THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Life's too short not to be Irish!" ~ an Irish saying ~ Irish Blessing on Waterford crystal shamrock ______ "May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand." ~ Irish Blessing ____ BAILEYS IRISH CREAM CHEESECAKE ~ Trust me ... favorite St. Patrick's Day treat adapted from tattered Bon Appetit (1989) __________ Crust: 2 cups crushed Oreo cookies (or Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers) 1/4 cup sugar 6 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter Filling: 2 1/4 lbs. room temperature cream cheese 1 2/3 cup sugar 5 room temperature organic eggs 1 cup Baileys Original Irish Cream 1 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract 1 cup premium semisweet chocolate chips Coffee Cream: 1 cup chilled whipping cream 2 Tbsp. sugar 1 tsp. instant coffee powder Chocolate curls or English toffee bits For crust : Preheat oven to 325-degrees. Coat 9-i...

"If you're enough lucky to be Irish, you're lucky enough!" ~Irish Saying ~ Crystal shamrock and shamrock flowers _______ STEAMED CLAMS & 'GREEN' LINGUINE ~ Ireland's pure shores reap some of the finest seafood in Europe ... either steamed clams or mussels make this recipe a fine holiday feast. __ 1 lb. linguine (use spinach linguine for an 'all green' treat) 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 6 pounds scrubbed littleneck or other small clams or mussels 1/2 cup chopped green onions 3 cloves chopped garlic 1 stick unsalted butter 2-3 cups dry white wine 1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley sea salt & coarsely ground black pepper to taste 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil Cook pasta in pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain and toss with olive oil. While pasta is cooking melt butter in a large pot. Saute chopped scallions and garlic cloves until scallions are tender but not browned. Add 2 cups dry white wine and sal...

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found." ~ Calvin Trillin * For more information on Calvin Trillin visit Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CalvinTrillin ___________________________ ~ St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef 'N Cabbage _______________________ CORNED BEEF HASH ~ delicious 'Hangover' breakfast === 4 cups chopped corned beef 4 cups diced par-boiled potatoes (bring to boil, simmer 10 minutes & drain) 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 large chopped onion 1 minced garlic clove 1 chopped red bell pepper 1/2 chopped orange or yellow pepper 1/2 chopped green bell pepper fresh chopped parsley 1 tsp. thyme 2 tsp. Lawry's Seasoned pepper kosher salt & fresh cracked pepper to taste 1 small bunch chopped green onions 6 poached eggs In large skillet, melt 4 Tbsp. butter. Add onion, garlic, and peppers and cook until wilted. Coat...

"Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffine , sugar and fat." ~ Alex Levi n _______________________ ~ in honor of the green ________________________________ MURPHY'S IRISH COFFEE ~ a healthy jigger of Brandy (Brian's claim to smoothness instead of Irish whiskey) 1 healthy tsp. of brown sugar freshly brewed strong black coffee fresh whipping cream 1 Tbsp. powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla freshly grated nutmeg, chocolate or cinnamon Whip cream until a soft peak forms. Add powdered sugar & vanilla. Continue whipping until a peak forms. Warm an Irish coffee glass in hot water. Pour brandy (or Irish whiskey) & brown sugar into the glass and stir. Slowly pour fresh coffee filling the glass to within half an inch or so of the top. Carefully top with whipped cream. Garnish with nutmeg, chocolate shavings or cinnamon. Toast loved ones near and enjoy sipping through the rich cream. (Thanks Brian!) _____________________...