Colcannon For A Hot Day

 No one feels like cooking when it's hot outside. Yet the idea of take out or sandwiches  is not that appealing. A better alternative would be quick meals that can be cooked up without any fuss.The Irish classic colcannon works well for this

Colcannon is one of my favorite dishes to make and to eat .It's  is a quick mix of mashed potatoes and spinach or cabbage with scallions and garlic for flavoring.

It;s taking any leftover potatoes frying them with a mix of butter or olive oil (or cream if you want the authentic Gaelic version) . I added fresh baby spinach leaves  but you can add steamed frozen spinach of you want. Shredded cabbage can be added too. Bacon or ham bits are always a tasty extra if you want to give it more oomph. As for garlic the powdered form works just as well.

I may try to make it with vegan bacon the next time.Still it's a simple dish. It can be made any time of the year and can go well with ham or corned beef. Again it's a great way of using up leftover mashed potatoes too.ANother plus is that it cooks up quickly and that's means less time in front of a hot stove ,especially on a hot day.

If you want an easy hot meal on a hot day then try colcannon.It's also a great way of repurposing leftover mashed potatoes and adding spinach or other greens to the meal. Try it for a tasty yet simple dish.

Irish Classics Updated

 Saint Patrick's Day is Friday and with that comes an array of Gaelic dishes . They are classic recipes  yet can be updated for a zingy and fun holiday meal. 

One of the easiest and tastiest is colcannon. This is taking either fresh or leftover mashed potatoes and adding veggies to them. Green onions are added along with butter and cream. Many home chefs use left over green cabbage  but for a more buttery flavor try Savoy cabbage instead.This is a rich yellow colored one  that doesn't have a strong flavor like the greey variety. Another update is adding kale and spinach for a deeper jewel color along with adding more nutrients. You could also add sauteed yellow onions or scallions.If you want it to be vegan, then add almond milk and Melt butter to it.Irish stew is another Gaelic treat. It's usually made with lamb but you can vary it with beef and even vegan beef crumbles.It has carrots parsnips and turnips however you can easily switch ip up to sweet potatoes and onions.Tomato paste is also put in but you can used roasted tomatoes as well for a smokier taste.It's flavored also with a good stout but you could experiment with pale ales or other brews.

Of course one of the most famous Irish recipes is Irish soda bread . This is a quick bread that receives its' leavening from baking soda instead of yeast. The other ingredients are pretty simple and classic, buttermilk, raisins , a pinch fo sugar and a pinch of salt. To change it up a bit use Craisins , drired cranberries for a sweeter , tangier flavor or currents. Some home bakers use thinned yogurt instead of the buttermilk or kefir - a fermented milk drink for a tarter flavor. For a sweeter one  think  chocolate chips, yes chocolate chips. You can also add rolled oats ( a staple in an Irish breakfast) along with brown sugar. This would be the perfecr bread to have on St Patricks' day morning with a steaming cup of coffee or tea as you watch the parade. A hip dessert served by many home and professional bakers is stout cupcakes. These are a heady and rich mix of the thick foamy ale with cocoa powder  and chocolate chips. These can be served without icing or a buttercream one laced with Bailey's Irish Cream or coffee .

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with updated recipes. You can still have your soda bread and Irish stew. Just zing it up a bit for some flavor and fun.