Pot of Gold

There are different versions of the Pot of Gold, here is one that includes champagne. Light and gilded with a hint of fruity sweetness.   

Pot of Gold

-------------------------------------------

makes 1 cocktail

2 tablespoons pear juice

2 tablespoons Irish Whiskey

Champagne

twist of lemon 

Place the pear juice and Irish whiskey into a fluted champagne glass. Top with champagne and a twist of lemon. 

Stay warm and have a great weekend everyone! - JD 

Food Photo of the Day ~ Stewed Apple Pudding

Like a bread pudding, stewed apple pudding is substantial. It is a great way to use up any apples lying about and a quick way to create a delicious dessert. I have made and posted about this before however felt the need to post something that is satisfying and comforting at the same time, again.

Hope everyone is having a great week. Spring Break this week and the weather has been so up and down. Looking forward to the weekend! - JD 

Brown Soda Bread

This brown soda bread recipe is easy and scrumptious. A slice with dinner or a slice toasted for breakfast with butter and a rich marmalade is supreme.  

Brown Soda Bread

--------------------------------------------------

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

3 tablespoons wheat bran

3 tablespoons wheat germ

2 tablespoons old fashion oats

2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces

2 tablespoons honey

2 cups buttermilk

Preheat over to 425ºF

Butter and flour a 9x5x3 inch loaf tin. Line the bottom with baking parchment paper. 

Combine first 8 ingredients in large bowl. Mix well. 

Add the butter, rub in with finger tips or a pastry cutter, until the mixture resembles fine meal. Add the honey then stir in enough buttermilk to form a soft dough.

Transfer the dough to prepared loaf tin.

Bake until bread is dark brown and tester inserted into centre comes out clean, about 40 minutes. 

Turn bread out on to a wire rack, right side up, and cool on wire rack.

Notes: Oven vary therefore I had to bake the loaf just a bit longer.   

The Meteor

This lovely chartreuse cocktail is atmospheric and has a sweet anise taste, that will rocket your cocktail repertoire. 

The Meteor 

-----------------------------------------------

makes 1 cocktail

1/2 oz rye or bourbon whisky

1/4 oz Italian vermouth

1/4 oz absinthe (or absinthe substitute)

Ice 

Stir all the ingredients together. Serve in a cocktail glass. 

Have a great weekend everyone! - JD 

Pineapple Carrot Zucchini Loaf

Spring has sprung and this super moist loaf with a subtle spiced flavour; is delicious on it's own or with a cup of tea.  

Pineapple Carrot Zucchini Loaf

------------------------------------------------------------

3 cups of unbleached all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon mixed spice

1 cup chopped walnuts

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups coconut sugar

1/2 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons maple extract

2 cups grated zucchini

1 cup grated carrots

1 can of crushed pineapple, well drained

Preheat oven to 350ºF (170ºC). Grease and flour two 9x5 inch loaf tins. Line the pans with baking parchment paper. 

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Stir in the chopped walnuts and set aside.

In another bowl beat the eggs together with the coconut sugar, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and maple extract, until smooth. Stir in the dry mixture until just moistened, then fold in the zucchini, carrots, and pineapple just until combined. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared loaf tins.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then remove from tins and finish cooling on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes: I only have one loaf tin therefore I made 12 muffins with the remaining batter. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend! - JD 

The Irish Cocktail

The Irish cocktail is smooth with a long, strong finish with many ingredients at play. This would be a lovely pre-dinner cocktail or an evening cocktail where one is quite affable.  

Irish Cocktail

--------------------------------------------------------------

makes 1 cocktail

2 oz Irish whiskey

1/4 oz Absinthe

1/4 oz Triple Sec

1 bar spoon Luxardo maraschino

1 dash Angostura bitters

Lemon twist for garnish

Olive for garnish

Add the Irish whiskey, absinthe, triple sec, maraschino and Angostura bitter to a mixing glass. Fill with ice and stir until well chilled, about 20 seconds.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and or olive. 

Food Photo of the Day ~ Shamrock Sugar Cookies

As some of you know St. Patrick's Day is this weekend and we have been busy making and baking shamrock sugar cookies. Splashes of green sugar and bright rainbow sprinkles enhance these festive cookies to bring the luck of the Irish to you and your stomachs.

Plenty of sunshine and infinite blue skies here. Hope everyone is having a good week so far. - JD