by Milcarsky's Staff | Mar 11, 2024 | Food, Recipes
St. Patrick’s Day is a time to embrace the rich cultural heritage of Ireland, and what better way to do that than through its traditional and mouthwatering cuisine? Whether you’re of Irish descent or just looking to celebrate the spirit of the Emerald Isle, these three authentic Irish recipes will transport you to the heart of Ireland’s culinary traditions.
Irish Soda Bread: A Staple of Irish Tables
Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 and 3/4 cups buttermilk
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Dust a baking sheet with flour.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk. Using a wooden spoon, stir until a soft dough forms.
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and gently knead it a few times. Shape it into a round loaf.
Place the dough on the prepared baking sheet and score a deep “X” on the top with a sharp knife.
Bake for 15 minutes at 425°F, then reduce the heat to 400°F (200°C) and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack before slicing. Serve with butter or your favorite Irish cheese.
Irish Lamb Stew: Hearty and Comforting
Ingredients:
2 pounds of lamb stew meat, cut into chunks
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 large carrots, peeled and sliced
3 large potatoes, peeled and diced
2 onions, chopped
4 cups beef or vegetable broth
1 cup red wine
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Brown the lamb stew meat on all sides.
Add the onions and garlic, sautéing until softened.
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Pour in the red wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
Add the carrots, potatoes, thyme, and season with salt and pepper.
Pour in the broth, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the lamb is tender.
Adjust the seasoning as needed and serve hot. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake: A Sweet Finale
Ingredients (For the crust):
2 cups crushed chocolate sandwich cookies
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Ingredients (For the filling):
3 packages (24 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup Baileys Irish Cream
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and grease a 9-inch springform pan.
In a medium bowl, combine the crushed cookies and melted butter. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan to create the crust.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract and Bailey’s Irish Cream.
Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust in the springform pan.
Bake for 55-60 minutes or until the center is set and the top is lightly browned.
Allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven with the door ajar for about an hour, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.
This St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate the flavors of Ireland with these authentic recipes that pay homage to the country’s culinary heritage. From the hearty Irish soda bread to the comforting lamb stew and the sweet indulgence of Baileys Irish Cream cheesecake, these dishes are sure to bring a touch of Irish warmth and hospitality to your celebration. Sláinte!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Feb 1, 2024 | Recipes
Skip the crowded restaurants and celebrate your sweetie with a few homemade “sweets”. We have selected three courses from some of our favorite brands to inspire a nice home-cooked meal for the ones you love.
Brunch
For brunch, surprise your sweetie with a delicious plate of crepes. This Crepe recipe by SubZero, Wolf, and Cove shows just how easy it is to make a restaurant-quality breakfast from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup milk
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour
Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a blender container or food processor bowl with cutting blade.
Process on high about 1 minute or until smooth.
Allow to rest for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat 6-inch skillet on Wolf cooktop over medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until drops of water dropped into skillet pop.
Using 1/4 cup measure, pour batter into hot skillet.
Cook crepes for about 2 minutes on first side or until edges brown.
Then, carefully turn it over and cook it for one minute.
You can choose to dress up this simple dish with this Fruit and Cream Filling recipe by Taste of Home:
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar, divided
4 teaspoons 2% milk
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup each fresh blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and 3 tablespoons of confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Spread 1 rounded tablespoon on each crepe, top with 1/4 cup of fruit, and roll it up. Sprinkle with the remaining confectioners’ sugar.
If you are having Mimosa with your brunch, try this Sparkling Raspberry Lemon Mimosa recipe by Aberdeen’s Kitchen.
4 ounces chilled Brut Champagne or sparkling wine, cork just popped
2 ounces raspberry lemonade, pulp strained out if desired
Fresh raspberries sprinkled with white granulated sugar
Dinner
For dinner, we recommend treating your sweetheart (and yourself) with a perfectly cooked steak! No need to worry if you haven’t mastered the art of the perfect steak. This Ultimate Steak by Frigidaire has a few expert tips and a delicious rub recipe to use on your meal. Pair with your favorite vegetables, and you have a hearty, home-cooked meal worthy of celebrating any occasion.
This recipe will take your steak game to the next level.
Ingredients:
4 x 1 1/2inch thick boneless rib-eye steaks
1 TBSP. butter
3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
3 cloves of garlic
For the spice rub
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup paprika
4 TBSP. sea salt
3 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. ground coriander
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. celery seed
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
Instructions:
In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the spice rub and mix together. Set aside.
Place the steaks on a large cutting board and pat dry with a paper towel. Coat each steak with 2 teaspoons of olive oil and rub them to get the beef well coated. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
Rub each steak with about 2 tablespoons of spice mix, ensuring that all sides are well coated. (Any leftover steak spice will be kept in an airtight container for 2 months)
Use a large cast iron skillet and heat over medium-high. Place the steaks in the hot pan and cook for 4 minutes. Flip the steaks over and add 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan. Top the butter with the garlic and rosemary. When the butter has melted, angle the pan slightly so that a pool of butter collects near the base of the pan. Using a spoon, baste the tops of the steaks to get them nicely coated in the flavored butter. Cook for an additional 4 minutes (8 minutes total, for a steak cooked medium rare).
Rest the steaks on a plate for at least 5 minutes to allow the juices to settle. This will result in an extremely moist, succulent steak.
Transfer to a board and slice your rested steak against the grain into thin strips. Serve.
Crank Up your Cooking tip:
For the best sear, heat a cast-iron pan to high heat before adding the steak. The PowerPlus® Burner on the Frigidaire Professional Range will quickly heat the pan.
Desert
Our favorite part of Valentine’s Day is, of course, the desert. And what celebration would be complete without some kind of chocolate, right? Sure, you could go the traditional route and make a chocolate cake or a chocolate mousse of some sort, but why go traditional when you can have S’mores!? Either snuggled up next to a fire pit or by using your Lynx Napoli Oven!
Ingredients
8 graham crackers, broken in 1/2
2 milk chocolate bars broken into squares
8 marshmallows, cut in halves
- Preheat Napoli Oven to Medium for 30 minutes with the door on.
- Lay 1/2 of the broken graham crackers on a cookie baking sheet. Place chocolate pieces on top and 2 marshmallow halves on top of that.
- Bake until the marshmallows are puffed and golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from Napoli oven and top with the remaining graham crackers, pressing down to make a sandwich. Serve while still warm.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Oct 17, 2023 | Food, Recipes
Halloween is the time of year when you can truly get creative and make something spooky and delicious. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or simply looking to enjoy some ghoulishly good treats at home, we’ve got you covered with these frightfully good recipes. So put on your favorite costume, light some candles, and let’s get cooking!
Mummy Hot Dogs:
Ingredients:
Hot dogs
Crescent roll dough
Mustard (for eyes)
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the crescent roll dough package.
Wrap each hot dog with a strip of crescent roll dough, leaving a gap near the top for the mummy’s eyes.
Bake according to the crescent roll dough instructions or until the dough is golden brown.
Add mustard dots for the mummy’s eyes. Serve with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.
Witch’s Brew Punch:
Ingredients:
2 cups cranberry juice
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup orange juice
1-liter soda or tonic water
Festive Candy like Gummy worms (optional)
Instructions:
In a large punch bowl, combine the lemon-lime soda and pineapple juice.
Add your festive candy for that extra spooky touch.
Stir well.
Pretzel Broomsticks:
Ingredients:
4 string cheese sticks, or more as needed
12 pretzel sticks
Instructions:
Cut each string cheese stick into thirds. Snip the ends of each third into thin strings to look like a broom.
Place a pretzel stick into each piece of string cheese to create the broom handle.
Acorn Candy Cookies:
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon prepared chocolate frosting
24 milk chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped
24 mini vanilla wafer cookies
24 butterscotch chips
Instructions:
Smear a small amount of frosting onto the flat bottom of a candy kiss. Press onto the flat bottom of the vanilla wafer. Smear a little more frosting onto the flat bottom of a butterscotch chip and press onto the rounded top of the cookie. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Set aside to dry for about 30 minutes.
Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Pudding:
1 (15 ounces) can pumpkin purée
1 (12 ounces) can low fat evaporated milk
1 large box (5.1 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 Package chocolate cookies
Instructions:
Add the pumpkin purée, evaporated milk, instant vanilla pudding mix, and pumpkin pie spice to the blender jar of your blender.
Place the lid securely on the blender jar. Then, blend the ingredients until the mixture is fully incorporated and thick.
Place chocolate cookies in a sealable plastic bag and roll with a rolling pin to crush the cookies.
Place a few spoonfuls of the crumbly cookie mixture to the bottom of individual sized serving bowls.
Transfer the pudding to the prepared bowls and top with more of the cookie mixture.
Store in the fridge until ready to eat.
These frightfully good recipes are sure to elevate your Halloween celebration to the next level. Whether you’re crafting spooky snacks or a bewitching beverage, these treats will cast a delicious spell on your taste buds and leave you and your guests howling for more. Enjoy your ghoulishly good Halloween feast!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Feb 9, 2023 | Food, Recipes
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate love than with a homemade meal that warms the heart? Whether you’re cooking for your significant other, family, or friends, these three delectable Valentine’s recipes will make the day special. From a romantic dinner to a sweet treat, we’ve got you covered with recipes that are easy to make and guaranteed to impress your loved ones.
Appetizer: Caprese Salad Skewers with Balsamic Glaze
Simplicity meets sophistication with these Caprese Salad Skewers. They are visually appealing and bursting with flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Here’s how to make them:
Ingredients:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Fresh mozzarella balls
- Fresh basil leaves
- Balsamic glaze
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Thread cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves onto skewers.
- Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze, and season with salt and pepper.
- Serve as a delightful appetizer that embodies the essence of Italian cuisine.
Main Course: Garlic Butter Shrimp Linguine
For the main course, impress your loved one with this irresistible Garlic Butter Shrimp Linguine. The combination of succulent shrimp, garlic-infused butter, and al dente pasta is a match made in culinary heaven.
Ingredients:
- Linguine pasta
- Large shrimp peeled and deveined
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Minced garlic
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper
- Grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Cook linguine according to package instructions until al dente.
- In a large skillet, melt butter and add olive oil over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and sauté until fragrant.
- Add shrimp and cook until they turn pink, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Toss in cooked linguine season with salt, pepper, and fresh parsley.
- Serve hot with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese for an extra touch of decadence.
Dessert: Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
No Valentine’s Day is complete without a decadent dessert, and these Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes are the perfect sweet ending to your romantic meal. When you cut into them, a gooey chocolate center oozes out, making every bite pure bliss.
Ingredients:
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Unsalted butter
- Eggs
- Sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
- Raspberries and powdered sugar (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and grease ramekins with butter.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and butter together, stirring until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
- Stir in the melted chocolate mixture and vanilla extract.
- Gradually fold in the flour until the batter is smooth.
- Divide the batter among the ramekins and bake for 12-14 minutes.
- Once done, let the cakes cool for a minute before running a knife around the edges and inverting them onto plates.
- Garnish with fresh raspberries and a dusting of powdered sugar.
This Valentine’s Day, show your love through the art of cooking with these three delightful recipes. Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two or a gathering of friends and family, these dishes will make the day special. Remember, it’s not just about the food; it’s about the love and care you put into preparing it. Happy Valentine’s Day, and may your kitchen be filled with love and delicious flavors!
