St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated this year on Thursday, March 17, 2022, by many people with delicious Corned Beef and Cabbage, green beer and wearing of the green. It is a tradition in Ireland for the people in the parades and celebrating on the side lines, to wear a lot or a small collection of green clothing. Even some with shamrock pins.
In the United States the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade is put on every year in New York City. This parade has been around since 1762 and 2022 will be its 260th year. Unfortunately, last year because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) they cancelled the parade, but this year it will be in full swing!
Just who is St. Patrick? Many sources agree his real name was Maewyn Succat. He was born in Roman Britain. When he was about sixteen, he was captured by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland for 6 years. In those 6 years he worked as a herdsman, prayed daily and found strength in his faith.
As legend states, St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. The basis of this legend is that the origin of the snake as a pagan symbol. Therefore, the tale of St. Patrick driving out the snakes can really be taken as a sign of driving out paganism from Ireland. Patrick (Maewyn Succat.) died in 493 AD.
Corned Beef and Cabbage is it Irish?
Actually, the traditional dinner of Corned Beef and Cabbage is not an Irish tradition, but an American tradition started by Irish immigrants. The local meat in Ireland in the 1700’s was pork served with potatoes. Find out here how pork and potatoes become corned beef and cabbage and why it is the go-to dinner for St. Patrick’s Day in America.
In 1925, “corned beef and cabbage” was voted to be the favorite dish of New York City.
If you are celebrating, please drink responsibly. Make sure you have selected a designated driver before you party. Please Don’t Drink and Drive.
On Sunday, February 7th, 2021 is Super Bowl LV the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s will be playing the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Fl. This year will be the first time a winner of the playoffs, Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s, will be playing in their home stadium (Raymond James Stadium) for Super Bowl.
Where there is a football game there must be great food! For Super Bowl LV (55) we have searched for the delicious appetizers, desserts and yummy dishes you can conger up and enjoy. The first on our list is a long time favorite Buffalo Chicken Wings…
Happy Fall!
While we do not have the changing colors of leaves here in Florida, the cool weather is always a welcome sign that Fall is here and Hurricane season will soon be over.
We look forward to the up coming holidays, and while they may be different this year, with so many changes brought on by Covid-19, we will be in the kitchen preparing our favorite dishes none the less.
There is just something about the aroma of Beef Stew, Chicken and Dumplings, Chili and Pumpkin butter with other wonderful recipes we tend to forgo during the hot summers that are now already on our minds.
Check out our boards on Pinterest for Fall Recipes!
These are fabulous! Tried and tested, this recipe is everything Monique from Diva’s Can Cook said it would be… A cross between a cinnamon roll and a cinnamon bun, this recipe puts out just the right melt in your mouth cinnamon bun/roll soft texture and full of flavor.
Tips:
Flour: When mixing the dough pay attention to number 7 on the recipe instructions. You may not need all the flour or you may need a bit more. Add in small amounts until you get that consistency, it makes a difference.
Has the dough risen enough, too much? To test to see if your dough had risen, simply poke two fingers into the resting dough after about an hour. Do this just enough to make small holes on the surface. If the holes do not fill in, then your dough has rested enough. Do the same for the second rest. Just poke a small hole with your finger into one of the cut rolls in the pan and if the hole remains they are ready to go into the oven.
White sugar instead of brown… Monique calls for brown sugar in the filling, we had no brown sugar or molasses to make brown sugar so we used white sugar and cinnamon. Still came out delicious.
No Buttermilk on hand? – Very important ingredient that can be substituted, but not with regular milk.
Find out how to make a buttermilk substitute here if you do not have any on hand. We used sour cream and thinned it down a bit with milk. Since she calls for 1/3 cup, simply added sour cream to the measure cup and thinned down with about a TBS of milk.
So here we go! Time to make Monique’s fluffy cinnamon rolls!
The heart of the home it has been said is the Kitchen. This is the place for many, who have waited for Mom to make their favorite dish and the family can gather to talk and enjoy a good meal or Mom’s famous cookies. The Kitchen is also the place where practicing safety is essential. Here are some tips:
Handle with Care
If you have ever worked in a professional kitchen or a meat department, you know that a chef or butcher keep their knives very sharp and some even have a set of knives they alone only use. Why are sharp knives so important? A sharp knife will not slip as easily as a dull one especially if you are cutting a tomato or a food item that has a slippery surface. A sharp knife does not need as much pressure to cut and you have a better control over the blade.
When using a knife practice safe cutting techniques. If you are a beginner cook, start off slowly and carefully with your cutting. There are many different sizes and shapes for knives because each one does a number of things for the purpose of boning a fish, slicing vegetables to cutting bread. Learning what your knives are for will help you to use them more efficiently. Here are a few tips that are helpful.
Always cut away from you body
Use a cutting board that does not slip, you can put a towel under the board or purchase one that is made not to slip.
When cutting a round piece of food like a carrot, carefully cut a sliver down one side so it will lay flat on the cutting board.
Keep the knife clean knife and that includes the handle. A greasy or slippery handle can cause you to slip and possibly have an accident.
Never, never put a knife in a sink full of dish water. You could forget it is there or another person not knowing it is there could grab the sharp blade and be injured. When cleaning, always keep the sharp edge away from you and handle carefully.
A reflex to grab something that is falling is in all of us. Do Not Grab a falling knife. Let it go to the ground and get out of the way to avoid it landing on your feet.
See this great video for Basic Knife Skills
Grease Fires
For and foremost, every home should have a fire extinguisher. It should be kept in a cool dry place in the kitchen or near an exit/entrance in/out of the kitchen. A fire extinguisher should never be kept near the stove or other heat source. Make sure it is kept updated and you know how to use it.
Would you know what to do if you have a grease fire on your stove? The first thing you Do Not Want To Do is put water on a grease fire. Oil and water do not mix and you will make the fire spread. If the fire is contained to the pot or pan you are cooking with, put a lid on it and turn off the burner. Wait until the pot or pan is cooled down before handling. Get more information on how to handle a grease fire on your stove… .
Fires can also start in your microwave and oven. If you have a fire in either, do not open the door. Fire loves oxygen and this will feed the fire. Turn off the appliance, keep the door closed and watch for the fire to burn out. Any time you feel that you cannot contain a fire and it is getting out of control, get outside and call for help. See more about containing an oven fire here…
What You Wear Matters
Wearing clothes that will not interfere and catch fire. Example: long sleeve shirts and open shoes. Long loose sleeves could catch fire or get into the hot food your cooking. Drop a knife, hot food or something that is scalding and your could injure your legs and feet. Closed shoes can help prevent these type of accidents. Also its a good idea if you have long hair, to pull it up, no one likes to find a strand of hair in their meal.
Oven Mitts
Oven Mitts need to be away from the stove top and the sink. Near the stove top and they can catch fire. Near a sink and they could get wet. You use a wet Oven Mitt to get a hot pan out of the oven, or a pot off the stove and your going to get burned. Keep them in a drawer or hang them somewhere accessible but safe.
Spills and Falls
Make sure to clean up all spills on the floor immediately. Falls can happen easily and it would be terrible to fall with a scalding pot of sauce. Have rugs that stick to the floor and not slip and slide. Keep floors clutter free to avoid tripping or falling.
Stove Top Safety
When cooking on the stove top keep the pots handles turned in so you do not accidentally knock one over. Be careful when lifting lids from a boiling or simmering pot, as the steam will be very hot and could scald your arms. Never cook with a child or baby in your arms over the stove top, they could get scalded as well. Keep your stove top free of any aprons, dish towels, packages from food products or anything that could catch fire. Keep your cooking area as clean as you can, especially when cooking with grease.
Clean Appliances Carefully
Blenders, Food Processors and any appliance with a sharp blade should be turned off before touching the blades and careful when cleaning. If you can take apart the blade section do so and put into your dishwasher.
Never leave what you are cooking unattended. If you have to answer the phone or the door, or your going to be away from the kitchen for any amount of time, turn off the burner. It is easy to get distracted and stay away longer then you thought would and this could potentially lead to burning you food and your cookware or over cooking your meal.
Cooking With Kids
When cooking with kids, safety comes first. Depending on their age, give them easy things to do away from the stove. Have them sit at a counter or table in your kitchen and stir a cake mix or make a salad. Wait until they are of an age that they can understand how to handle utensils in the kitchen and you know they will listen and be careful and thoughtful of their task. Never, never leave a child unattended in the kitchen.
Pets in the Kitchen
Pets safety in the kitchen also on the top of the list. Depending on the size of your dog, little ones can get under foot and cause an accident to you and them. Larger dogs could possibly pull food off the counter, and if its hot that would be tragic for the dog. You may want to consider keeping your pet out of the kitchen while you are cooking to avoid an accident for both of you.
Budget Bi-Rite Insurance, Inc 