I see that it has been a while since I last posted so I thought I would play a little catch-up here. My 10 year old son Thomas has been keeping me busy for the past number of months with his violin playing and he is certainly keeping the family tradition alive. He is now the sixth generation violinist/fiddler and I could not be more proud. Please visit his channel on youtube to see his progression but I must first apologize to you. I am not one you would call tech/internet savvy so when you see his videos, understand that it was put together(from recording to posting)by me with a lot to be desired, right down to that annoying clicking sound you may faintly hear in some of the videos. I am posting another video today, of Thomas playing that Irish classic Swallowtail Jig, which he has been practicing for a couple of weeks not. Although not professionally played, he is only able to practice this tune twice a day because of his commitment with school, the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra and his private lessons with another teacher. I am using a different recording medium, so that that clicking will be gone. But in the meantime, here are a few great recipes for the Irish in you. (Now to get my oldest boy into the violin, but I think he has things in his life that are more......attractive....then the curves of a violin!)
At 10 years old, not only has he been accepted into the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra as well as being a proud member of the fiddlin' community on fidderman. com. He is believed to be the only 6th generation violinist in America. He is extremely talented and has been featured on several news broadcasts here in Maine and I couldn't be happier. Check his progression out and see for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKI-_r2GB9HQXDMdHQlq1Mw
Traditional Pan Haggerty
Simple? Yes! Traditional? Yes! But don't let this seemingly mundane dish prevent you from making it. There are so many things I could do to this dish to keep those "food snobs" at bay, but why play with a recipe that has been enjoyed for so long in Ireland? Us Yankees have been enjoying this dish for just as long, but calling it "Scootin' 'Long the Shore". And as much as I would like to add this and that to the recipe, I think you will find this dish perfect all on its' own.
3 slices bacon, diced
1 small onion, peeled and diced
3 large potatoes, about a pound, diced
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup shredded Irish(or cheddar)cheese
Salt and black pepper to taste
Sour cream, if desired
Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add and cook bacon until crisp or to your liking. Remove bacon to crumble or dice and add back into the skillet. Add onion and cook an additional 5-6 minutes, or until onion is soft but not browned. Drain fat and add potatoes and broth. Stir to combine, bring to a boil and cover. Reduce heat to low and simmer 8-10 minutes(according to the size of your potato cubes), or until the potatoes are firm, but tender and the liquid has been absorbed. If you still have liquid after potatoes are done, simply increase heat to medium and continue cooking, uncovered, for a few more minutes until liquid has evaporated and absorbed. Preheat broiler and place oven rack at least 3-inches from heat source. Remove skillet from burner, evenly sprinkle cheese over the top and broil until as crisp as you like. Remove to serve immediately. Top with sour cream if desired.
Irish Apple Bread Pudding Pie
This bread pudding is anything but typical. It is beautifully sweetened, less dense and ‘gummy’ than many other equivalent puddings and the sweet, caramelized crust that forms makes you want to just pick it off first then eat the middle later.
Taitneamh a bhaint as!
4 large plain or cinnamon muffins*
4 teaspoons butter or margarine
3 large Granny Smith apples
1 cup apple juice or water
1/4 cup maple syrup
Nonstick cooking spray
3/4 cup milk
3 eggs
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
Juice and grated rind of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon dried ginger
Slice muffins horizontally about 1-inch thick. Butter all cut sides and grill over medium heat until well browned. Place on a plate and let cool in refrigerator for an hour, preferably overnight to dry out.
Meanwhile, add 2 apples that have been peeled, cored and diced into a saucepan along with apple juice and maple syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stir, reduce to low and simmer 6-8 minutes, or until it has thickened and apples are done, but still firm. Remove from heat and set aside.
Spray a 9-10 inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray liberally; set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cut muffins into cubes and add to a bowl along with remainder apple that has been peeled, cored and diced.
In another bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, juice and grated rind and ginger. Pour over muffin cubes and gently toss to evenly coat. Transfer to prepared cake pan, evening out the top. Spoon cooked apple mixture over the top evenly and bake 40-45 minutes, or until it is firm when touched in the center with a spoon or fork.
Remove pie to cool slightly before running a dull knife around the edge to loosen. Cut into wedges and serve.
* Use whatever muffin you desire, I just happened to adore cinnamon but regardless of what you choose, make sure you have 5 cups total after cutting.
Bailey's Irish Whiskey Cake
Yes, I already know. There is no such thing as Bailey's Irish Whiskey. This beautifully scented, Irish cake is, however, brought to you by a Bailey and has a hint of Irish Whiskey both in the cake and on 'top'. You can, however, substitute a few drops of rum extract in the milk below or just leave out any hint of alcohol, and its' taste, altogether. The curdled milk is a great way of adding buttermilk flavor without the added expense while giving this upside down cake perfect flavor and moistness.
1/4 cup whole milk, half-and-half or light cream
1/2 cup Irish Apple Whiskey or Irish Apple Liqueur, divided
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3/4 cup(1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, divided
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 large, firm apple. peeled, cored and wedged 1/2-inch thick
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
In a small bowl, whisk together milk, 1/4 cup whiskey and lemon juice and let sit 30 minutes to curdle while preparing rest of recipe. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a 9-inch round cake pan over low heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the brown sugar and cook, stirring for about 3 minutes until smooth and bubbling. Remove pan from heat.
Lay the apple slices on top of melted butter/brown sugar mixture decoratively. Sprinkle the dried cranberries over the top and evenly drizzle remainder of whiskey; set aside. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and ground ginger. In another bowl, beat remainder of butter and sugar on high until light and fluffy. Scrape down sides and add eggs; beating very well. Reduce speed to low and beat in the flour, a little at a time. Beat in the milk mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter over apples and even out top without disturbing the apple arrangement. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle come out clean. Cool cake in the pan for a couple of minutes and then run a knife around the edge of the pan to help release. Invert onto a serving platter or plate quickly and carefully. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Deliciously Cheesy Irish Boxty
Boxty's are prepared and cooked in many different variations. Some enjoy this 'must have' side to the classic British breakfast puffy and soft, while others enjoy it crispy. Being a Yankee, I enjoy crisp potato with my breakfast, and with the addition of Cheddar cheese, I think you will be making this year round.
1/2 cup mashed potatoes
1/2 cup shredded raw potatoes
1/2 cup shredded apple
1/2 cup powdered rolled oats *
1/4 teaspoon each nutmeg, salt and black pepper
1/2 cup fat free evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Place all ingredients, except oil and cheese, in a bowl and mix very well; set aside. Place oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. When hot, pour half the Boxty mix into the skillet, spreading it out to cover bottom of pan. Evenly sprinkle cheese over the top and pour remaining Boxty mix over the cheese. Again, spreading it out evenly, covering cheese. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and let cook for 6-8 minutes, or until well browned on the underside. Carefully flip over, cover and continue cooking an additional 6-8 minutes, or until browned on bottom as well. Remove from heat, cut into wedges and serve immediately.
* This works so much better than the usual flour added to Boxty, but each are interchangeable. To make powdered rolled oats, simply place oats in a blender or food processor and pulse until it is in powdered form.
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