In an Irish Home

Irish Coffee

Saint Patrick’s Day 2013 came and went a few days ago and nearly 400 of you stopped by In an Irish Home to see what really goes on behind the hall door of a typical Irish family. First and foremost, let me say “go raibh maith agat” (sounds like GUR-uh muh HAG-ut and means thank you). I am overwhelmed by your support and greatly appreciate your comments, visits, and decision to “follow” the musings of our family.

Hoping not to disappoint you, we were not in Ireland for Saint Patrick’s Day so I can’t tell you about the fantastic parade in Dublin city centre or the local events that took place around the country. Instead of being home, we decided to do as so many Irish government officials do every year…we headed to one of America’s capital cities…the capital city in fact…Washington, D.C.

Amongst the early blossoming Cherry trees and perfect weather, we visited The White House (albeit just the gates, garden and visitor centre thanks to the sequester), Capitol Hill, all the important historical monuments, the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum, National History Museum and American History Museum, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and Georgetown. It was a whirlwind week!

In seven days we managed it all with near military precision. Two days were spent flying to and from D.C. and five days were spent taking in the sights {an itinerary will follow in an upcoming blog post in case you ever decide to visit Washington with your family}. When we finally made it back home we were all more familiar with American history. We even discovered a few facts about Ireland’s influence on America’s most iconic city. For example, did you know that Irish-born-and-trained-architect James Hoban designed the White House? He did. It seems he won a competition for the job in 1792 and his inspiration for America’s First House is none other than our very own Leinster House in Dublin.

But I digress, the trip was wonderful and it left us completely shattered (exhausted). Come Paddy’s Day all I could think about was making an Irish coffee…with alcohol. I know we {my lovely husband and I} gave up drink for Lent but in Ireland, oddly enough, one gets a reprieve from their Lenten promises on the feast day of Saint Patrick!

So delicious!

Which takes me to the point of today’s recipe post…Irish Coffee. A perennial favourite of the Irish and visitors to Ireland alike, Irish coffee was first created by Joe Sheridan, a chef in the Port of Foyne {airport} in County Limerick, back in the mid-1940s. Legend has it a plane was turned back to Ireland while on its way to America due to bad weather conditions and the weary passengers took refuge in the airport terminal until they could once again depart. Sensing their exhaustion, Mr. Sheridan served hot coffee but made it a wee bit stronger than usual by adding whiskey. When a customer asked if it was a “Brazilian Coffee”, Joe replied “It’s an Irish Coffee”. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Enjoy!

Irish Coffee

For One Cup

Ingredients

1/2 cup/4 fl. oz. strong, hot coffee

1-2 tablespoons brown sugar (Demerara, Muscovado or Turbinado) or to taste

1/4 cup/2 fl. oz. Irish whisky or to taste

4 tablespoons lightly whipped fresh cream

Directions

1. Beat the whipping cream until stiff but not too firm.

2. Pre-heat a glass with freshly boiled water. Leave a metal spoon in the glass so the sudden change in temperature does not cause it to break.

3. After a minute or so, remove spoon, pour out hot water, and fill glass with hot coffee.

4. Add Tubinado sugar to the coffee and stir until completely dissolved.

5. Add Irish whiskey to the sweetened coffee and stir.

6. When the coffee has settled, top with a collar of whipped cream by carefully pouring the cream over the backside of a spoon. The trick is to not have the cream seep down into the coffee. Drink immediately.

For More interesting Irish Coffee stories and ideas, check-out these websites:

http://www.thebuenavista.com/irishcoffee2.html

http://www.pauladeen.com/article_view/irish_coffee_brownie_cupcakes/

http://theboysclub.net/peter/edibles-irish-coffee-ice-pops/

http://www.marthastewart.com/875370/irish-coffee-bar

https://www.vitamix.com/Find-Recipes/F/R/Frozen-Irish-Coffee