Irish Triple Threat Cupcakes

Oh boy, are these the real deal. Amazing cupcakes. Really. They are all that is good for St. Patrick's Day and you have all weekend to make them. I made them when friends came over and several people tried to "just have half" only to immediately shove the other half in their (and my) face). Just don't even try. You'd be better off saying, "I'll have half...the recipe." Let me break it down for you: Guinness helps make a dark chocolate cupcake that is then stuffed with a Jameson whiskey ganache only to finally be topped with a Bailey's buttercream frosting. Yes, that'll do just fine. It covers all your Irish bases--three of the food groups (Guinness, Jameson and Bailey's) plus it's a cupcake plus it's awesome. You need these cupcakes in your life if you are Irish, like alcohol-infused treats, like cupcakes and/or are not completely insane (the last qualification is excluded for anyone with the first qualification see we Irish are a wee bit nuts at times). Seriously? Make these. Eat them all. Make them again.

Guinness Irish Stew

Are you noticing a theme yet? There are alternatives to corned beef and cabbage if you'd like to make an Irish dinner in honor of St. Patrick's Day coming up. This is the good stuff I made to go with the brown bread I shared on Monday. Loaded with yummy beef, lots of veggies, barley and seasoning, plus a Guinness kicker for extra flavor, this is a wonderful meal. Oh, did I forget to say it was a crock pot meal? Because yes, it's as easy as dump, mix, turn on and eat. My favorite kind of meal. This stew is definitely hearty and will warm you up, so if like me you're still stuck underneath a polar ice cap (or have so much snow in your yard that it's now insulated itself and is giving off cold air of it's own causing you to wonder if you might see the grass by May) then this is the dish for you. I love everything about it. The Guinness is definitely there, but in a mild behind the scenes flavor kind of way.

Irish Brown Soda Bread

Dave and I went to Ireland last year for a belated honeymoon (hey, better 4 years late than never!). While there we really enjoyed the food. Like for real. And one of our favorite finds was this brown bread. It's soft but with a gently crusty edge. The flavors are nutty and hearty. It's the perfect bread warmed with a pat of sweet cream butter or for dipping into a hearty bowl of stew. We found a little corner coffee shop/deli in Bray that we ended up getting a few meals from and each time I had the option, I went with the brown bread. I'm so glad to have finally found a recipe to enjoy it again!