St Patrick's Day is coming up...a few things.

Hey there

 Saint Patrick's Day is coming right up, and I have a favor to ask you....If you would, please, send me your pictures of how you are celebrating this great day! It helps if you have a beer, but not required by any means...

You can email me your pic's at thebeerczar@gmail.com, or post them on our Facebook page, whatever is easiest for you.


Also, can't decided what to eat? Here are some great recipe's for you to check out....

Saint Patrick's Day Recipes

Grilled Corned Beef and Cheese Sandwich with Guinness Caramelized Onions
(if you want to make that sandwich super good, maked your own Corned Beef! Click the link below to find out how)

Beer Czar's Older Brother shows you how to Corn your own beef.







And for dessert, Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes!


These look just fantastic!


Do you have a favorite Irish, or St Patrick's Day recipe? We would love to share it, email it to us at thebeerczar@gmail.com, and we will add it to our list!!!

Thanks!


So, there you go, a few things to think about this weekend, and next Tuesday!

Until next time
Bottoms up my friends!

The Beer Czar

Cooking with Beer: Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

Just in time for St Patrick's Day, here is a wonderful dessert made using all the ingredients of an Irish Car Bomb (Guinness, Baily's and Jamison). All amazingly combined to make a delicious, pretty easy to make dessert!

Recipe is from the site "Brown Eyed Baker" (all credit, for the recipe, and photos, go to that site! Check out the complete write up on the recipe here....)

So, here are cupcakes, inspired by the drink (well, shot) "Irish Car Bomb", check it out!



Guinness, Whiskey & Irish Cream Cupcakes (aka, Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes!)

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes:
1 cup Guinness stout
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoons salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream
For the Whiskey Ganache Filling:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons Irish whiskey
For the Baileys Frosting:
2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons Bailey's Irish Cream

Directions:

1. To Make the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 cupcake cups with liners. Bring the Guinness and butter to a simmer in a heavy, medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

2. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl to combine. Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sour cream on medium speed until combined. Add the Guinness-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat just to combine. Reduce the speed to low, add the flour mixture and beat briefly. Using a rubber spatula, fold the batter until completely combined. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Cool the cupcakes on a rack.

3. To Make the Whiskey Ganache Filling: Finely chop the chocolate and transfer it to a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until simmering and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then, using a rubber spatula, stir it from the center outward until smooth. Add the butter and whiskey and stir until combined. Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped.

4. To Fill the Cupcakes: Using a 1-inch round cookie cutter (or the bottom of a large decorating tip), cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes, going about two-thirds of the way down. Transfer the ganache to a piping back with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

5. To Make the Baileys Frosting: Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually add the powdered sugar until all of it is incorporated. Add the Baileys, increase the speed to medium-high and whip for another 2 to 3 minutes, until it is light and fluffy.

6. Using your favorite decorating tip, or an offset spatula, frost the cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Store the cupcakes in an airtight container.


OK, that sounds amazing, and just in time for St Patrick's Day!

Until next time
Bottoms up my friends!

The Beer Czar

St Patrick's Day Recipe....

Well, the day is fast approaching folks! One of the greatest eating/beer drinking holidays on the calendar! That's right, Saint Patrick's Day! OK, so, I know its not a major holiday, but it is an excuse to eat some great food, and drink some "decent" beer (OK, I know, I have some Irish blood in me, but that doesn't mean I have to LOVE Irish beer, its OK, but there are far great beer nations out there, in my opinion). While I don't plan on going all out crazy for the day, I will recognize my Irish roots. I like to plan a simple "Irish inspired" meal, and wash it down with a Guinness or two. I take some time in searching out something different (at least something I've never had before) but also fairly quick and easy. This year, I found what seems to be the perfect fit for the day. How does "Grilled Corned Beef and Cheese with Guinness Caramelized Onions" sound? Yeah, sounded awesome to me, so this is what I'll be eating March 17th!


Here is how you make it.....

"Grilled Corned Beef and Cheese with Guinness Caramelized Onions" 

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 cup Guinness
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons grainy mustard
• 1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
• 2 slices rye, lightly toasted
• 1/2 cup cheddar, shredded, room temperature
• 2 ounces cooked corned beef, sliced or shredded, warm

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Add 1/4 cup Guinness , cover and simmer until the liquid has mostly evaporated, about 15 minutes and repeat three more times.
4. Remove from heat and mix in the Worcestershire sauce and grainy mustard.
5. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat.
6. Butter the outside of each slice of bread, sprinkle half of the cheese on the inside of one slice of bread, top with half of the onions, the corned beef, the remaining onions, cheese and finally the other slice of bread.
7. Add the sandwich to the pan and grill until golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 2-4 minutes per side.

Oh, and if you want to make your own Corned Beef, let my older brother show you how, when he appeared on an episode of local Maine TV show "207", check it out here.......

Seems easy enough for me!!! 

What are your plans this St Patrick's Day? Share them with me if you'd like, and if you have a favorite Irish recipe, please, by all means, share it with me, and I just might pass it along!

So, until next time

Slainte!

The Beer Czar