Striped Spatula

recipes with great taste

Header Right

You are here: Home / Archives for winter

winter

Beer Braised Corned Beef with Whiskey Mustard Glaze

7 Comments

Juicy beer braised corned beef, glazed with an irresistible mixture of brown sugar, whole grain mustard and whiskey, will take your St. Patrick’s Day celebration to the next level of deliciousness!

Beer Braised Corned Beef with Whiskey Mustard Glaze

As I was sorting through my St. Patrick’s Day recipes last weekend, I was surprised to realize that I haven’t posted a corned beef recipe on the blog yet! It’s something we make every year, but also a dish with no shortage of recipes to choose from online.

A couple of years ago, we got in the habit of beer braising our corned beef instead of the traditional boiling method. It gave such a nice flavor to the corned beef and felt extra-festive for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Of course, never leaving well enough alone, I swooped in this year with a spiked mustard glaze. We always serve our corned beef alongside the traditional mustards, so I figured, why not put that flavor directly onto the brisket itself?

This Beer Braised Corned Beef with Whiskey Mustard Glaze is a twist on the traditional corned beef dinner, and we loved it.

beer braised corned beef with onionsbeer braised corned beef

…

Read More

Creamy Leek and Cabbage Colcannon

11 Comments

My Colcannon recipe combines rich and creamy mashed potatoes with Savoy cabbage, sweet leeks, and a touch of garlic. Drizzle the top with melted Irish butter and dig in for an easy addition to your St. Patrick’s Day feast!

creamy leek and cabbage colcannon recipe

This time last year, I’d never tasted colcannon. I had heard about this Irish potato dish so many times, and somehow, St. Patrick’s Day came and went every year without any colcannon on my table.

As someone who’s weak in the face of good mashed potatoes, I’m not sure how this trend persisted for so long.

When I finally made a batch last year, I was fiercely annoyed with myself for having waited. To channel my inner 90’s teenager, these potatoes are seriously “all that.”

I’ve made colcannon several times since, testing a couple of different flavor variations. This recipe, with sautéed Savoy cabbage and leeks, has become our favorite. It’s amazing alongside corned beef, roasted lamb, or any stout-braised meat. I’m not sure I can ever have another St. Patrick’s Day feast without it!

…

Read More

Creamy Gorgonzola Macaroni and Cheese

10 Comments

Creamy Gorgonzola Macaroni and Cheese with sweet caramelized leeks, salty pancetta, and a blend of three rich cheeses is an elegant twist on a comfort food classic. Don’t forget the cheesy, crunchy, buttery bread crumbs on top!

Creamy Gorgonzola Macaroni and Cheese recipe

Back in the 80’s, Macaroni and Cheese and I had an unfortunate encounter.

I spent an afternoon at my friend’s house, and, with the best of intentions, her older sister made us lunch with a boxed mix. Looking back on it, it was probably a stovetop mix, but she popped it in the microwave instead for about a minute.

As young as I was, I still remember chewing the crunchy, uncooked noodles!

Through the years, I’ve gotten to taste many different types of macaroni and cheese (fortunately, all with fully-cooked pasta) and have developed something of a love affair with the dish.

It’s the ultimate winter comfort food in my house. It’s decadent, it’s warming, and while it isn’t exactly health food in all of it’s buttery, cheesy glory, it’s a dish that’s so worth the occasional splurge.

Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese Ingredients

…

Read More

Caramelized Shallot and Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

5 Comments

Dress up your holiday side dishes with Caramelized Shallot and Cheddar Mashed Potatoes. Elegant and indulgent!

caramelized shallot and cheddar mashed potatoes

I could make an entire meal out of mashed potatoes. Is there any side dish more warming during the winter months?

The mere sight of buttery potatoes on the table instantly comforts; rich gravy pooling into the valleys of each pillowy scoop. They’re the dinner equivalent of a hot fudge sundae.

We make mashed potatoes so often that when the time comes for a holiday dinner, I like to dress them up a bit for something extra-special.

Caramelized Shallot and Cheddar Mashed Potatoes are one of my favorite ways to do this. The contrast of sweet, caramelized shallots against sharp Vermont white cheddar, and a hint of fresh thyme brings a traditional mashed Yukon gold potato base to the next level.

These potatoes are elegant, flavorful, and totally holiday-worthy. In other words: break out your stretchy pants, folks! The season of indulgent treats is upon us.

Yukon Gold potatoesshallots in saute panMost of the time, Yukon Gold is my potato of choice for mashing or whipping. Their starch content gives them a fluffy texture, with the added benefit of an innately buttery flavor.

I like to use a potato ricer to achieve a smooth and uniform texture. (Check out this post from Fine Cooking for a review of ricers versus mashers.)

A hand mixer, or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (medium speed, no higher) are also good options for smooth and creamy potatoes. Don’t use mixers at aggressive speeds, or a food processor, or you’ll risk ending up with a gluey potato paste.

If you prefer a more rustic texture, a traditional masher is easily used to mash the potatoes to your desired consistency.

I like the delicate flavor of caramelized shallots here, but onions can be easily substituted. The shallots can be caramelized a few days in advance, stored in the refrigerator, and re-warmed before folding into the mashed potatoes.

Lastly, I recommend going for an extra-sharp white cheddar so the flavor of the cheese can best shine through in the background….

Read More