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Savory Sight: St. Patrick's Day Dinner

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:21:58 -0700

I was checking out TeamSugar when I came across this post from member Phasekitty. She went all out and planned a fantastic-looking St. Patrick's Day dinner. She baked up some Irish Soda Bread, ate Guinness Beef Stew, and topped off the evening with a yummy green peppermint pie! It all looks so delicious, I wish I was there!

If you want to read more about her festive evening, and get links to all the recipes then, read more.

Submitted by TeamSugar member Phasekitty

This past weekend I decided I wanted to make a home cooked St. Paddy's Day dinner, so I pulled some Yum recipes together that had been hanging out in my favorites for a while, invited a few friends over, and busted out the crock pot.

Yum's Irish Soda Bread
Posted last year as part of the 52 Weeks of Baking, I preferred this recipe to the one posted this year which had raisins and caraway seeds in it. I like to keep things simple, and my boyfriend, the bread lover, wants nothing in the way of him and his bread. But if you're not into working and kneading bread dough, the new recipe is probably better for you. The one I used is described in the post as "hard to mess up" and it couldn't have been more true. There was no time listed as to how long to bake it, just "bake until golden brown," so I just popped it in and cleaned up. Then I checked it, decided it wasn't done and hopped in the shower. I was dressed and applying makeup before I realized -"Oh shoot, the bread!" I ran to the oven and bam - it was perfect. So if asked for a bake time, I'd have to say close to an hour, but you could probably just eyeball it like I did . . . and then forget about it and it'll still be okay

Also in these pictures, black and tans, my bf's favorite. Luckily we had a bartender in attendance and he did something weird by tipping the glass and using an upside down spoon to get them to look good. Normally I would have just poured it on top, but I suppose that wouldn't have worked as well.

My bf's bartender friend, Javier, also brought over that Chimay Ale from Trader Joe's. He described it as a "beer wine," but it tasted more like a "beer champagne" to me as it was very bubbly. The boys loved it, but I stuck with my typical Chardonnay.

Yum's Guiness Beef Stew
Posted last year, I'd been dying to try this recipe out for a while. I considered Yum's Irish stew recipes posted this year, but my boyfriend recently developed a love for Guiness, so I thought I'd give this one a whirl instead. It was delicious. I'm more used to a traditional beef stew, but this one had such unique and distinct flavors from the Guiness that it blew it away. Everyone loved it and it paired perfectly with the soda bread.

We forgot to take pictures of the stew right away and before we knew it, it was gobbled up. These are our leftovers - there was actually a lot more broth last night, but I didn't proportion it out very well, I guess. It was still very yummy just like this, though

Yum's St. Patrick's Day Peppermint Pie
I had this recipe printed and ready to make last year, but just never got around to it. I figured it would be the perfect way to top off my Irish dinner, but it just didn't turn out as well as it could have. First of all I think I could have used a lot more chocolate wafers for the crust, and I even added more than was required after seeing it didn't quite line my pie pan. Second, I filled the pan a little too much because I still had filling left over and I was convinced it would all fit in, but instead it spilled over onto the sides and looked very unpretty. Finally, the recipe calls for it to chill for at least 4 hours, but mine was in the fridge for about 5 or 6 hours and was still very melty. I took a look at our leftovers in the fridge this morning and it was a little bit better after being in there all night, but not by much. Perhaps my whipping cream wasn't whipped enough. I've always had issues with whipping cream. Anyway, it was a shame that I ended an awesome dinner with a lackluster dessert, but everyone still ate a piece (it was a minty, chocolatey, but still a yummy, mess) and we were so stuffed from bread and stew that it didn't matter much.

All in all our Irish dinner went pretty well! Now I just have to figure out what I'm doing for Easter dinner next Sunday!

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St. Patrick's Day Peppermint Pie

partysugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:58:37 -0700

Just in case you didn't get enough dessert ideas for tomorrow's St. Patrick's Day celebration, I thought I would give you one more. I've already given you two recipes that feature Bailey's Irish cream (a cheesecake and a chocolate cake) and one that is flavored with Irish whiskey (a creamy dream) and now I am going to tempt and tease you with a St. Patrick's Day peppermint pie that obtains its minty flavor from crème de menthe. I know some of you aren't throwing a party or going all out this year, so I suggest that you enjoy the holiday in the comfort of your own kitchen. Pop a bottle of bubbly, tie on your apron and make yourself a special dessert. While you wait for it to chill, you can sip your champagne and congratulate yourself for opting to stay in instead of going out with the masses of drunk people. For the recipe, read more

St. Patrick's Day Peppermint Pie
Gail's Recipe Swap

1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 cups miniature marshmallows (or 32 large ones)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup creme de menthe
3 tablespoons white creme de cacao
1 1.2 cups whipping cream, whipped
few drops of green food coloring, if desired
semi-sweet chocolate bars, for garnish

Heat oven to 350°F.
Mix wafer crumbs and butter, press evenly into a 9 inch pie pan pushing down firmly abd up side.
Bake 10 minutes. Take out of the oven and set aside to let cool.
Combine marshmallows and milk in a saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until marshmallows melt.
Cool thoroughly and add liqueurs.
Fold marshmallow mixture into whipped cream. Fold in food coloring, if desired.
Pour into crumb lined pan. Shave chocolate over the top.
Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

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What's Yummy This Week - YumSugar Weekly Recap

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TV Dinners: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

YumSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:11:33 -0800

As a child, one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving - besides the turkey, pie, and Macy's parade - was the annual viewing of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. I love the way that Snoopy and the gang had their own Thanksgiving without adults. Even though Peppermint Patty freaks out over the lack of turkey and pumpkin pie, I always thought it looked like a lot of fun. What child wouldn't want a a smorgasbord of treats - two pieces of buttered toast, pretzel sticks, popcorn, and jelly beans - while sitting around ping-pong table? Looking back on it now, I see part of the message is that it doesn't matter what you're eating, as long as it was made with love. So despite how your feast turns out - be it fantastic or forgettable - remember to take a deep breath and enjoy the day.

To see a clip of Snoopy and the gang prepping for their Thanksgiving feast, read more

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YumSugar Gift Guide: Homemade Goodies

partysugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:18:30 -0800

Over the past couple of weeks, we've bombarded you with tons of outstanding gift ideas. From cupcakes to wine, we've got you covered. But what about gifts that highlight your prowess in the kitchen? Beautifully-packaged homemade goods - cookies, candies, jams, spice mixes, crackers, etc. - make excellent gifts.

Give baked goods to teachers, babysitters, hair stylists, or anyone who helps make your life easier. Package in clear baggies, festive boxes, or decorative tins tied with gorgeous ribbon. To help you get started, I've searched the Internet and complied a list of fabulous recipes that will make delectable gifts. To check it out all you have to do is read more.

Cookies:

Candy:

Savory:

Alcohol:

Did I forget your favorite homemade gift? Please share your ideas with us below!
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