Author Archives: Kathrin

Mar12

Around The World: Ireland – Jameson Whiskey with Ginger Ale

Hello everybody out there!

Today I’m telling you something about drinks in Ireland.

Well, there are a few things that come to mind immediately: Black Tea, Baileys and, of course, Guinness.

It is true, the Irish drink black tea such as their favorite brand ‘Barry’s ‘ on every occation! May it be in the morning for breakfast or after any meal and in between too! They even drink it, when they come home from a late night out, before they go to bed! And if you’re going to visit a friend, you’ll probably get a cup of tea too. If you have a problem and you want to discuss it with someone, even then, you first get a cup of tea! Black tea is used as the best problem solver, reason for a social meeting and equalizer of all things, that might be out of balance in your life. And it works, even if you’re not Irish! When I’m over there for a visit I actually kind of crave it! I have taken boxes over boxes of black tea home with me but it nearly never has the same effect on me in Germany 😀 Some people drink it with milk and/or sugar, some just plain. there is no rule for that!

Baileys of course is an Irish cream alcoholic drink and especially during this time of year the food blog world is swarmed with recipes for making it yourself or using it in baking or cooking. I bet I won’t have to explain that to any of you!

And then there is Guinness. A very black, thick and strong tasting beer that is brewed since 1759 in Dublin. Of course they changed the location in Dublin with time, and there are several more brewerys all over the world now, but the first one was in Dublin. And there you can still have a look how its done because the old brewery is now the ‘Guinness Storehouse’ – a museum where you can follow every step of the brewing process. I have actually been there and hold a certificate of mastering the perfect technique to pour a glass of Guinness! 😉 This beer is actually not a drink you would order with your food, as it is quite strong in flavor and feels like being a meal on its own!

Next to the Guinness there are a lot of other different beers and drinks you can order, that might not be as popular internationally, but locally. For example: Kilkenny or Murphys or Ciders like Bulmers. Especially Whiskey is very popular in Ireland!

What I have for you today is a long drink mixed with an Irish Whiskey of the Jameson Destillery. It is a very delicious and mild whiskey with a vanilla bean flavor. Actually I went on a trip to visit the Destillery’s museum in Dublin with my godchild last year and that is where I tried this long drink for the first time and fell in love!

They told us there that this was a very modern drink and it has ‘fans’ all over the world and it would be spreading even more. I guess it doesn’t have reached Germany yet then 😉 because I haven’t found it in any bars yet. But you can still get it, if you tell them what you want mixed! Or even better: Make your own!

Just scroll down for the recipe for Jameson Whiskey with Ginger Ale!

Jameson Whiskey with Ginger Ale

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

A tasty and ice cold drink perfect for enjoying in the backyard on a warm evening! It is not overly sweet and the mildness and vanilla taste of the Jameson make it a perfect whiskey drink for the ladies 🙂

Author: Kathrin @ ginger, lemon & spice

Recipe type: Drink

Cuisine: Irish

Serves: 1

Ingredients

2-4 cl Irish Jameson Whiskey
about 200 ml Ginger Ale
Ice cubes to fill about half of your glass
lime wedges

Instructions

Just pour and put everything into a nice glass and stir a little with a straw.
Lean back and Enjoy!

Here are the other recipes I shared during this series:

Breakfast – Irish Scones with Raisins

Fast Food – Egg Salad Sandwich & Crisps

Soup – Seafood Chowder

Main Dish – Irish Stew with Guinness

Dessert – Fruit Crumble

Pastry – Barmbrack Sweet Bread

~ Kathrin

Mar11

Around The World: Ireland – Eggsalad Sandwich & Crisps

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Kathrin

Around The World: Ireland – Eggsalad Sandwich & Crisps

Welcome to the second day of the Around the World series featuring Ireland!

In Ireland most of the agriculture is based on livestock farming, especially dairy farming. Irish dairy products such as Kerrygold Butter or cheese are greatly advertised and known internationally! As the most parts of the rural areas are grasslands, especially keeping milkcows is a good business and the milk and products of those fresh herb and grass fed animals are known for their great taste.

Another product the Irish diet is based upon are potatoes, which came to the island in the second half of the 16th century. A story says, that the people in Ireland were poor and did not have much to eat during that time but they didn’t trust the new plant and wouldn’t eat from it or eat the leaves, which are poisonous. So what the governers did was plant fields of potatoes but protect them with many guards from thiefs. Now the residents thought the plant was incredible precious and stole the plants anyway and planted their own fields. This helped the potato to become a very important ingredient of the Irish diet in a short time! But unfortunately it lead also to the big famine of the years past 1845 because of crop failures of the potato and many people died.

I guess because in history the people of Ireland where poor people which always had to be creative to get enough to eat on the table, the most popular dishes often are rich breads, hearty stews and soups and seafood meals. This means that there is no particular culture of serving appetizers, salads and extravagant desserts! But the food scenery in Ireland got very internationally inspired during the last years. Especially the italian cuisine is very popular!

But one thing you can find in almost any cuisine and this is some kind of snack or fast food, because sometimes there is just the need for a quick and easy meal.

The most popular Irish snack or fast food are sandwiches. You can get them everywhere – in supermarkets, at airports, bus and train stations or in pubs. It is one of the most traditional things served in pubs! And in pubs is where I recommend you to try them when you are visiting the island! There is nothing compared to a fresh sandwich, prepared in front of your eyes with whatever filling you wish and served with a generous handful of crisps at the side!

I used to only know the sandwiches that are kept in plastic package and can be bought at supermarkets for example and they are usually really dry and boring. So it took me some time until an Irish friend took me to a pub and invited me to a sandwich, and now I don’t want to miss it on any of my trips! Also if you look for it you will find several Deli stands, even in supermarkets, that also prepare the sandwiches right there when you order them. It’s such a huge difference!!

The recipe I have for you today is the one for a sandwich with my favorite filling: Egg Salad. Even better, if it’s accompanied by some salad leaves, cheese and fresh slices of tomato! Yummmm!!

Just give it a try, you won’t regret it!

Eggsalad Sandwich & Crisps

Prep time

15 mins

Total time

15 mins

This is a delicious sandwich that's perfect for an everyday snack or light lunch! It's quick to prepare and the crisps on the side add a nice crunch to this dish!

Author: Kathrin @ ginger, lemon & spice

Recipe type: Snack, Sandwich

Cuisine: Irish

Serves: 2

Ingredients

for the eggsalad:

4 hard boiled eggs
1 Tbsp. of Yoghurt
1 Tbsp. of Mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. fresh finely chopped parsley
juice of ½ a lime
salt, pepper

other ingredients:

4 big slices of sandwich bread
a handful of young salad leaves
3 Tbsp. grated cheddar (preferably Irish)
1 tomato in thin slices
2 big handfuls of crisps (preferably Irish salt or salt & vinegar crisps)

Instructions

First prepare the egg salad by peeling and chopping the eggs in chunks that are not too small. Add yoghurt, mayonnaise, parsley, limejuice, pepper and salt to the mix and stir. Taste if the mix needs more of anything! Eggs can use quite a bit of salt, so keep that in mind.
Lay two slices of the bread in front of you and spread the eggsalad on them. Add the cheese, salad and tomato slices on top and cover with another slice of bread. Cut diagonally into 4 pieces and arrange them on nice plates.
Put the crisps next or around the sandwiches and dig in!!

Here are the other recipes I shared during this series:

Breakfast – Irish Scones with Raisins

Drink – Jameson Whiskey with Ginger Ale