kerrygold irish cream

Mint to be Irish

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This tasty little cordial made with Kerrygold Irish Cream, Zaya Rum and Branca Menta will have your dancing an Irish jig in no time.

Hello friends! We are starting spring break this weekend, and we are looking ahead to St. Patrick’s Day.  We both come from Irish ancestors. Craig’s grandmother’s maiden name was Gertrude Holmes. Rhonda’s grandmother was Mary Dorothea O’Donnell, and Mary Dorothea’s father was Patrick O’Donnell.  Can you really get any more Irish than that?   Whether you are Irish or just want to be, we have a fun little cocktail for you to toast your lads and lassies.  You will believe that you were Mint to Be Irish.

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Just like the lucky three leaf clover, this cocktail is made with three delicious spirits — Kerrygold Irish Cream, Zaya Rum, and Branca Menta.

Add 2 ounces of Kerrygold Irish Cream, 1 ounce of Zaya Rum, and 1/2 ounce of Branca Menta to a shaker.  Top with a scoop of ice and shake for 20-30 seconds.  Pour into a small cordial glass and garnish with a mint leaf.

Yummo!  This tasty sipper will have you kissing the Blarney Stone and dancing an Irish jig.

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Visit our website to get a printable version of the recipe.

This tasty little cordial made with Kerrygold Irish Cream, Zaya Rum and Branca Menta will have your dancing an Irish jig in no time.

We would love to hear if you try Mint to Be Irish or any of our ideas on our blog.  Be on the lookout for a bonus post coming in the next week.

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Disclaimer: The beverages on this site are meant for adults 21 years and older.  We do not condone underage drinking.  Never drink and drive.

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Go for the Gold Medal Coffee

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Have you been watching the Olympics?  We love the Olympics.  It is one of the few times that we can see so many different sports and events.  If you could compete in any two events, which would you choose? Craig would choose hockey and downhill skiing. Rhonda would choose figure skating and the half-pipe. As we have watched the coverage night after night, we asked ourselves, “What would be a great beverage to drink while watching the Winter Games?  And by the way, where is Bob Costas?”  While we cannot answer both questions, we do have a great answer for the first.  The  Winter Games drink that takes first place for Pyeongchang is Gold Medal Coffee!  The best part of this drink is that we have both a short program and a long program to offer.

The short program is a little twist on a traditional Irish Coffee. Telling you to drink an Irish coffee for the olympics didn’t really sit well with us, so we had to add a few degrees of difficulty.  Craig just recently discovered coffee. (Where has he been? We don’t know.)  He  has started to make himself a vanilla latte before work each morning. To flatter the new coffee lover in our household, we created Gold Medal Coffee.

How do you make it? It is so easy.  You need 2 ounces of Kerrygold Irish Cream.  Remember we have used Kerrygold in a variety of recipes like, our french toast, and our Kerrygold ice cream?  You need an ounce of Irish whiskey, and half of a cup of hot dark roast coffee.  Pour the Irish cream and the whiskey into a coffee cup, top off with the coffee and sprinkle a little cinnamon on top.  Once you take a sip of this delicious coffee, you will hear the Olympic theme song playing and feel as if you are on top of the podium. This is  an excellent after-dinner drink to offer to guests as an alternative to a heavy dessert, and it makes an award-winning brunch beverage, as well.

Now for the long program.  Prepare your coffee. Fill a tall glass with ice, and add 2 ounces of Kerrygold Irish Cream, 1 ounce of Irish whiskey, and 1/2 ounce of Frangelico liqueur.  Top off with coffee.  Add a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon for garnish. You nailed the landing. Yes!!!

Maximum points earned for execution and artistic interpretation!  You’ve earned the gold.

To download and print the recipes for these two golden beverages.  Visit our website.

We hope you enjoy Gold Medal Coffee this week while watching our American athletes go for the gold!  We would love to hear what you think.  And if you find out where Bob is, can you let Rhonda know?  She’s been worried that he has another eye infection!

Disclaimer:  Beverages on this site are meant for adults 21 years and older.  We do not condone underage drinking, and never drink and drive.

 

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Midnight Spice

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We have almost made it to the end of 2017!  Was this an unusual year for you?  It was for us, so we are looking forward to counting down and moving toward 2018 with optimism and hope!  We will definitely toast to that!

Do you remember when we told you that we had brunch at Whiskey Cake a couple of weeks ago?  We sat at the bar and watched the bartenders do their thing.  One drink that was a popular order for brunch was the drink that we are sharing with you today.  Of course we added our own flair to it and changed an ingredient or two.  The Midnight Spice is easy to make and easy to drink.

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One ingredient in Midnight Spice is Frangelico.  Frangelico is an Italian Hazelnut liqueur that we have not mentioned on The Blind Pig Blog.  The liqueur has low alcohol content (20%), and produces a smooth hazelnut texture.  The bottle is made to look like an Italian monk. (Cute, right?)  You may have seen it on the back bar of one of your favorite establishments.

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There are only 3 simple ingredients needed for Midnight Spice: Frangelico, Kerrygold Irish Cream and simple syrup. We also added some cinnamon for a garnish.

You will need to make the simple syrup ahead of time.  We have directions for making simple syrup here.

Place 1 1/2 ounces of Kerrygold Irish Cream, 1 ounce of Frangelico, and 1/2 ounce of simple syrup.  Place in a shaker over ice.  Shake for 30 seconds.  Strain.  Pour in serving glass and top with freshly grated cinnamon for garnish.

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This drink is not too alcohol forward and makes for an excellent beverage late at night or early in the day.  Whether you are celebrating NYE with a large group of friends or a quiet night in with your sweetie, this drink will not disappoint.  It makes for a delicious nightcap or a lovely beverage for a brunch.

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We feel blessed that you have joined us on our blog, and we would love to hear from you in 2018. There are many more ideas and recipes we want to share with you. If you are ringing in the new year, be safe and don’t drink and drive.  Cheers to you and yours for a prosperous 2018!

 

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DISCLAIMER: THE BEVERAGES ON THIS SITE ARE MEANT FOR ADULTS 21 YEARS AND OLDER.  WE DO NOT SUPPORT OR ENCOURAGE UNDERAGE DRINKING.  ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY AND NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE.

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We’d Like to Propose a Toast!

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Hey friends, so how is your holiday shopping going?  We haven’t really started yet, although Rhonda finally got our Christmas cards in the mail.  We are moving down that holiday checklist, which brings us to talk about holiday traditions.  What traditions do you hold dear during the holidays? We told you last week about how we like to drive around and look at lights and then end the night with some yummy hot chocolate.  Craig’s family always woke up early on Christmas morning to unwrap presents. Rhonda’s family attended midnight mass, so Santa always magically came while we were at mass.  We found our presents under the tree after getting home around 1:30 am.  We would oohhh and aaahhh and then sleep in on Christmas morning.  Funny how that happened, right?

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This week we are sharing an easy, tasty and fresh recipe for you to serve for breakfast Christmas morning or if you have holiday guests staying at your house.  This recipe is tastes complicated and delicious.  Whether you are trying to impress houseguests or just want to make a special breakfast for your honey, it is sure to delight.  The best thing is that it is soooo easy! You will feel a little guilty when your loved ones keep bragging about the delicious breakfast they had.

Rhonda found this recipe on the kerrygold usa site.    We know.  We know.  Another Kerrygold recipe?  It is just so hard to resist, because Kerrygold Irish Cream goes well with so many things!

You make this recipe much like most French toast recipes. The big difference is a tablespoon of Kerrygold in the egg mixture that the bread is soaked in and a Kerrygold sauce that you drizzle over the top when serving.

To start you will preheat your skillet over medium heat and add butter.  Of course we added Kerrygold butter, because once we started using it for baking and cooking none of the other butters can compare.

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Do you have a cast iron skillet?  We love ours.  Rhonda requested it for Christmas a couple of years ago.  We know it is not very romantic, but it has been one of her favorite gifts ever.  Yes, ever!  It is so easy to use when cooking and it helps food cook very evenly.

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While melting the butter, whisk together milk, eggs, sugar and Kerrygold.  Dunk each bread slice into the mixture for about 5 seconds and then place in the skillet.  We used some French bread that we had on hand.  The thicker the slice the more decadent your French toast will taste and look.

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Cook each slice of bread for about 3-4 minutes and until golden brown on each side.

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You can make the sauce while the toast is cooking.  Whisk together Kerrygold, powdered sugar and cornstarch.  That’s it.

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Serve your toast with a pat of Kerrygold butter on the top and drizzle the sauce. So easy!  Right?  Now do you see why you will blush when friends and family are bragging on your delicious breakfast or brunch Christmas morning?  You will make it all look so easy.

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Kerrygold French Toast

  • 2 tablespoons Kerrygold Unsalted Butter,  plus extra for serving
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur
  • 4 1″-thick slices french bread

Preheat large skillet over medium heat and add butter.  

Whisk together milk. eggs, sugar and Kerrygold.  Dunk each bread slice in mixture for about 5 second per side and place in skillet.  Cook each slice for about 3-4 minutes or until golden brown on each side.

Irish Cream Sauce

  • 1/4 cup Kerrygold Irish Cream
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Whisk together until smooth.

Serve with two slices of French toast topped with a pat of butter and drizzled with sauce.

We hope you will try our French toast recipe.  Perhaps it will be a new tradition for your Christmas morning like waking up in new PJ’s or unwrapping loads of presents at the crack of dawn.  We can’t wait to share more holiday ideas with you next week!

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Let Them Eat Cake!

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Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!  We can’t believe this is the official end of summer.  Our blog kicked off  the summer with our Seagram’s Sweet Tea Lemonade.  As we look back at the all of the summer posts we have made since then, we realize the summer flew.  Don’t worry, though.  We have lots of yummy fall and winter treats to tantalize your tastebuds.  We will continue to post.

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Last week we experienced a milestone in our family.  Our middle son, Jonathan turned sixteen.  When the kids were younger Rhonda started a tradition where she always made homemade birthday cakes for the kids.  She made everything from a purse, to a monster truck to an aircraft carrier!  The kids laugh today about how their special cake was one of their favorite memories, and they made crazy requests because they thought their mom could make ANYTHING.  Oh… how we wish for the days that our kids thought we knew and could do it all.  Now that they are teenagers and beyond, that is not the case. 🙂

Jonathan loves chocolate and for the past few years has asked for a triple layer chocolate cake.  This year Rhonda decided to try out a recipe she had adapted with Kerrygold Irish Cream.  It did not disappoint.

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A special birthday requires special candles.  We found these sparkling candles and special 16  at Hobby Lobby on the party aisle.

Rhonda made this cake from scratch.  No cake mixes for this one.  It is adapted from a Southern Living recipe in The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook.  The addition of Kerrygold Irish Cream to this recipe gives the cake a milky chocolate taste and color.

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For the icing, we adapted a Southern Living recipe as well.  The icing is a cream cheese icing recipe, so it had a different texture than the typical buttercream frosting.

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As you can see, our boy was happy with his cake.  Gosh, we can’t believe 16 years have gone by.

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Kerrygold Cake

  • 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup Kerrygold Irish Cream
  • 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 (1 ounce squares) unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup Kerrygold Irish Cream

Spray three 9 inch round cake pans with cooking spray.

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.  Gradually add sugar beating at medium speed (5-7 minutes).  Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.  Add 1/4 cup Kerrygold Irish Cream beat until well blended.

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Combine flour and next 3 ingredients.  Add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix at low speed after each addition until blended. Stir in chocolate and vanilla.

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Pour batter into prepared pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.

Kerrygold Irish Cream Frosting

  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese softened
  • 1 (16 ounce package) powdered sugar, sifted and divided.
  • 3 (1 ounce squares) unsweetened chocolate melted and cooled
  • 1/4 cup Kerrygold Irish Cream

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer.  Add 1 cup powdered sugar and chocolate.  Beat until smooth.  Gradually add remaining sugar and Irish Cream, beating at low speed until spreading consistency.

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Spread frosting between layers of cake.  Spread frosting on top and sides of cake.  Store in refrigerator.

 

Both the batter and the frosting are a thick, creamy consistency.  You can tell from the photo that the batter is thick in the pan.  This is a great cake to serve for a birthday or any special occasion.  We would love to hear if you try it out.  Feel free to share comments and questions on our blog.  Don’t forget to look for our posts on Pinterest! Have a great week.

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We know the cake is and looks a little lopsided in this pic.  We are keeping it real on this blog.  Some of the best tasting cakes are a little lopsided and not picture perfect.

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Move over Paciugo…. here comes Kerrygold ice cream!

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So, how was your eclipse viewing?  We didn’t get a chance to view it up close and personal, because we were both at work.  However, our daughter was in the path to view the total eclipse.  She said it was AMAZING!  Whether you viewed it or not, we hope your eclipse was a little more fun with last week’s post!

We are always searching for great recipes to try and then share with you.  We always try to stick to our criteria of easy, tasty, fresh.  Well… this week we feel like we struck gold!  We actually discovered this wonderful little golden nugget of a recipe a couple of weeks ago, but with the eclipse and all we decided to hold off on sharing.  Believe us. We can’t wait for you to experience this one for yourself.  It’s just that the cosmos had other plans, right?

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The secret ingredient to this tasty treat is Kerrygold Irish Cream.  We mentioned Kerrygold in our post, “Half Price Shakes After 8.” We both love ice cream.  Not only is it a delicious treat in the summer, but one always can make room for it.  It slips into the cracks!  We found this recipe on www.Kerrygoldusa.com by guest bloggers Lisa Riedl and Anna Schaber, so we thought that we would try it.  After all, the description said that it was easy, and it was!  Sooo easy.

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The ingredients that you will need are: 1 can sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, salt, Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur, and heavy cream.  Yep!  That’s it.  Now, before you dig your ice cream churn out of the attic, let us tell you that you are not going to need it.  We were doubtful also.  How do you make homemade ice cream without a churn? You don’t need rock salt and loads of ice.  Nope. All you need is a hand held electric mixer and a freezer.

Make sure that your mixing bowl and beaters have set in the freezer for about 20 minutes before starting the ice cream.  It will make the ice cream freeze faster.

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Stir together the  milk, vanilla, salt and Kerrygold. Set aside.

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Place cream in the chilled bowl and beat on medium-high speed for 2 minutes or until peaks form.  We had to beat ours for closer to four minutes.

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Fold 1/3 whipped cream mixture into milk mixture to lighten it and then fold in the remaining cream until ice cream mixture is smooth. Be careful not to over whisk and stir.  You don’t want to deflate the whipped cream. At this point you are going to want to sit down and start eating it.  This creamy smooth goodness is hard to resist, but you must, because it needs to go into the freezer for 8 hours. (Confession:  Rhonda couldn’t resist licking the bowl.)

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After 8 long hours have passed, you are ready to serve in serving bowls or in small cones. The ice cream is soft with a texture similar to Paciugo’s gelato. Thus the title for today’s post. We must mention that  a group of four teenage boys our official taste testers gave the Kerrygold Ice Cream 2 thumbs up!  This ice cream recipe was so easy and tasty, that it has our wheels turning. We think we could adapt this recipe to try some other unique and wonderful flavors.  If we try others, we will be sure to let you know.

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To make this treat extra special, we chose to make Kerrygold Chocolate Sauce to drizzle over the top. Score #2! We found this recipe on www.cooks.com. You will need non-sweetened cocoa, sugar, Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur, half and half and butter.

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Mix the cocoa and sugar.  Then you blend in the Kerry Gold and cream.  Add butter and stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth. Yum-O!  You can make this ahead of time and keep in the fridge for up to one week.  We see lots of other possibilities for this rich chocolate sauce.  You may see this one again.

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Kerrygold Ice Cream

  • 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 1.5 ounces of Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur
  • 2 cups heavy cream, cold

In a large bowl stir together milk, vanilla, salt and Kerrygold.  Set aside.

Place cream in a chilled mixing bowl and beat on medium-high speed for 2 minutes or until firm peaks form.

Fold 1/3 of whipped cream into milk mixture to lighten it and then fold in the remaining cream until ice cream mixture is smooth.

Pour ice cream into loaf pan and freeze for at least 8 hours.

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Kerrygold Chocolate Sauce

  • 1 cup non-sweetened cocoa
  • 1 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup Kerrygold Irish Cream
  • 1/3 cup half and half
  • 1/4 cup butter

In a 3 quart sauce pan, mix cocoa and sugar, then blend in Kerrygold and cream.  Add butter and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth.  If made ahead, let sauce cool; cover and chill up to one week.  Makes 1 1/2 cups.

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We hope you get a chance to try out the Kerrygold ice cream and chocolate sauce.  If you do, please let us know.

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If you are new to our blog, welcome!  We are glad you have joined us. Please continue to tell family and friends about our blog, we would love our community of followers to continue to grow.

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