Taste Me, I'm Irish!

St. Patty's Day ended up being a bit of a weekend celebration for Joe and I.  On Friday afternoon, I bumped shoulders with drunken leprechauns and all kinds of green creatures on my way home from work. All of Denver seemed to have transformed into one large, ubiquitous Irish festival over the course of the day (after all, the St. Patty's Day parade downtown was coming up the next morning).  Instead of joining in, I rushed home to my kitchen and threw on my apron venerate the Irish in the most authentic way - cooking some traditional fare.  Inspired by thoughts of dark, chocolaty stouts foaming with aromatic notes of bourbon,  I made Shepherd's Pie with Soda Bread, salad with homemade blue cheese dressing (OK, perhaps not so Irish but delish), and Whiskey Cake to boot!  We ate this meal three days in a row, since it was packed up for our drive West to get some spring skiing in. Plus they serve up some mean seasonal ales at a brewery located only a few blocks from our condo... mmm... sipping craft beer in the mountains is the best way to enjoy a pint. Seriously.

This meal was "grab a fork and don't you even think about
drinking my beer while I take a picture" good.

Brown Butter Soda Bread 

This traditional Irish quick-bread gets its name because the butter added to the dough is heated until fragrant and browned. In addition, the soft flavor of rosemary provides a novel soda bread experience that will make it hard to keep from slicing.  Serve with room-temp butter and a sprinkle of salt.  You and your dinner guests may find that tearing off big pieces is easier than slicing, since the dough doesn't have as much gluten and elasticity as your typical dinner loaf.

Drinkin' Breckenridge Brewery's Oatmeal Stout.

Chasing sheep and playing with Border Collies all day
sounds like a pretty great gig if it means you get to return
home to piping hot Shepherd's Pie and cold ale every night
(in my dreams).

Shepherd's Pie 

A real Irish favorite, this baked dish consists of duel savory layers: the bottom half is juicy ground lamb with vegetables and herbs, while creamy mashed potatoes make up the top. Get a big spoon for this Irish casserole because seconds will be welcomed, especially after consuming a few too many pints of stout or sips of whiskey.

Consider googling sounds of a raspy bag pipe trio to
provide the appropriate ambiance for your first few bites.

Brushing the top with egg whites brings out a beautiful
golden crust that is oh so tasty, too.  We dove into one
loaf immediately, but I froze the other for a future rainy day.

Whiskey Cake 

This cake provides as dessert and a night cap all in one. Sometimes refereed to as, "Tispy Cake" this light, lemony sponge-like cake is baked and then soaked in a sweet Whiskey syrup.   The Whisky is whisked into the warm sugar reduction after the heating step, which allows for the alcohol to warm your tongue and cloud your thoughts. Serve this with an Irish Coffee if you desire an added kick to bed. (Recipe below)

We had just the right amount of Jameson in our pantry for
this cake recipe (brimming 1/2 cup).  Since moving to Colorado,
we've been associating with Jack (Jack Danielle's Bourbon).

My darn bunt pan likes to eat my cakes before I can!
Then again, I forgot to add bread crumbs after greasing,
perhaps they really were necessary.  Regardless, I was
happy to have the excuse of "cleaning up" (nibble nibble).

Whiskey Cake 

From "The Essential New York Times Cook Book"

Cake:

Fine dry bread crumbs for dusting the pan

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups sugar

Grated zest of 1 lemon

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 large eggs

Whiskey Syrup:

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

1/2 cup bourbon

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a Bundt pan and dust with bread crumbs. Sift together the flour, baking power, and salt. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and lemon zest until fluffy and fragrant. Beat in the vanilla and 2 eggs. Add the remaining eggs, and beat again. Add half the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just incorporated. Add the remaining  mixture and mix again until almost smooth, then mix with a rubber spatula until smooth. Scrape the batter into the pan, bake until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. 

Meanwhile, to make the syrup, combine the sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar and cook until the bubbles grow small and make fine snapping sounds (about 3 minutes). Remove from the heat and let cool. Stir in the whiskey. When the cake is down, let cool for a few minutes, then unmold onto a serving plate with a lip (the syrup may pool at the base). Pierce the top of the cake in about 20 places with a skewer, then pour the whiskey syrup over it. Once the cake is cool, cover with plastic wrap. This cake is best served the next day!

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Need something spicy, cheesy, and greasy to soak up the one-too-many pints of Irish Ales you will be drinking this weekend?  Consider making these bad boys...

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

This recipe is actually super simple, and the final product will have friends and fellow drinkers bowing to worship you.  I found this recipe on Pinterest and re-pinned this link immediately. Who could pass up bacon-wrapped anything? 

Consider using gloves to slice and de-seed these fiery peppers.

My only word of caution relates to the peppers... beware of the jalapeno!  I seeded these little boogers with my bare hands and then retreated to the shower while they cooked in the oven. As it turns out, the spicy compounds in the pepper spread to the skin (not just the tongue).  Let's just say I considered pouring a gallon of milk over my head to abate the burning of my exposed skin.  Keep in mind that mini sweet peppers can be used as a substitute for a milder experience. 

Just prepare a garlicky cream cheese smear, fill each pepper half and wrap in a half slice of bacon. Bake and chow down with your favorite cold beverage.  

Toothpicks not recommended.
Just grab one and dig in! 

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers recipe can be found here.    Happy St. Patty's Day to all!

Fresh Fiesta Salad

Whaaaat is up with this crazy Denver weather?  I returned home from work today with sweat marks and a sun burn.  Huh?  Who would have assumed a mid-70 degree day in early March? I guess I need to get in the habit of checking the weather so I don't run out the door in the morning with mittens and a hat (like I did today) and walk home in a sweat.  After doing so today, it appears that the forecast is predicting more of the same bright, warm days for the rest of the week!  This little taste of spring made me want to throw a fiesta to celebrate!  

Grabbing my sunglasses, I set out to my neighborhood grocery store to pick up some fresh ingredients. My list was pretty general, including items like, "Gatorade for Joe, yummy snacks, fruit", and... "fiesta stuff."  I ended up wandering around the grocery store with no direction, picking up so much food that I had to stuff my purse with a crate of cherry tomatoes and a few avocados in order to whittle down the rest of the baggage to one heaping bag per arm.  What can I say? I'm an impulsive grocery shopper!  

The majority of my fresh treasures included produce bursting with juicy warm-weather flavors, such as organic romaine, jicama, fresh jalapenos peppers, crisp sweet bell peppers, and a heaping bunch of cilantro.  It took me nearly an hour to wash and prep everything for easy snacking. It wasn't until surveying the new inventory of ingredients layed out across my kitchen table (and countertops) that I came up with my dinner plan.  I was going to prepare a fun taco salad bursting with color and spunk.   Here is how my weeknight fiesta evolved...

The beginnings of a dinner fiesta for two.
Cerveza included, duh! 

Here are a few close ups, getting personal with some of my favorite ingredients: 

Red beans prepared in advance, tossed with olive oil, sea salt
and fresh, hand-torn cilantro.  Saving time by opening a few
cans of beans is O.K. in my books!

Jimaca spears and sliced jalapenos. 

Since I was celebrating, I wanted to serve something sexy.  Did you know how easy it is to make tortilla salad bowls?  Well, now you will!  Just brush a few tortillas with olive oil (or spray with olive oil cooking spray), and drape over a few custard cups placed on a baking sheet. Bake about 8 minutes and they will crisp right up!  

Golden and cripsy salad "bowls."
I used whole wheat tortillas, but try using other fun flavors
(such as those found at Trader Joe's... sun-dried tomato
would be bomb). 

To serve, simply place a tortilla bowl on a plate, and start filling it with whatever ingredients fancy your appetite!  I love breaking off pieces of the crispy tortilla bowl as I eat away at the salad within.  If you really wanted to, you could probably ditch the fork all together.

First layer of cool, crispy romaine. 

Filling to the max.

Mix well and enjoy!

This meal was so fun! And with all of the fresh, washed, and sliced leftovers, I had healthy snacks at the ready for the rest of the week.  Bonus for sure.  Hasta luego!

Fresh Fiesta Salad

Serves many

Salad ingredients:

Whole wheat tortillas (1-2 per person)

Romaine lettuce, washed and shredded

Red beans (about 1 can rinsed, drained, or 1/2 bag dry beans, prepared, drained)

Cherry tomatoes, washed

Cheddar cheese, shredded

Onions or green onions, sliced

Black olives, sliced (optional)

Jalapeno peppers, sliced (beware of the seeds)

Jimaca, peeled and sliced

Fresh cilantro, washed and chopped

Heck, go crazy and party by adding whatever else you think sounds good!

Dressing:

1/2 cup sour cream

2 Tbsp. ranch dressing

1 teaspoon taco seasoning

1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Milk or buttermilk to thin, if needed

Wash and prepare all of the ingredients listed under "Salad ingredients" list.  In the meantime, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.  On a large baking sheet, place custard cups (2 per baking sheet) upside down. Lightly grease the side of the cups facing upwards (the outside of the bottoms). Place tortillas over the cups and bake for about 1 minute (to soften).  It is recommended to brush both sides of the tortillas with olive oil (or cooking spray) to get a nice brown color. Remove the tortillas and fold the sides in so that they resemble a "bowl-like" shape.  Place back in the oven and bake for 8-9 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown. Remove from oven, remove from custard cups and cool.  While tortilla bowls are baking, prepare the dressing by mixing all of the ingredients listed under "dressing" together.  Serve by filling each tortilla bowl with shredded romaine lettuce. Let each person dress their festive salad as they wish by garnishing their bowl with the ingredients they like. Mix well and party on!  Goes well with lager or a margarita. 

Tastes of Chicago

Soon after the New Years on a sunny winter afternoon, I booked a weekend trip to the Windy City for the first weekend in March.  The mission: to visit one of my closest friends, Lindsay.  As it turns out, winter arrived late this year and I was greeted back to the Midwest with blowing snow gusts and freezing temperatures.  Ah, yes, home!  But that didn't stop us from getting out and soaking up the city, including some great food to fuel our fun.  This post highlights some of my favorite tastes of Chicago, in chronological order.

The Signature Room 

Located at the tippy top (the 96th floor) of the John Hancock Building, we kicked off our Saturday afternoon with a happy hour and a view.  On the menu, a "Chicago" Manhatten for me, a Blueberry Margarita for Lindsay, and a fancy cheese plate to share.  Honestly, a place like that makes a girl feel reeeallly classy! 

Our view of the Chicago skyline looking east,
including the great Lake Michigan.

Yikes! Makes my stomach drop just looking down at the
bustling Michigan Avenue and the Old Water Tower castle below.

Want to know a local secret?  The best view from the top is located in the women's restroom.  Sorry guys, your view apparently stinks (no pun intended)!  We made sure to use the power room before leaving to check it out.

Lindsay looking out towards the Navy Pier. 

Giordano's Pizzeria 

After returning to ground level on Michigan Ave, we both decided that all of that altitude aroused serious cravings for Chicago pizza.  So, instead of shopping for material goods we went pizza shopping instead!  The final descision was Giordano's on North Rush Street.  I was so thrilled to have found a mutual fan.  Call me nuts, but I still haven't tried Gino's or the other Chicago favorites because I fell in love with this place at first bite years ago.  The only downside of eating here is that there is always a long wait.  We put our name in, pre-ordered one of their famous deep-dish pies (veggie supreme, yum!), and grabbed a few frosty Goose Island 312s to pass the time. 

Watching the cooks play with dough was quite the entertainment.  They twirled and tossed raw crust dough saucers all over the kitchen!  Too bad my camera couldn't capture the details, but you get the idea by the dough blur...  And once got our table, our pizza was plopped in front of us a few minutes later (the longest minutes of my life I might add).  After such a beguiling wait including much slobbering over other people's tables adorned in melted cheese and doughy crust, we may or may not have eaten this entire pizza before leaving... ha!

Pheobe's Cupcakes
On Sunday morning, we woke up by taking a refreshing (chilly) morning jog along the coasts of Lake Michigan in Lindsay's Lakeview nieghborhood. The lake was curiously blue. Swap out the snow flurries for some sun and the blue horizon could pass for a tropical ocean.  Upon grabbing some steaming hot Caribou coffees, we ended up sampling the suductive sweets at nearby cupcake shop. I wish I had carried my camera with me that morning because our Giant Turtle Cupcake was to die for. Just picture a chocolate cupcake the size of your hand, topped with a fluffy caramel frosting hat, drizzeled with caramel and chocolate, and sprinkled with crushed pecans.  We grabbed two forks and sat by the window like trying to suppress our inner-child urges to smear our faces in cake crumbs and frosting. It was decidedly the perfect begining to our final day together. 

Garrett's Popcorn
Before we knew it, we were back stolling the busy sidewalks of Michigan Ave. Since I had traveled with luggage size of a small hiking backpack, my suvieners included a sassy pair of colorful earrings (for me) and a bag of Garrett's popcorn (for my hubby back home).  This was my first time ever hearing about Garrett's and I'm so happy to know that flavored popcorn shops are still alive and well... in Chicago, at least!  I knew this place was good when we took our place at the back of line that twisted out the door. The smells of hot butter and caramel took me back to Christmases of the past, when my family would pull open a fresh tin of gourmet popcorn. My hands were always in the bright red cinnemon flavor, but I remember my Dad mixing the chedder and caramel together. Yuck! I had once thought, but that combo is exactly what Garrett's is famous for. They dubbed it "The Chicago Mix" and I can't believe it took me until now to finally realize that my dad had been right all along... sweet and salty is a very tasty (and addictive) combo.

This small shopped produced seemingly endless supplies popcorn. Once we reached the counter we are rewarded with small sample cups of their many varieties to munch on as your bag is being hand mixed. Now that's what I call service.

Sampling the popular, "Chicago Mix."
Each bag gets mixed fresh on demand. 

Indian Garden

Our last stop before beginning the dreaded journey back to Midway Airport was to a second floor Indian restaurant tucked away near Ohio Street in the "foodie district" of downtown.  We caught the tail end of their special Brunch Buffet, but had just the right amount of time to sample nearly everything this restaurant had to offer.  There were two long buffet tables topped with hot sterling silver dishes piled high in salads, fruits, chutney's, and curries of every kind!  The best part, they kept our table supplied with warm naan to help soak up the rich curry sauces.   

Plate #2 following a nice Indian salad.

I went curry crazy!! On this plate is a fish curry, goat curry, chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, curried cabbage, and then others I don't know the names of but included peas and cheese, dal, or other combinations of veggies and sauce.  This meal made me realize that Indian cuisine just may be my favorite ethnic food of choice. 

Dessert!

Dessert included two types of milk flour balls. One was simply soaked in simple syrup (the white one on the left), and the other was stuffed with pistachios, deep fried and also soaked in a simple syrup (the brown one on the right).  I didn't much like the white ball, but the fried one was doughy and so tasty.  To balance out the palate, I tried their fruit salad which resembles ambrosia salad but is in actuality much different.  Lindsay and I tried to figure out what types of fruit it contained and we guessed pears, pineapple and papaya?  Whatever they were they were perfectly sweet when mixed with that coconut cream sauce.  

Indian Garden's waiting area was embellished in fine fabrics
and plush pillows that simply made us want to sit and stay a while.  

With full bellies once again, we slowly made our way to the train station so that I could make my evening flight back to Denver.  As with any trip, especially those including good company, the departure is so terribly difficult.  Since returning back to Denver, I've flipped through these pictures at least a dozen times. Every time I do, I'm back with Lindsay eating cereal out of mugs on her apartment floor and laughing about life.  Thank you, Linds, for such a wonderful (and flavor-packed) weekend. I can't wait to see where we meet next!