Posted by admin on February 29, 2012
St. Patrick's Day Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes
Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes! Beer, chocolate, how could you go wrong? The unusual flavor combination of yeasty beer and rich chocolate sounds odd, but the taste is complex and simply divine! The treats are elegant yet simple, and so decadent that you’ll have none left by the end of the night.
We came up with the perfect treat for your St. Patrick’s day party. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to drive after you eat these creamy cupcakes, the alcohol is reduced in the baking process.
Enjoy!
Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes
Beer and chocolate - how could you go wrong? These chocolate Guinness cupcakes from Amy Berman are dense, savory and perfect for a celebration that’s all about beer.
Ingredients:
1 cup Guinness Extra Stout
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
3/4 cups unsweetened chocolate chunks
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 tablespoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cups sour cream
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Bring stout and butter to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil.
- Add unsweetened chocolate chunks to hot stout/butter mixture. Whisk until chocolate melts. Turn heat off and let cool.
- Add sugar to chocolate mixture and whisk to combine.
- Sift flour, baking soda and salt.
- In a stand-alone mixer with a whisk attachment, combine the eggs and sour cream on medium speed.
- Add stout-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and combine on medium-low speed until incorporated.
- Slowly add flour mixture in thirds to chocolate mixture with whisk attachment. Scrape the sides with your whisk to make sure you get all the dry ingredients combined.
- Place cupcake papers in pan and divide batter into cups evenly. Fill about 2/3 of the cup.
- Bake for 18-24 minutes or until the tops are firm to the touch, and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the cupcake.
- Let cool on wire rack before frosting.
Serves:
24 cupcakes
Guinness Buttercream Frosting
Pair your chocolate Guinness cupcakes with this beer flavored buttercream icing. At first thought, you might think we’re overdoing it with Guinness, but give the recipe a try!
The chocolate cupcakes are denser and more chocolate flavored than anything, with the Guinness giving it a subtle enhancement. Paired with the creamier buttercream frosting, it’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
2 1/2 cups sifted powder sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 whole scraped vanilla bean
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup Guinness Extra Stout
Directions:
- In a sauce pan, simmer Guinness on low heat for 10-15 min, until it stout becomes reduced and thicker in consistency. Similar to a syrup. *Tip: keep your eye on the stove, so stout does not over cook. Let cool.
- In a stand alone mixer, cream your butter for 1 minute
- Slowly add the powder sugar in thirds, alternating with a little milk each time till mixture is creamy.
-Add scraped vanilla bean and vanilla extract.
- Slowly add reduced Guinness a little at a time. Taste test to desired flavor. You may not use all the Guinness reduction.
- Place buttercream in a piping bag with a #848 french star tip, frost cupcakes and enjoy!
Serves:
24 cupcakes
Posted by admin on February 25, 2011
Corned beef is a St. Patrick’s Day staple. However, those who may not have dined on corned beef brisket may be unaware as to exactly what the cut of meat entails. Is it covered with corn? Why is it pink in coloring? Learning about the food can shed light on the mystery.
Corned beef is reminiscent of the foods once enjoyed before refrigeration was predominant. In order to prevent foods from spoiling, meats were often packed in salt or brine to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. The “corned”in corned beef likely refers to the nuggets, or what the English called corns of salt, and other spices used in the brine recipe.
Corned beef became popular among Jewish and Irish immigrants in the United States. The Irish ate corned beef in their native land when there were lean times and widespread famine. To harken back to those days, corned beef is often served as a reminder on St. Patrick’s Day, a day of celebration in Ireland and for people of Irish descent all across the globe.
Corned beef is usually boiled, with or without cabbage and other vegetables, which makes it more tender and palatable. It also dissipates the salty brine. The corned beef is then served with the cabbage and vegetables, oftentimes carrots and potatoes.
Corned beef brisket is rarely roasted because it is a tough cut of meat. It can be smoked, however. Smoked corned beef is known as pastrami, and is a staple for delicatessen sandwiches.
Most of today’s corned beef is processed without nitrates, which used to be used as a preservative against botulism and to maintain the bright red color. Nitrates may be cancer-causing agents, so limiting their consumption is often advised. The brisket may be packaged as a “point cut”or a “flat cut.” The point cut is rounder and has more fat. The flat cut is leaner.
Corned beef can be cooked in a pot of boiling water for 3 to 5 hours to help tenderize the meat. Look for briskets that are cut across the grain so that they will be easier to chew.
Posted by admin on
St. Patrick’s Day is all about the green. While most shades of green are acceptable for St. Patrick’s Day festivities, to be true to the holiday a person should wear the offical green of Ireland. Shamrock green, or Irish green as it’s often called, is a distinct color breakdown and part of the Irish flag and celebration coloring.
Individuals with knowledge of graphic arts will find Shamrock green is Pantone shade 347. For those who are manually creating the color in RGB, the concentrations of each color are 0, 158, 96. This the same green employed by the NBA’s Boston Celtics.
Another shade of green popular in Ireland is Kelly green. The color gets its name from the surname “Kelly,” which is prevalent on the Emerald Isle. The first recorded use of the term kelly green as a color name in English was in 1935. Many sports teams once used Kelly green as their team color, including the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. But most have switched to other shades of green, like hunter green, which is a darker shade.
Because green is the color of many plants and trees and the most predominant color on the planet, it is often associated with new life, rebirth and well-being. In color therapy, green heals the heart, regenerates cells and eases tensions. Rooms painted in green are thought to be calming. Some say that people who love to wear green have an adventurous streak to them.
When celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year, it is essential to incorporate green into a part of the festivities. Those who want to remain true to this holiday should select items in Shamrock green for both wardrobe and home decoration.
Consider these ways to use green in the festivities:
* Of course, decorate with shamrocks in all shapes and sizes. Most party stores will carry St. Patrick’s Day items.
* Serve a meal that is all green in lieu of corned beef and cabbage. Green tea, pistachios, asparagus, broccoli, pesto sauce, herb-crusted chicken, and the like are green options.
* Decorate the home in green for the month of March. Use green throw pillows and linens.
* Purchase more house plants and fill the home with a variety of green.
There are many ways to incorporate green into St. Patrick’s Day festivities and year-round.
Posted by admin on February 24, 2011
There are roughly 70 million Irish decendants around the world, and many will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this March 17. While several will be hitting the pubs or participating in parades, traditional Gaelic games are also a fun way to celebrate. Gaelic football, for example, is a hybrid of soccer and rugby. The ball used in Gaelic football is round, slightly smaller than a soccer ball, and there are 15 players on each team. Another sport to try is hurling, a game like hockey with a small ball and a curled wooden stick. Hurling is thought to be the oldest field game in European history.