YumSugar

Toast to a Tasty St. Patrick's Day Spread!

YumSugar — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 09:04:33 PDT

Since St. Patty's falls on a Thursday this year, get a head start on the festivities with some soulful weekend cooking. Bust out the slow cooker for savory corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes - and, of course, relax by sipping on stout while you're at it, whether it's in a Guinness onion soup, as an ice cream mix-in, or simply in a cold glass. Need more Irish inspiration? Be sure to check out all of our St. Patrick's Day recipes.

Irish Coffee	Soda Bread	Irish Cream
Guinness and Onion Soup	Corned Beef & Cabbage	Guinness Ice Cream

5 Fun Beer Apps For St. Patrick's Day

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 06:21:02 PDT

Want to indulge in a little St. Patrick's Day fun? If you're not an Irish whiskey fan, the next best thing is obviously beer. Whether you're craving Guinness or another flavor, these apps can help you find and decipher your perfect brew.

Guinness - It Really Is Good For You!

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:40:08 PDT

Whether you're Irish or not, many of us will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day by knocking back some Jameson whiskey and a pint or two of Guinness - and don't forget the Irish soda bread! Before you start feeling too bad about the alcohol and carb overload, you'll be glad to know that all those ads from the 1920s that read "Guinness Is Good For You" had some truth to them.

Researchers from a University of Wisconsin study discovered that drinking Guinness reduced blood clots and the risk of heart attacks. Like red wine and dark chocolate, and unlike other beers, Guinness also contains immune-boosting antioxidants. Some other reasons you may want to enjoy a pint of beer on St. Patty's Day: better bones, weight management, and a better memory. This is not a license to go out and get blitzed though. As always, everything is better in moderation, but if you end up kicking back a few too many, check out these hangover cures.

Source: Flickr User Stijn Debrouwere

Happy St. Patty's Day: 5 Fun Films Set in Ireland

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:30:33 PDT

Tomorrow St. Patrick's Day! While you're getting your green on, I thought I'd take the opportunity to call out a few movies that I love, which happen to all be set in Ireland. The beautiful backdrop can be romantic, perilous, good for comedy or drama - in any case, take a look at the films that have the luck of the Irish.

Happy Hour: Irish Buck

Susannah Chen — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:03:57 PDT

St. Patrick's Day isn't until tomorrow, but we've been celebrating all week. If you don't really have a penchant for black and tans, and the prospect of drinking whiskey straight-up isn't really your thing, then consider raising a glass with the Irish Buck.On first sip, you'll notice immediately that this cocktail manages to highlight all three of its main ingredients: Irish whiskey, ginger ale, and lime juice. The result is a fizzy, boozy drink that's hop-free, yet still channels the fighting Irish spirit. To get the party started, keep reading for the recipe.

A Low-Cal Basil Gimlet Makes For a Happy St. Patrick's Day

Michele Foley — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:20:22 PDT

A basil gimlet might not be the natural choice for a St. Patrick's Day drink, but it's got two things going for it: it's green, and it's a nice low-calorie alternative to the traditionally served whiskey or beer. For those of you who are counting, a pint of Guinness will set you back 210 calories and the average shot of Jameson whiskey is around 140 calories.

On the other hand, when made with shochu, our basil gimlet recipe doesn't even hit the 100-calorie mark! Making the cocktail with soju (an alcohol commonly distilled from rice) brings the recipe to about 165 calories, while using gin or vodka results in a 215-calorie cocktail. All things considered, this isn't too bad for a cocktail. Best of all, a basil gimlet feels light going down - the combination of basil and lime gives the cocktail a nice refreshing taste that isn't heavy at all.

See the recipe when you read more.

9 Brews to Help Change Your Mind About Beer

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 07:05:20 PDT

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and no explanation is necessary for this notorious holiday: it's one of the most celebrated days of drinking worldwide. Whether you're celebrating at home with friends or planning on hitting a few pubs, beer is the obvious St. Patty's drink of choice. Even if you're a self-described loather of all things beer, I urge you to think outside the box, and try to taste something a little different this year.

I'm definitely not saying you should go grab a Guinness right away, but if you keep things fresh, fruity, or sweet, you may be singing a different tune. Get ready to drink up with these 10 picks!

Pour the Perfect Black and Tan

Lauren Hendrickson — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:25:47 PDT

Creating the perfect black and tan can be hard. If you've never tried to make one, be sure to try it out at home first with no guests to serve. Once you have the technique down, you'll have no trouble trying to re-create this layered beverage for your friends.

There are two different techniques to build the perfect black and tan; I recommend trying both out to see which works best for you.

Pull out your pint glass and slowly pour in the Bass by titling the glass to avoid too much foam. Once the glass is half full, open the Guinness and once again tilt the glass. With a steady hand, pour the Guinness down the side of the glass verrrry slowly.

Another great technique is to pour the Bass into the glass with little to no foam, just like before. Hold a large spoon upside down over the glass and very slowly pour the Guinness over the back of it. Pouring Guinness over the back of a spoon slows the flow of the beer.

Voilà: two ways to pour the perfect black and tan. Still not sure you have it down? Just keep reading for more tips!

Green Eats For a St. Patrick's Day Get-Together

Laura Marie Given — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:40:19 PDT

Planning to host a St. Patrick's Day shindig for your friends? Lay out a spread of green foods for an extrafestive celebration. From creamy guacamole to pesto pasta to the tastiest mint dessert, these 10 green eats are perfect to serve while you toast the Irish.

Do You Know Your St. Patty's Day Eats and Drinks?

Tara Block — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:17:47 PDT

This Saturday is St. Patrick's Day, but before you start cooking and sipping your way through the holiday, see how much you know about this Irish day's eats and drinks. From Guinness to soda bread, test your Irish know-how now!

Source: Flickr User Jim Sher

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