Every year on March 17th we get to wear green, pinch our friends and exchange hugs & kisses as we celebrate this very Irish Holiday!
While most people recognize the symbols of the Shamrock, the Leprechaun and Rainbow with the pot of Gold, there are other beautiful facts that are less known about Saint Paddy’s Day.
For instance, in Ireland this is considered a formal holiday with a religious tone similar to Christmas and Easter. Besides the parades and green beer offered to tourists, there are charity shows, church masses, community feasts, singing, dancing and laughing the worries away with friends and good ale.
Lemon-Irish Whiskey Cake Recipe
Ingredients :
Ideally this recipe should be started the day before baking.
1 lemon, zest of, cut into julienne
3/4 cup superfine sugar (regular sugar can be processed in a blender or food processor)
3 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup Irish whiskey
3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
2 cups flour
3/4 cup almonds, ground
1 pinch salt 1 pinch ground cloves
Optional: you can use walnuts, pecans or golden raisins in the mix!
Preparation :
Place julienned lemon zest in a small bowl. Let it soak in whiskey overnight. The next day, preheat oven to 350°F .Grease a 9 inch cake pan. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy and then whisk in the eggs. Sift the flour and add to the butter mixture together with the salt. Stir to blend. Fold in the ground almonds. Strain the whiskey, discarding the zest, and stir the whiskey into the batter. Pour into the prepared pan, and bake for about one hour, until golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Irish Whiskey Sauce for the Cake
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon Irish whiskey
Directions:
Melt butter over medium heat in a quart saucepan. Add flour and cook, whisking until well combined. Remove from heat and stir in milk, sugar and whiskey. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, until thickened 5 - 7 minutes. May be drizzled over cake or served in small dipping bowls alongside cake pieces.
My Irish Blessings to You!
- Here's to a long life and a merry one
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer and another one! - May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live. - May your heart be warm and happy
With the lilt of Irish laughter,
Every day in every way
And forever and ever after! - May you live to be one hundred years
With one extra year to repent! - May the Leprechauns be near you
To spread luck along your way.
And may all the Irish Angels,
Smile upon you on St. Patrick's Day!
