St. Patrick's Day-Fun Facts & Delicious Recipe's
DID YOU KNOW: Here in the United States many people, of Irish decent and otherwise, gather to participate in the festive green holiday. Nearly 122 MILLION Americans (39% of the population) say they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Of the reported 122 million who celebrate, its estimated that nearly 34.7 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry. That’s more than 7x the population of Ireland.
CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE STATES:
New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade—This has taken place over 250 times since originating in 1762. It hosts 150 Bands, 150,000-250,000 marchers, and roughly 2 million spectators. The Parade is 2.1 miles and lasts between 5-6 hours. –I hope you brought your comfy shoes!
Chicago, Illinois –Chicago sets out to change the Chicago River Green every year in homage to the holiday. They use over 40lbs of green dye to turn the watery blue hues green! Over 100,000 people come to watch the river change in color.
Savanna, Georgia –While Chicago chooses to dye the river, Savanna opted for dyeing several of its fountains green. The most iconic would be the Forsyth Fountain, known for being the “crown jewel” of the city. They attempted to dye their river green in 1961, but gave up after they got less than thrilling results. However, don’t let that stop you from visiting Savanna for your next St. Patrick’s Day, they are ranked #2 in the country right behind New York City and #3 in the WORLD!! They celebrate the “green” holiday all month with tons of festival, live music, outdoor parties, and celebrations on the river.
WHAT DO YOU DO:
Here are some things that others are doing to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, what do you do? Over 8 MILLION St. Patrick’s Day cards are exchanged annually in America, did you give or get one this year!
83% of the American Population wears Green –it was once proclaimed that wearing green would make you invisible to leprechauns and fairy creatures that would pinch anyone they see (anyone not wearing green). Thus, the stigma if you don’t wear green you get a pinch. However, it is customary to wear green or shamrocks as an homage to St Patrick who is said to have used the three-leafed plant to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish on his journey to convert the Irish to Christianity.
31% of Americans attend a party. Some ideas for next year have been listed but there are so many parades, festivals, and concerts that participate in the holiday, I say, just pick a place on a map and GO! You’re sure to have fun!
25% of Americans decorate their home or office. Show off your GREEN! Share pictures of your home or office all decked out in the green theme!
34% of Americans make a Special Dinner. That leads us to the remainder of this post……FOOOOOD!! Here are two great Irish desserts sure to make anyone come back for more!! If you made something GREEN, please share!
Irish Coffee Cake:
INGREDIENTS:
For the cake:
1 cup butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
1 3/4 cup caster sugar
6 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
3 3/4 cup plain flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp coffee extract
1 tbsp Irish Cream liqueur
For the icing:
1 cup icing sugar
1–2 tbsp water
2 tbsp coffee extract
1 tbsp Irish liqueur
YOU'LL NEED
8in diameter 2 liter bundt tin
DIRECTIONS:
1:Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease an 8in diameter, 2 liter bundt tin and dust it lightly with flour.
2:Beat together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is light and pale. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until they are all combined. Mix through the milk and sour cream, then sift in the flour and baking powder and fold through until you have a smooth cake batter. Pour two-thirds of the mixture into the prepared tin.
3:Mix the coffee essence and Irish cream into the remaining batter. Drop tablespoonfuls of the mixture into the batter in the tin and use a knife to marble the mixtures together. Place in the oven to bake for about 55 minutes until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before removing the cake from the tin. Allow it to cool completely.
4:For the icing, whisk together the ingredients in a bowl until smooth and then drizzle it over the cooled cake. Serve in generous slices.
Irish Whiskey And Stout Cake:
INGREDIENTS:
Guinness Stout Chocolate Cake:
1 cup stout beer
10 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
Whiskey Simple Syrup:
1 part simple syrup (1 part water+1 part sugar, boiled and cooled)
1 part Irish whiskey
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
2 Tbsp light corn syrup
1/2 cup heavy cream
Whiskey Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 Tbsp light brown sugar, packed
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3 Tbsp Irish whiskey
1 Tbsp store-bought caramel sauce (optional
Chocolate Glaze:
4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
DIRECTIONS:
Guinness Stout Chocolate Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter/Grease 2-8inch cake pans and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large sauce-pot, combine beer and butter. Melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and add cocoa powder and sugar. Stir until incorporated. Add eggs one at a time and whisk until incorporated. Add vanilla.
In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Alternative adding dry mixture and yogurt in three additions. Add 1/3 of dry mixtures, mix to combine. Follow with 1/2 of yogurt and mix. Repeat and end with remaining 1/3 of dry mixture.
Divide batter evenly between prepared cake pans. If desired, use a kitchen scale to ensure cake batter is even. Level off batter using a mini offset or the back of a spoon.
Bake for 40-50 minutes until cake is done and a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan for 5-8 minutes. Unmold cake and allow to cool to room temperature on a wire rack.
Whiskey Simple Syrup:
In sauce-pot, combine water and sugar. Bring to boil and allow sugar to dissolve. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Store in fridge until ready to use.
Combine 2 tablespoons simple syrup and 2 tablespoons whiskey. Use this to lightly soak the cake layers during assembly.
Whiskey Cream Cheese Frosting:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add softened butter and mix until incorporated. Scrape down bowl as needed to ensure thorough mixing.
Add brown sugar and sifted powdered sugar. Mix on slow speed until smooth.
Add whiskey and caramel and mix until incorporated.
Chocolate Glaze:
In a medium bowl add chopped chocolate, butter, and corn syrup.
Pour heavy cream in a small sauce pot and bring to a boil. Pour hot heavy cream over chopped chocolate. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let mixture sit undisturbed for 90 seconds.
Remove plastic wrap and slowly stir together contents. Chocolate with melt and mixture will look watery, but as you stir the chocolate glaze will come together. Once mixture is smooth, let sit for a couple minutes until slightly thicken and mixture is a nice pourable consistency.
Assembly:
Slice the cakes into two even layers. You will end up with 4 cake layers.
Place first cake layer on a cake stand, or plate. Use a pastry brush to lightly soak cake with whisky simple syrup. Follow with about 1/2 cup of whiskey cream cheese frosting. Use an offset spatula to spread frosting into an even layer.
Add second cake layer and repeat with syrup and frosting. Continue to build cake until you have used all the cake layers.
Crumb coat the exterior of cake with frosting. Place in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to chill. Remove cake and apply another coat of frosting around the side of cake. Place cake back in the fridge until you are ready to pour chocolate glaze.
Remove cake from fridge. Pour slightly thicken chocolate glaze over the top of the cake. Allow the glaze to drip over the sides of the cake. Keep cake chilled until ready to serve.
