Anna Sultana’s Rum Granita, Full Buck Moon and the longest Lunar Eclipse of the Century

A couple of years ago, during another heat wave, I posted the recipe for Ma’s lemon granita.

It was something we grew up with, as Ma often had it in the freezer during the summer.

She always served it to us when the thermometer rose.

Our parents, I noticed, had something similar, but a bit darker in colour.

They were having rum granita, which has a bit of a kick.

Granita uses a simple syrup as a base for a cold dessert.

it’s not as fruity as a sorbet.

But you can serve it plain or with as much fresh fruit as you want.

Granitas don’t require any special equipment at all.
All you need is water, coffee, a bit of sugar, and your favourite alcoholic beverage.
Don't wan't alcohol? No problem. The lemon granita is a crowd pleaser. 

Hints:

If you decide to use a spiced rum you should know that they can have a spicy chocolate flavour.

Vodka also gives a kick, without the colour or chocolate taste, if you want something lighter to serve with summertime fruits.

As with the lemon granita, the measurements are a starting point.

If you want it sweeter or stronger, no problem.

Adjust the amounts of coffee and / or sugar.

It’s like making a cup of instant coffee.

You don’t exactly measure the coffee crystals or the sugar. You just suit yourself.

If, after you've first placed the container in the freezer, the slush has become as hard as a rock, don’t panic.

You can leave it at room temperature and eventually it will be soft enough to scrape.

If, when you are ready to serve it, it has frozen too hard, let the granita sit at room temperature for a few minutes. Then work the mixture with the fork.

                        Rum Granita

Serves 8-10 servings

In a small pot combine 

1/3 Cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed

1 Cup cold water

Stir over medium heat to make a simple syrup. 

Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the pot from heat.
Set the simple syrup aside.

Place in a large container 

1 Cup ground coffee

5 Cups cold water

Stir until completely blended. 

Allow to sit at room temperature for 18 to 24 hours.

Strain the cold brew through a fine sieve and discard the grounds. 

Stir in

the reserved simple syrup 

1/2 Cup rum, or other alcoholic beverage

Transfer to a 9 x 13 inch metal pan and cover with plastic wrap. 

Place in the freezer for 45 minutes. 

Remove and scrape the mixture with a metal fork or spoon, then return it to the freezer.

Repeat this step every 30 to 45 minutes for about 4 hours.

You want the mixture to resemble shards of ice.

It can be served as is, or with berries or sliced fruit.

About the sky, thanks to the folks at The Farmers' Almanac…

The Moon’s closest companion in the sky is our ringed-planet Saturn - so close they fit within the same binocular field. Look to the South to spot these two only 2 degrees from each other.

July 26 - Mars comes into opposition in our sky for the first time since May 2016. At opposition, Earth as the third planet from the Sun passes between the Sun and a superior planet which in tonight’s sky is Mars. This results in Mars shining at its brightest in the skies.

July 27 - Full Moon! Longest lunar eclipse of the 21st Century! At 4:20 p.m. EDT there will be a Full Buck Moon.

This also presents the longest lunar eclipse from 2001-2100, lasting a whole 1 hour and 43 minutes. There is a catch however - if you live in North America you won’t be seeing any of this historic event as its primarily visible in the Eastern Hemisphere. Read more about it here. 

The planet Mars will reach “opposition,” the moment when the Sun, Earth, and Mars form a straight line. When a planet reaches opposition, it lies exactly opposite the Sun in the sky: It rises at sunset, reaches its highest point in the sky at midnight, and sets at sunrise.

July 30 - Catch the daytime Moon this week! No matter where you are on Earth, look to the West after sunrise to see it in a clear blue sky during the day. The Moon is now in a waning gibbous phase causing it to rise after nightfall and setting westward after the Sun rises.

July 31 - Mars will come within 35,784,000 miles of Earth at 3:50 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, which is within about 1.1 million miles of the closest it can possibly come.

Just so you know… starting on July 26 there’ll be a Mercury retrograde in Leo. It will last until August 18, when Mercury goes direct.

Anna Sultana’s Tres Leches Cake and May’s Full Flower Moon

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Time to party with some great food.

Too busy to make Alfajores or Churros?

No problem.

Ma’s Tres Leches Cake is easy to make.

Tres Leches Cake (three milks cake) is popular throughout the Americas, and in many parts of the Caribbean.

It is thought to have originated in Mexico, but the idea of a cake soaked in liquids is European, as in the English Trifle and Rum Cake, and in the Italian Zuppa Ingles and Tiramisu.

Wherever the idea came from… it’s another way to get more calcium rich dairy products into the kiddies.

And what Mom doesn’t like that?

Hints:

This cake can be baked ahead of time. 

Cool, top with milk mixture, then refrigerate up to 24 hours. 

Frost with whipped cream just before serving.

Store leftover sweetened condensed milk in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week. 

The milk can be served over chopped fruit, a fruit dessert, such as a cobbler, or poured over a cereal, either cold or hot. 

It can also be stirred into a cup of hot coffee or tea.

Or you could use some leftover sweetened condensed milk to make 

Anna Sultana’s Coconut Almond Snacks.

Your friends prefer a dessert with a bit of a kick?

Serve Tres Leches Rum Cake.

Just add 

1 1/2 teaspoons rum extract to the cake batter and 

1 1/2 teaspoons rum extract to the milk mixture.

Sprinkle nutmeg over the cake just before serving for an extra bit of flavour.

                        Tres Leches Cake

Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan

Heat oven to 350° F 

Combine in a medium bowl

1 1/2 Cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 

Place in a large mixer bowl

1/2 Cup butter, softened
1 Cup sugar 

Beat until light and fluffy. 

Add one at a time

5 eggs 

Beat well after each addition. 

Blend in 

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 

Add flour mixture, a quarter at a time, beating until blended after each addition. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. 

Bake 30 minutes. Test the cake by inserting a toothpick into the centre of the cake. 

While the cake is baking:

Pour into a medium bowl, stirring after each addition
3/4 Cup canned sweetened condensed milk
5 ounces evaporated milk

1 Cup milk  

When the cake is done remove it from the oven.

Leave the cake in the pan and pierce the cake with a fork at 1/2 inch intervals. 

You want a lot of holes in the cake to absorb the milk mixture.

Pour the milk mixture slowly all over the top of the cake. 

The milk mixture will be absorbed by the cake.

Refrigerate 1 hour, or until ready to serve. 

Before serving, place in a medium mixer bowl

1 1/2 Cups heavy cream

Beat until soft peaks form.

Frost cake with the whipped cream.

Be sure to refrigerate leftovers.

About the sky this week and next, thanks to the folks at The Farmers' Almanac…

May 6 - Get outside to view the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower. The best viewing is between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., looking to the southeast. The Eta Aquarids get their name because their radiant lies within the constellation Aquarius, near one of the constellation’s brightest stars, Eta Aquarii. These showers come from the cosmic dust of Halley’s Comet. 

        Look for “Earthgrazers,” which are meteors that skip along the atmosphere like stones on a pond, in slow motion. These fireballs are quite a sight to behold, even if you only see one!

May 7 - Right after sunset, look to the southeast to see the waxing gibbous Moon pair up with Jupiter. It will be bright and spectacular! Then as darkness falls, look for the star Spica to come out below them both. On the 8th, the Moon will be directly to the left of Spica, with Jupiter above them to the right.

        Observers with binoculars will be able to locate Mars to the upper right of the brighter orange-hued star, Aldebaran. But Mars is still an easy naked-eye object at dusk — look for it in the west-northwest.

May 10 - Full Moon, 5:42 p.m. May’s full Moon is called the Full Flower Moon. Learn about the folklore surrounding May’s full Moon in this short Farmers’ Almanac video.

The Full Worm Moon, Easter, and a Planters' Punch Recipe for the Family

Well, it’s been a bit of an busy time.

A week ago we had Daylight Savings Time.

Sleepy or not, we soldiered on to bake traditional foods to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, then St. Joseph’s Feast Day.

Yesterday was both the First Day of Spring and Palm Sunday.

That’s right, Easter is this Sunday.

I know, you haven’t finished setting all the clocks in the house and car ahead an hour.

Too bad.

Easter has to be held on the first Sunday following the first Full Moon of Spring, which is happening this Wednesday.

March 22 is the earliest Easter can occur, and April 25 is the latest.

No real reason, it just was decided to do Easter this way in the Fourth Century.

If you’d like to plan ahead, here are the dates for the next four Easters:

2017    April 16

2018    April 1

2019    April 21

2020    April 12

So, yes, it’s a bit early this year.

Too bad.

If you’re in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, thanks to the Julian calendar, you can ignore all of the above.

You usually have a bit more time.

Don’t gloat.

If you’re not so lucky, you might be hosting the family Easter dinner this Sunday.

I know, it just gets better and better.

I’ve posted a page with links for Easter Recipes.

Also a page that has some of Carmela Soprano’s best family dinner menu items: appetizers, vegetable and pasta courses, main meat courses, and desserts.

Hopefully they’ll help you plan your menu.

You’re welcome.

But, since the family is coming, it might be a good idea to have something on hand to, well, smooth over the rough edges.

Like when everyone's favourite uncle comments on the fact that a certain nephew is still living with his parents.

Back in his day, a man that age was a man…

Yeah, family… gotta love it.

Planters' Punch is a simple cocktail made of dark rum, lemon juice, Grenadine syrup and a dash of Angostura bitters.

So it’s quick and easy to make more of  this punch to keep those glasses filled.

This recipe has been around a while.

The September 1878 issue of the London magazine Fun mentioned it.

The recipe is a classic that everyone will most likely enjoy.

In the 1942 spy thriller Across the Pacific Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor both order a Planter's Punch at a bar in Panama.

The movie's plot was set on the eve of World War II.

If the writer thought a glass or two of Planters' Punch could help Humphrey Bogart get through an oncoming world war, well, who am I to disagree?

Hints:

Some people also add orange juice and pineapple juice.

The glasses can be garnished with a cocktail cherry and a pineapple slice.

                        Planters' Punch

In a large pitcher pour

a fifth of dark rum

1 Cup lemon juice

3/4 Cup Grenadine syrup

1 teaspoon Angostura bitters

Stir well.

Pour into tall glasses filled with ice.

Garnish with 

a cocktail cherry and an orange slice

About the sky this week…

According to the Farmers Almanac:

On March 20 we welcomed spring with the Vernal equinox. This marks the change of seasons where the length of daylight hours begin to win out over the length of nighttime hours.

On March 21 the waxing gibbous Moon is very close to the planet Jupiter, which will be just northwest of the Moon.

On March 23 we’ll have the first Full Moon of Spring. 

See the video on how March's Full Worm Moon got its name.

On March 25, and for the next two weeks, look to the western sky for the Zodiacal light or “false dawn,” in the early evening.

On March 30 the Moon reaches its southernmost point, sometimes referred to as lunar standstills.

The Perseids and the Milky Way - Long Island Iced Tea Recipe by Margaret Ullrich

Summer is just zipping along.

Here we are in the middle of August.

In a couple of weeks the kids will be back in school.

Tonight the Perseids meteor shower will begin.

In a couple of days you’ll be able to see the Milky Way.

Time to create a few summer memories.

While the kids are oohing and aahing, you can sit back and relax with a nice drink.

The kids have been home for a couple of months.

You've earned it.

August 16 is National Rum Day.

In honour of that, you could go all pirate-like and knock back a few slugs, while singing Sixteen men on a dead man’s chest.

But maybe you should save that bit of fun for when the kids are in school.

You don’t want to give them any ammunition for when they do ‘Show and Tell’.

Long Island Iced Tea has rum in it.

Along with a few other things.

Think of it as a way of using leftovers.

You’ll have a bit more change to buy the kiddies’ school supplies.

Aren’t you being wonderful!!

Some Long Island Iced Tea history…

It may have started with a drink invented in the 1920s during Prohibition, by an "Old Man Bishop" in Long Island in Kingsport, Tennessee.  

It was then perfected by Ransom Bishop, Old Man Bishop's son. 

This drink included whiskey and maple syrup, and varied quantities of the five liquors.

The Long Island Iced Tea appears in literature as early as 1961.

It's also called Texas Iced Tea, Georgia Iced Tea, Tokyo Tea, and Three Mile Island.

Back to the meteor shower viewing with the kiddies…

Make some regular iced tea for them and they’ll never know.

Hints:

Some recipes call for 1/2 ounce sweet and sour mix instead of 1/2 ounce lemon juice and 1 teaspoon sugar.

Some replace the cola with actual iced tea, or add white crème de menthe. 

Some restaurants substitute brandy for the tequila. 

                        Long Island Iced Tea

Shake with ice

1/2 ounce light rum

1/2 ounce gin

1/2 ounce vodka

1/2 ounce tequila

1/2 ounce triple sec (or other orange-flavored liqueur)

1/2 ounce lemon juice

1 teaspoon superfine sugar

Strain into a chilled highball glass filled with ice.

Top with cola (leaving 1/2 inch space at top of glass)

Gently stir and garnish with a lemon wedge or spiral.

Serve with a straw. 

                        Long Island Iced Tea #2

Shake with ice 

1/2 ounce rum

1/2 ounce gin

1/2 ounce vodka

1/2 ounce triple sec (or other orange-flavored liqueur)

1 ounce lemon juice

2 teaspoons sugar

Strain into a chilled highball glass filled with ice.

Top with cola (leaving 1/2 inch space at top of glass)

Gently stir and garnish with a lemon wedge or spiral.

Serve with a straw. 

About the meteor shower and the moon…

According to the Farmers’ Almanac:

August is often regarded as “meteor month” with the appearance of The Perseids Meteor Shower. Viewing will be nearly ideal this year, as the Moon will be heading toward the New phase so it won’t be so bright.

The Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus, which is in the area of the sky where the shower appears. Look for the constellation Perseus in the northeast, near Cassiopeia, which looks like a large letter “W.”  The shower’s peak occurs around August 12, and  will be visible through August 22. 

The meteors are created by the dusty trail left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle as it orbits the Sun. The particles burn up in our atmosphere, becoming meteors, also known as “falling” or “shooting” stars.

The meteors can be seen with the naked eye. The best time to observe any meteor shower is during the early morning hours, between 2 and 5 a.m., but meteors will be visible any time after dusk, with a sharp upturn in activity around 11 p.m. Observers can expect to see as many as 60 meteors per hour during this shower.

August 14 - New Moon - no moon to see.  

Because the Moon is in its New phase, it will be dark, making it the best time for the kiddies to view the Milky Way. 

Enjoy!!

Blue Moon, Hawaii Kai and Proms by Margaret Ullrich - Blue Hawaii recipe and Sweet and Sour Mix

A couple of weeks ago I posted the recipe for Piña Colada.

If you liked it, you’re going to love Blue Hawaii.

Blue Hawaii was invented in 1957 by Harry Yee, head bartender of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, Hawaii, when a sales representative of Dutch distiller Bols asked him to design a drink that featured their blue Curaçao liqueur.

Yee is also the father of the  tiki bars such as Trader Vic, and did much to popularize a faux Hawaiian tiki culture, both in Hawaii itself and on the Mainland.

Back in 1967, my classmates and I - and hundreds of other recent grads - rounded out our Senior Prom night by going to Manhattan to have a drink at Hawaii Kai.

That was just the thing to do in the 60s.

The owners saw us coming and slapped a three drink limit on each customer.

They weren't about to face a bunch of angry parents of drunken kids.

But, for one night, we were dressed up as adults, and in a night club.

Ah, the days of wanting to be older and all grown up.

Back to Blue Hawaii…

There had been a 1937 Bing Crosby film called Waikiki Wedding. 

Also there was a 1961 Elvis Presley film Blue Hawaii.

That was inspired by the song written by Leo Robin for Crosby’s movie.

Yes, everything is connected in life.

Because Blue Hawaii is easy and inexpensive to make, it is often served as a punch. 

Basically it is a bottle or two of plain or coconut-flavoured light rum, a bottle of blue Curaçao, a can of pineapple juice, and a bag of ice, mixed together in a punchbowl. 

It’s perfect for summer get togethers.

Because it contains yellow pineapple juice, the Blue Hawaii will look green.

Now you know.

Hints:

You can substitute vodka for all or some of the rum in this recipe.

You can also use a flavoured rum or vodka,or add crème of coconut. 

The pineapple juice can be replaced by an equal amount of Sweet and Sour Mix.

For best results do not use bottled Sweet and Sour Mix.

Make your own with fresh citrus juice and simple syrup. 

In the spirit of Trader Vic, have fun with the glasses when serving this drink.

Dig out the Tiki mugs, hurricane glasses, over-sized cocktail glasses, parfait glasses, coconut halves or carve out a few pineapples.

It’s a fun drink, so have fun.

                        Sweet and Sour Mix

Place in a small saucepan

1 Cup sugar

1 Cup water

Bring it to a boil over medium heat.

Then turn down the heat to low.

Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Remove from the heat and allow the syrup to cool.

Pour the syrup into a jar that has a cover.

Add

1 Cup lemon juice

Cover and refrigerate.

                        Blue Hawaii

Combine

3/4 ounce light rum

3/4 ounce vodka

1/2 ounce Curaçao (blue colour, if you can find it)

3 ounces pineapple juice, unsweetened 

1 ounce Sweet and Sour Mix

Blend or shake very well.

Pour into a glass with ice.

Garnish with 

a pineapple or orange slice scored and on the rim of the glass

or

use a toothpick or cocktail umbrella to spear a maraschino cherry through the centre and attach it to the top of the fruit slice 

or

float a cherry on top of the ice

About the moon this week…

According to the Farmers Almanac:

On July 31 there will be a Full Blue Moon.  

it’s called that because it is the second of two full Moons in July. 

The visible Moon is fully illuminated by direct sunlight, and appears full for three days. 

Don’t forget to put out your crystals for recharging!

Piña Coladas and Slurpees by Margaret Ullrich - Piña Colada recipe

If you like Piña Coladas, 

getting caught in the rain

If you're not into yoga, 

if you have half a brain.

If you like making love at midnight 

in the dunes on the cape.

I'm the love that you've looked for,

write to me and escape.

lyrics by Rupert Holmes

Yes, I know that’s a rather odd picture.

Doesn’t look like a beach scene, a Piña Colada, or anything drinkable.

Don’t worry… it’ll all make sense later.

Today is national Piña Colada Day!

So that’s why I’m a bit early with the new moon drink post.

Didn’t want you to miss the fun.

And… speaking of fun…

Tomorrow is Free Slurpee Day here in Canada!

Don’t want you to miss that fun, either.

Drink on, fellow Winnipeggers, and let’s keep owning our Slurpee supremacy!

Long may we endure our Slurpee induced brain freeze headaches!!

Last year Paul and I sat outside our local 7/11 while sucking the slush and freezing what few remaining brain cells we have.

The 7-11 manager walked past us and said 

It tastes better when it’s free, doesn’t it. 

But, of course it would for any Winnipegger!

Back to the piña colada…

It has been the national drink of Puerto Rico since 1978.

The name piña colada means strained pineapple.

I’ve posted the basic recipe.

There are variations, so, if you're out of rum, you don’t have to run out to the store.

Assuming you have coconut milk and pineapple juice on hand.

So yes, maybe you'll have to go shopping.

Aren't you glad I posted this early?

You can use different proportions or different types of rum or other liquors:

Amaretto colada — amaretto substituted for rum

Chi chi - with vodka in place of rum

Lava Flow — strawberry daiquiri and piña colada blended together

Staten Island Ferry — coconut rum and pineapple juice over ice

Looking for something you can drink before driving?

Try virgin piña colada or piñita colada.

That’s coconut milk and pineapple juice without the rum.

So yes, maybe you'll have to go shopping.

About the song…

It’s original title was Escape and Rupert had a few problems with the recording.

Maybe the drummers were sampling a few piña coladas.

                        Piña Colada

Pour into a blender or shaker with crushed ice

3 ounces coconut cream (milk)

6 ounces pineapple juice 

1 1/2 ounces white rum

Blend or shake very well until smooth.

Pour into a chilled glass.

Garnish with 

a pineapple wedge and/or a maraschino cherry

A frozen piña colada would be perfect for the heat wave we’re having.

It will have more of a kick than what you'd find in either a frozen Lemonade or a Raspberry Sorbet.

Definitely not for the kiddies!

About the moon next week (and that odd picture)…

According to the Farmers Almanac:

July 15  – New Moon - nothing to see.  

Be patient.  There’s a treat in store in a couple of days.

July 17 – Look to the west after sunset to see planets Venus (on the left) and Jupiter (on the right this time, different from last month). 

The very tiny waxing crescent Moon will be just above the horizon, and the trio will form a crooked smile, just like the picture!

July 18 – Check out the waxing crescent Moon, Venus and Jupiter in the sky just after sunset – Venus and Jupiter are nearly parallel to each other, with the Moon just skimming Venus to the left.  

And for weather warnings (also thanks to the Farmers Almanac):

July 15 — If on St. Swithin’s Day ye do rain, for forty days it will remain.

July 25 — Puffy white clouds on this day foretells much snow in the coming winter.

July 26 — Rain on St. Anne’s will continue for a month and a week.

Now you know.

Carmela Soprano’s Desserts, Cakes and Cookies

After feasting upon Carmela's appetizers and Carmela’s vegetable and pasta courses your guests might still have a tiny bit of room for a dessert.

Why not treat them to a total Soprano feast!

Since I first started posting Carmela’s recipes there have been two top favourites:

Carmela Soprano's Mom's Pear and Grappa Pound Cake and

Carmela Soprano's Ricotta - Pineapple Pie (Cheesecake)

About the Ricotta - Pineapple Pie…

If you’re looking for a cheesecake recipe, you’ll find an assortment in this post.

Some take a bit of effort, while there are a few that just need refrigeration.

All are good.

If you’re looking for something a little different - or would like to prepare a platter of cookies - here are a few recipes you might like to try.

DESSERTS

Carmela Soprano's Panna Cotta with Raspberry Sauce and Blueberries

Carmela Soprano's Pears al Vino Bianco  - Pears in White Wine

Carmela Soprano's Tortoni - Almond Cream Dessert

Carmela Soprano's Zuppa Ingles - Neopolitan Trifle

Carmela Soprano's Cream Puffs - Baked Sfingi and Ricotta Cream Filling

CAKES

Carmela Soprano's Cassata - Iced Sponge Cake with Ricotta Filling 

     Palm Sunday Customs

Carmela Soprano's Tiramisu - Ladyfingers and Nillas

Carmela Soprano's Almond Torte with Raspberry Jam and Chocolate Glaze

Carmela Soprano's Almond Roll with Strawberry Sauce and Whipped Cream Filling

Carmela Soprano's Mom's Pear and Grappa Pound Cake

Carmela Soprano's Baba au Rhum - Rum Cake

Carmela Soprano's Torta Caprese - Capri Chocolate Almond Cake 

     How to Separate Eggs

Carmela Soprano's Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake

Carmela Soprano's Baci Cake, Glazed Chocolate Cake with Hazelnuts

COOKIES

Carmela Soprano's Anginetti - Italian Lemon Knot Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Carmela Soprano's Biscotti d' Pinoli - Pignoli Cookies

Carmela Soprano's Biscotti Regina - Sesame Cookies

Carmela Soprano's Biscotti d' Anise - Anise Cookies

Carmela Soprano's Venetians - Rainbow Cookies

Carmela Soprano's Mostaciolli - Spiced Chocolate Cookies with Rum Frosting

Celebrate St. Patrick! by Margaret Ullrich - Irish Coffee Recipe and Irish Fix Recipe

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Whatever your religious background,

Spring is returning.

And that in itself is a reason to celebrate!

I got a request for an Irish Coffee recipe.

Irish coffee actually has a bit of history. 

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Stanton Delaplane was served one during a stop at Ireland’s Shannon Airport bar in 1952.

Bartender Joe Sheridan, from the port city of Foynes, Ireland, had created the coffee drink during World War II to greet weary Yankee travellers arriving by seaplane in the wee hours of the morning. 

Irish people drank whiskey in tea, but Sheridan knew the Americans preferred coffee.

A smart businessman, Sheridan knew the customer was always right.

When Delaplane returned to San Francisco, he passed the recipe on to barman Jack Koeppler at the Buena Vista Cafe.

The rest of America soon learned of this drink.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.

Hints:

Use high-quality, freshly ground and brewed beans.

Always whip your heavy cream without sugar right before serving.

Sheridan’s recipe went as follows: 

Cream – rich as an Irish brogue

Coffee – strong as a friendly hand

Sugar – sweet as the tongue of a rogue

Irish whiskey – smooth as the wit of the land

Here’s a recipe, with some measurements, for two:

                        Irish Coffee

Place in a small saucepan

12 ounces brewed coffee

4 teaspoons sugar

Stirring occasionally, set over low heat until the mixture is hot but not boiling.

Pour 6 ounces hot coffee into each of two 8-ounce heatproof glasses or mugs.

Add to each serving

1 1⁄2 ounces Irish whiskey

Top with a collar of whipped cream by pouring gently over a spoon.

Garnish with mint leaves (optional)

Enjoy it while piping hot.

Variations:

Italian coffee: Substitute amaretto for the whiskey.

Jamaican coffee: Substitute dark rum for the whiskey.

Mexican coffee: Substitute Kahlúa for the whiskey.

Not a big fan of coffee?

No problem.

Have an Irish Fix or an Irish Cobbler.

Fixes and Cobblers were once wine-based drinks shaken with ice. 

Now they include spirits and mixers served over crushed or cracked ice. 

A Fix is 8 ounces, and a Cobbler is 12 ounces.

A cobbler is also a very nice fruit dessert.

It's not particularly Irish.

But it could make a good dessert for your St. Patrick's dinner.
And you could serve it with some Irish coffee.

                        Irish Fix

Place in a chilled highball glass

1 teaspoon simple sugar syrup

2 ounces Irish whiskey

1/2 ounce lemon juice

Fill with cracked ice and stir well. 

Garnish with

1 thin lime slice

1 thin orange slice 

Float on top

2 teaspoons Irish Mist (a honey liqueur)

About Friday’s new moon in Pisces…

According to the folks at astrology.com:

This intense week culminates with a total solar eclipse and full Moon on March 20, the same day as the Vernal Equinox. 

Something may be reaching its end, but a bold, beautiful, and brilliant new beginning is well within reach! 

Plant those seeds now, and don't be afraid to put down roots this time.