Irish Shepherd's Beef Pie

Tip:  Read directions completely before preparing.

3 cups mashed potatoes

1 pound lean ground beef (93/7)

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons Kerrygold Softer Butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 cups beef broth

2 tablespoons browning and seasoning sauce

1 teaspoon fresh minced thyme

1/4 cup peas

1/4 cup carrots, finely diced

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium heat, cook meat until no longer pink.

Add onion, garlic, thyme, peas and carrots and cook another 3 minutes, then set aside.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 

Over medium heat, melt the Kerrygold butter in a skillet.  Stir in the flour and cook and until light brown in color, about 5 minutes.

Let cool off a bit then gradually stir in the broth, ketchup and browning sauce until smooth.  Set over medium heat and simmer until thick.

Stir the sauce into the ground beef and transfer to a casserole dish.

Top with mashed potatoes.

Sprinkle the cheese over the potatoes.

Place dish in oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until potatoes are toasted and cheese is melted.  Enjoy!

Tip:  Truly traditional Irish Sheppard's Pie uses ground lamb instead of ground beef.

Irish Soda Bread

Traditional Irish Soda Bread

Tip: Read directions completely before preparing.

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups buttermilk

Coat for bread

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter

1/4 cup buttermilk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Grease bottom of baking dish.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk.

 Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place in prepared baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush and coat loaf with this mixture.

Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.

Bake in preheated oven for 50 - 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes. Enjoy!

Tip: If one searches the internet using the term "Traditional Irish Soda Bread" about 63,500 sites are listed. 98% of them aren't even close to being traditional. Traditional Irish Soda bread ingredients include only flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk! This is a traditional recipe!

Guinness Irish Stew

Tip: Read directions completely before preparing.

Ingredients:

4 pounds beef chuck roast, boneless meat, cut into 1 1/2 - 2 inch cubes

1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 pinches salt and ground black pepper to taste

2 pinches cayenne pepper

2 yellow onions, chopped

4 cloves garlic, crushed

1/4 cup tomato paste

3 cups Guinness Beer

2 cups chopped carrot

4 large potatoes

2 sprigs fresh thyme

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Salt to taste

Directions:

Toss the beef cubes with 2 tablespoon of vegetable oil. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Dredge the beef in this to coat.

Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the beef, and brown on all sides. Brown in batches until all the meat is browned. Remove the browned meat and add to a deep heavy bottomed pot or Dutch oven, until all the meat is browned.

To the skillet, add the onions, and garlic. Stir the tomato paste into a small amount of water to dilute; pour into the skillet and stir to blend. Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 5 minutes.

Pour 1 1/2 cups of the beer into the skillet, and as it begins to boil, scrape any bits of food, stuck browned bit from the bottom (fond)of the pan with a wooden spoon. This adds an intense flavor to the broth. Add to pot with browned meat.

Pour in the rest of the beer, and add the thyme. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 2 hours.

Add potatoes and carrots and simmer another hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Taste and adjust salt seasoning before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley. Enjoy!

Serves: 8

Tip: Irish stew, "ballymaloe" or "stobhach gaelach" as it is called in Gaelic, is traditionally made of lamb or mutton (less tender sheep over two years of age), potatoes, onions, and parsley. But I am using beef.  Original Irish stew was a thick and hearty meal, meant to keep a body warm and on your feet for many hours of hard work.