rest of your ingredients, stirring well to combine.
You divide dough into half then shape every half onto log (2&1/2×8″). Bake them for 30-35 mins ’til top browns. You remove them from the oven & slightly cool.
Cut it into thin slices then put them bake into oven w/ cut-side-down for about 15 mins ’til browned. Cool them on wire racks once done.
>> Cranberry Almond Biscotti Recipe