3 Irish-Inspired Recipes from Folsom and Roseville Chefs
You don’t have to be Irish to appreciate the country’s hearty cuisine. Forget the corned beef, cabbage, and green beer this year, and put your cooking chops to the test with one of these Emerald Isle recipes.
Kiss Me I’m Irish Cookies
Submitted by Randy Peters Catering & Event Center, 105 Vernon Street, Roseville, 916-726-2339, randypeterscatering.com
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. almond extract
1 (3.4 oz.) box pistachio pudding mix
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1 1/2-2 cups pecans, finely chopped
1 bag Hershey’s Kisses
Cream butter and powdered sugar till smooth. Beat in egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Add pudding mix, flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls, then roll in pecans. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets.
Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes. Immediately press a Hershey’s Kiss into the middle of each cookie. Transfer to cooling racks and cool completely.
Boxty
Submitted by The Monk’s Cellar, 240 Vernon Street, Roseville, 916-786-6665, monkscellar.com
An Irish potato pancake, boxty has been around for hundreds of years in Ireland and is often eaten as a side dish at breakfast. Nowadays, it's dressed up quite a bit, often layered with meats and vegetables.
1 cup raw potato, grated
1 cup previously boiled and mashed potatoes, chilled
1 cup flour
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
1/2 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
1 tbsp. onion, minced
1 tbsp. button mushrooms, minced
1 1/2 tbsp. salt, plus more for serving
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. butter
Place grated potatoes in cloth (or cheesecloth) and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Combine cold mashed potatoes with grated potatoes, flour, milk, baking powder, herbs, minced onion, mushrooms, salt, and pepper.
Roll dough into a 3” x 2” log or cylinder. Try to pack your potato mixture into this log shape tightly, which can be done by spooning the mixture onto cheesecloth and rolling into the log, then patting and molding, or simply by patting or molding with your hands.
Fill a stock pot (at least 6 quarts) with water and bring to a rolling boil. Turn down to a simmer and add the tightly packed potato log. Simmer for 1 hour. Remove and let cool in refrigerator overnight.
Once cooled, and prior to serving, slice into desired thickness, typically between 1/4” to 1/2" rounds. Place butter into a skillet and fry each round until golden brown. Lightly salt and serve as desired.
Traditional Irish Coffee
Submitted by Doyle’s Pub and Taproom, 312 East Bidwell Street, Folsom, 916-983-8277, doylespubandtap.com
5 oz. fresh-brewed coffee
2 tsp. brown sugar
1 1/2 oz. Irish whiskey
1-2 oz. heavy cream, lightly whipped
Pour hot coffee into warmed glass until it’s about 3/4 full. Add the brown sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Blend in Irish whiskey. Top with a collar of the whipped heavy cream by pouring gently over the back of a spoon.