St. Patrick’s Day Home Cooking

You can go the traditional way of celebrating on St. Patrick and eat beef and cabbage, or you can have a little fun with it like MasterChef winner Kelsey Murphy.

She shares some fun and easy recipes that will have you enjoying the luck of the Irish!

Dark chocolate and Guinness bread with Baileys glaze

• 1 1/2 cups AP flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. white pepper
• 1/2 cup (1 stick softened butter)
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 glass of Guinness
• *1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (*optional)
• *1/2 cup chopped pecans (*optional)

For the frosting:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tbsp. Baileys
• Half and half or heavy cream as needed to achieve desired consistency

Instructions:

1. Preheat to 350 degrees.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.
3. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and brown sugar together until completely combined. Add the egg and vanilla and mix together. Scrape the bowl down and add the Guinness, stirring until combined. (The mixture will look chunky. That’s how it should be, don’t worry.)
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients until the flour is incorporated.
5. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans, if using.
6. Place the dough in a greased loaf pan and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. While the bread is baking, make the glaze by whisking together the icing sugar and Baileys. Add cream if needed 1 tsp. on time. The glaze should be pourable.
8. Cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Do not freeze until completely at room temperature.
9. Once cooled, spread the glaze over the bread. Slice and enjoy!

Guinness Glazed Steaks with Cheese Sauce

For the Guinness Glaze:

• 1 glass of Guinness or your preferred stout beer
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 clove of garlic, minced

For the steak skewers:

• 1lb steak of choice, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes. (rib or strip steak work great for this)
• Salt and pepper for seasoning or steak seasoning as desired
• Olive oil
• Small wooden skewers

For the cheese sauce:

• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 tbsp. flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded smoked gouda cheese
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• A pinch of nutmeg
• A pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions:

1. Place all the frosting ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Reduce for about 15 minutes until it thickens to a syrupy consistency.
2. Thread beef onto skewers. Season on all sides with seasoning as desired.
3. Preheat a grill, cast iron skillet, or stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp. oil in the pan. Place skewers in pan and cook for about two minutes on each side. While rotating the skewers, brush the meat with the Guinness glaze. Once all sides are baked and glazed, transfer to a serving plate.
4. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour until it forms a paste and let cook for 1-2 minutes to cook the flour.
5. Slowly whisk in the milk. Increase the heat to medium-high and continue whisking frequently until the mixture thickens.
6. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the grated Gouda a little at a time, allowing the cheese to melt before the next addition. Add spices at the end and taste. Adjust seasoning as desired.

Lucky Charm No-Bake Cookie Dough Bars

Cereal husk:

• 3 cups of lucky charms (Just the toasted oatmeal part NO BELLAR)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Cookie Dough:

• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cups Lucky Charms marshmallows
• 2 cups flour (toasted for 5 minutes at 325 degrees)
• 5 tbsp. Full-fat milk

Frosting:

• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Half and half as needed to achieve desired consistency
• 1/2 cup Lucky Charms marshmallows (+ more for topping)

Instructions:

1. Place the cereal and sugar in a food processor and blend. Add the melted butter and stir a few times to combine. You can also do this with a large ziplock bag if you don’t have a food processor.
2. Line an 8×8 baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Pour the cereal mixture into the bottom and press into an even layer. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes while you make the next layer.
3. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
4. Add milk, vanilla and salt and mix until combined. Add in marshmallows.
5. Slowly add the flour until combined.
6. On top, mix the cereal base with biscuit dough and smooth into an even layer.
7. Top with frosting.
8. Refrigerate for one hour before slicing. Enjoy!

For the frosting:

1. Using the beater attachment of your stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together. Add vanilla and salt.
2. If desired, you can color with food coloring. Green is an obvious choice for the holiday.
3. Spread marshmallows on top