St. Paddy's Day Celebrations

Hi-Ho Nesters!!!
I know it's been awhile, but, I'm back with a special, beef lover's, St. Patrick's Day Special!!!

Fun times started over the weekend.

My Irish blood was boiling, so we decided to make it a culinary celebration!

Saturday it was a traditional boiled Irish supper.

We got to boiling some Chuck Steak in the slow cooker with: Guinness, Peppercorns, and a few Bay Leaves...


Later we added Potatoes, Cabbage, and Carrots. Mmmm....

But, the best was saved for the actual night of St. Patrick's Day.
addROC made a ridiculous Guinness marinated steak.
Which was cooked to perfection.



Then, we moved on to a traditional Irish treat that is so delectable and delightful, that its consumption with a beverage like Guinness or Jameson is ABSOLUTELY necessary, and really, just plain common sense.

The One...The Only....


IRISH SODA BREAD!!!!

We ate, drank, and were oh-so-very-merry.
Just as St. Paddy would have wanted it himself.

Cheers to the Irish!
Erin Go Bragh!!!

Irish Lace Cookies: The Not-So-Pretty Irish Lasses

Ah, the Irish...how I love them.

In fact, I'm obsessed.
As it turns out, I love Irish people, literature, culture, music, and beverages so much, I actually majored in Irish Studies when I attended college.

One of the overriding themes in Irish history is that the people of Ireland, when pressed, can make a little go a long way. Back in the day, peasants on the Emerald Isle didn't get to indulge in many pleasures, especially culinary delights.

The people made the most out of what they had sitting in their near bare cupboards. So, out of strife and innovation, the Irish Lace Cookie was born.

It's a cookie with practically nothing in it, yet, it tastes like a little bite of heaven.

So, I hearkened back to the days when my ancestors were still starving somewhere in County Clare, and baked a batch:

And hot-damn, were they the ugliest little cookies I ever did see.

Ugly, but delicious.

All I need now is a shot of Jameson...and it's a winter warm-up snack that can't be beat!

Bavarian Night (Sort Of)

Willkommen Nesters!

Welcome, indeed, to our Bavarian Night, or so I insisted on calling it. Though, in actuality it was really nothing other than addROC and I happily scurrying across our kitchen preparing to bake (Bavarian) pretzels. Wondering, the whole time, how long it would be before they were baking in the oven and addROC would be standing at the stove grilling (Bavarian) Bratwurst and boiling (Bavarian) Pasta.

So, the (Bavarian) Pretzel making began with the rolling of the dough that I had allowed to rise for an hour.



Next, addROC and I twisted them into teeny-weeny, cutesy-wootsy baby (Bavarian) pretzels!


Then, I brushed them with a lovely egg wash, and we both sprinkled some course salt, both plain Sea Salt and natural Celtic Grey Sea Salt, over the tops:



So, right before they went in to the oven, they looked something like this:



Into the oven they went! Gott sei Dank!* And then out they came, and they were as golden and adorable as I could ever have wished for!



And finally, after much labor, we sat down to enjoy our (Bavarian) Bratwurst, Pasta, and Pretzel Feast.


Köstlich!**



*Thank God!
**Delicious!