There is so much more to celebrating St. Pat's Day than Corn Beef & Cabbage or Colcannon at a Typical Pub Lunch. Watch the TV Segment: and see why I keep returning to Ireland time after time, it's the people, places and stories.
Here I am pulling a pint, which takes patience... about 3 minutes. Mike, the 3rd generation owner of the Collin's Pub in Adare, shows me the ropes.
Pulling a Pint in Adare at Colllin's.
Braising adapts so well to outdoor cooking, especially this time of year when you won't have to stand over the grill 'on watch' flipping the fish or steak at just the right moment. Braising on the grill allows you to kick back and walk away while a dish such as lamb shanks cook - low and slow. Just brown the lamb shanks on the grill, and continue with the recipe; cooking as directed in a heatproof casserole pot or finish braising the lamb shanks in a slow cooker.
A trip to Ireland is not complete without at least visiting a local pub and hearing a tale or two, listening to local music, and of course the local cusine. In addition to famous irish breakfasts that are second to none the seafood of Bantry, or the lamb of Connemara with a natural thyme, sage and rosemary flavor.
Noteworthy: Ireland's world famous Connemara Lamb
The Connemara region in Ireland is world renowned for its mystical beauty, rolling valleys, hills and lakes. This region is often shrouded by the moist mists of the North Atlantic which enhances its spectacular beauty and aids in the growth of its many wild herbs, grasses, heathers and wild flowers all of which are part and parcel of the stable diet of Connemara Lamb.
Lá Fhéile Pádraig, Gaelic for Saint Patrick's Day and in honor this month's celebration—Pionta Guinness, le do thoil. Sláinte! That's, a pint of Guinness please and cheers!
Lamb Shanks and Potatoes
Recipe by George Hirsch | Makes four servings
George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series | chefgeorgehirsch.com
4 whole lamb shanks
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup carrots, chopped
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup peas, frozen
1/4 cup celery, chopped
10 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 cups chicken broth
1 Tablespoon rosemary
1 teaspoon thyme
2 cups mashed potatoes
Preheat large saucepan.
Add olive oil and brown meat on all sides. Add onions, garlic, carrots, celery and cook until light brown.
Add vinegar and reduce for two minutes. Add tomato sauce, broth, rosemary and thyme. Cover and cook meat for two hours at a gentle simmer.
The lamb shanks are fully cooked when the meat becomes flaky and shrinks away from the bone. Add peas to the lamb shanks and vegetables. Cook for 5 minutes longer.
Serve the cooked Lamb Shanks with sauce and vegetables on top of hot, steamy smashed potatoes.
Well.. Happy New Year!
Champagne is recognized as the universal symbol of good news, and this cocktail's simple recipe shows that life doesn't have to be complicated to be enjoyed. A classic Champagne Cocktail may not be as trendy a drink these days, but as a classic, it’s as good as when Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr sipped it in An Affair To Remember.
The Recipe: Six ounces of champagne and a sugar cube soaked in Angostura bitters is all it takes to make a sophisticated cocktail for the New Year. Drop the sugar cube into a tall flute glass, and then slowly add champagne and a lemon twist.
Tips: With the Champagne Cocktail, you can trust the bitters to take the edge off a lesser quality champagne or sparkling wine. For this drink, you can use a lesser expensive wine spending about $10 to $18 for a good domestic bottle. Or, as I personally prefer to use a good Prosecco.
It is often remarked that Auld Lang Syne is one of the most popular songs that nobody knows the lyrics to. "Auld Lang Syne" literally translates as "old long since" and means "times gone by."
As we say goodbye to 2011 and say hello 2012, I bid you adieu and I look forward to seeing you here next year.
George
Here's a Christmas toast for you. Cheers!
All Champagne, by definition, must come from vineyards in the Champagne region of France. This is a small region comprising three districts which include the towns of Reims, Troyes, Charleville-Mezier and Chalons. Prosecco, produced in the Veneto region of Italy is considered an everyday drink or sparkling wine. Unlike most Champagne it does not improve with age and should really be consumed within six months of the time it’s purchased, or within a year of bottling. It tends to be dryer than many Champagnes. ideal to serve with my Sweet Spicy Holiday Snack. A good Prosecco, is inexpensive and very drinkable; right for any occasion even a Christmas breakfast, Santa would approve!
For George's Sweet Holiday Snack Recipe
Sgroppino Italian Cocktail
Recipe by George Hirsch | Chill 4-6 Champagne flutes
2 cups chilled Prosecco (Italian sparkling white wine)
2 Tablespoons chilled vodka
1 cup frozen lemon sorbet
2 Tablespoons half & half
4 fresh strawberries, split for garnish
4 fresh mint leaves
Mix Prosecco, vodka, sorbet and half & half in blender for 1 minute. Pour mixture immediately into chilled champagne flutes. Top with berries and mint.
What to do with all that turkey? You gave goodie bags away, but there seems to be so much left, still. Well, here are a couple great ideas beyond the old turkey-n-gravy sandwich, which isn't that bad either.
My number one requested one-pot meal recipe is my White Turkey Chili; I prepared on Live with Regis & Kelly. It's so easy to prepare; just give all the ingredients time to simmer. Another favorite is my Turkey Gumbo; a spicy and a warm way to serve turkey.
For a quick turkey snack, fix a Turkey NLT. That’s turkey on Naan bread; grilled with sliced vine tomatoes, lettuce and wasabi dressing.
image, eatturkey.com
