Irish Themed Dinner Party

We love to cook.  We love to entertain.  A great way to do both is to have a dinner party and break bread together with dear friends.

We decided to have an Irish themed dinner party the day after St.  Patrick’s Day. We came up with an amazing menu with each course complimenting the other.  The invitation….

Please join us for an Irish inspired meal at our home.  Feel free to arrive anytime after 5pm for cocktail o’hour.  Dinner to follow.  

Pre Dinner Cocktails & Starter

Tipsy Leprechaun with Bailey’s Irish Cream, Colorado’s Tincup Whiskey, Creme de Menthe

Marinated Apricots served over Honeyed Whiskey Cheese

Dinner Menu

Potato Leek Soup

Smoke-Roasted Glazed Corned Beef with Whole Grain Mustard and a Horseradish Cream Sauce paired with Wiggle Butt Apricot Ale

Smashed Potatoes

Pickled Cabbage Slaw

Brown Butter Soda Bread with Irish Farm Butter

Dessert

Irish Coffee

Bailey’s Irish Cream Cookies & Cream Parfait

Now the pictures…

Echo Brewing on a Spring Sunday

Decided to get outdoors today because it is gorgeous! After a trip to the dog park we hit Echo Brewing in Erie, Colorado, and sat outside in the sun. We sampled New Holland Dragon’s Milk and my personal favorite, Dry Dock Apricot Blonde. Both were fantastic.

Locally Sourced Honey

Love, love, love buying local honey. This came from a self serve stand in Berthoud, Colorado, called Daisy Lane Honey. This is the first time I’ve purchased the decorative bottle. It’s so pretty I can leave it out.

**Buying local honey helps with allergies.**

Potato Leek Soup

Working on the Irish inspired dinner party. The leeks look such a beautiful green!

Beer Brewing – Simmering Wort

It’s so beautiful. This time we’re making an Orange Blossom Weitbier with orange rind and Coriander. We’re adding a tincture made from orange rind that’s been soaked in vodka.

Wine Soap

I’m in the process of making wine using an Australian Malbec wine kit. The sludge that is left in the bottom of the carboy is called lees.  It’s really a beautiful grape colored sludge. I went to the Internet to try to figure out what to do with it, and it turns out you can use it to make bread. I’ll try that next time. This time I added it to my homemade soap recipe. It turned from a grape color to a gorgeous chocolate color. The soap has to cure for 6 weeks. I can’t wait to see what it look like one cures. Maybe the purple will come back? (the lees is on the plate…was trying to show the grape color).