whiskey

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So much for that New Year’s diet, eh? This weekend I hosted family for brunch, and I decided to make a decadent cake featuring chocolate, coffee, and Irish whiskey for the occasion.

With all that’s been going on, I have barely cooked in my new kitchen. Heck, the kitchen, like most of the house, isn’t even fully unpacked yet! We’re getting there though, and normal little things like spending a Saturday morning puttering around the kitchen are starting to make the place feel a bit more like home.

I wanted to make something with a bottle of Slane Castle Irish whiskey that we received as a housewarming gift, and this cake was absolutely perfect.

whiskey chocolate cake ingredients

First, a glimpse at some of the ingredients that made it so stellar. . . I LOVE sour cream in cakes!  Slane Castle is a favorite whiskey, nice and smooth and full of flavor.

old kitchen

Our kitchen is a stark contrast to the modern one in the condo we moved from, but I love its charm and the views into the backyard.

kitchen window

This cake recipe had a number of different steps; it wasn’t super difficult but did require lots of bowls and pots. It also called for a stand mixer to whip the butter and sugar, but I did just fine without.

melted chocolate

As with many of my baking escapades, I ended up short on cake batter and was only able to partially fill my bundt pan. I followed measurements exactly, so I am not sure how this happened. I just kept an eye on the cake, and it ended up being finished about 15 minutes earlier than the recipe called for. Unfortunately, while I was tapping the cake out of the bundt pan, it broke into a few pieces, and presentation was not what I had hoped. I salvaged the cake by slicing it into easily servable slices, perfect for topping with homemade whipped cream.

Irish whiskey chocolate cake

I made the cream simply by whipping heavy cream in my Ninja blender.  I love unsweetened whipped cream, and it is so easy to make!

This cake was dense, chocolate-y, and decadent, like a chewy brownie with a kick of whiskey and coffee. I would not hesitate to make it again for a brunch or other occasion, especially when a chocolate lover is involved!

 

Chocolate Whiskey Cake Recipe

For the cake:
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 1 3/4 cups cake flour
  • 1/2 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup Irish whiskey
  • 1/4 cup brewed coffee, at room temperature
  • 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature

Source: Yummly

Tags: baking, cake, chocolate, home, home cooking, recipe, Slane Castle Whiskey, whiskey

Despite the miserable winter cold and snow, I have been making my rounds in Boston and Cambridge, checking out restaurants and bars new and old, spending time with friends and family. The camera has been mostly tucked away in my bag, allowing me to enjoy every sip, bite, and conversation, but that definitely doesn’t mean I made it out without any photos.

Georgetown Cupcake

There was a birthday celebration for my father-in-law at our local pub, The Banshee, complete with pints of Guinness and Georgetown Cupcake’s festive holiday treats. It was the night of the surprise blizzard, yet everyone we invited still made it, and we went to the week hours of the morning.

seelbach

Noir flatbread

Then there were belated birthday drinks for two of my closest friends, a stop at Harvard Square’s Park for a drink followed by a visit to Noir for a Seelbach and bar bites. I made my inaugural visit to Belly Wine Bar, my quest for a cozy Boston area wine bar mostly satisfied. (I still long for a wine bar like this one though.)

Belly Wine Bar Wine List

We toasted to Summer’s inevitable arrival with a bottle of Chateau Coupe Roses  rosé, snacked on fried chickpeas, and I made a note to return for wine at Belly and a Blue Room dinner; the last one was pretty phenomenal.

Chateau Coupe Roses

Finally, there was a fun night out with friends (who happen to have a cool blog redesign) for whisky and women at the Urban Grape. Who doesn’t love chatting with a fun group of ladies, learning about whisky cocktails, and tasting yummy Macallan?

women and whiskey event

Followed up with dinner at nearby Coda, where Lin and I had our fill of our obsession, deviled eggs.

deviled eggs

We may have also ordered a full order of ribs with sides as an appetizer, prior to our entrees, but that might be a story for another day. Sometimes you just need a big plate of comfort food to kick off a meal. . .

ribs

There have also been a few undocumented visits to Steel and Rye, our new regular hangout. After our first visit, I was smitten, and it has been amazing every single time since.

Boston is seriously bustling with wining and dining activity; I can hardly keep up. Hopefully patio weather will be here soon, but in the meantime, I’ll be out in my boots with the (fake) fur, enjoying all the city has to offer.

Have you been out and about lately?

Don’t forget to enter to win a huge box of whole grain goodies to celebrate Whole Grains Sampling Day with Oldways!

Tags: appetizers, Boston, cambridge, cocktails, Cupcakes, events, Girls Night Out, going out, nights out, whiskey, wine

Where has the week gone?  I hope you all had a wonderful, long holiday weekend. I barely took any photos over the Christmas holiday, and I didn’t take any of food. It’s been nice to take a little step back from blogging as I figure out my new role at work, juggle side projects, and spend the holidays with family. Besides holiday eating, we’ve been ordering a lot of takeout and eating simple meals like salmon and Brussels sprouts, nothing too blog-able!

Luckily, I have a few Ireland and Italy posts left to share before I launch into cooking and actually writing about restaurants again! Our visit to Ireland happened to fall at the same time it did seven years ago when we got engaged. We decided to celebrate our engagement anniversary with a trip West to Connemara where it all happened. Since we wanted to spend time with family, we brought them along and made a few other stops along the way.

One of our stops was the beautiful Kylemore Abbey, a stunning castle that is currently home to a community of Benedictine nuns, a group that has lived there since 1920 when their Belgian abbey was destroyed in World War I. The abbey has an interesting history and plenty of legends that surround it, making it feel like a magical, mystical, and sacred space.

Kylemore Abbey

Connemara

Kylemore is a hauntingly beautiful part of Ireland filled with rugged mountains and lakes, rocky fields, and winding roads. The quiet is often unbelievable; there are times when all you can hear is the baaaaa of sheep in the distance. Driving on to the property is always one of my favorite parts of the visit, as is the cozy cafe that serves hearty, simple lunches and delectable sweets. My husbands aunts and uncle have worked at Kylemore for many years, so I’ve had the chance to visit on several occasions, sometimes eating in the cafe and other times getting a fun, behind-the-scenes look at the property and eating incredible sandwiches made by the sisters living there.

Kylemore Abbey

When we arrived at Kylemore this past trip, it was late November and so everything was decorated for Christmas. We all had the creamy vegetable soup and brown bread, and then my husband’s auntie spoiled us with a bunch of sweets including scones, apple cake with custard, and meringues.

scones

meringues

Then we took a little wander around the majestic property, starting with the castle.

Kylemore Abbey

The attention to detail inside is incredible, and it’s easy to imagine living in a time gone by in such ornate surroundings. It also made me excited for the return of Downton Abbey!

Kylemore Abbey

Next we made our way to the Gothic church, truly one of my favorite little buildings. We had talked about getting married here, but it didn’t end up working out. Luckily, we get to come back and visit. Inside the Gothic church, there is an intense feeling of peace and spiritual connectedness, something I have lately realized is missing from my life.

 

Kylemore Abbey Gothic Church

Kylemore Abbey Gothic Church

It’s really quite special, even if the rain-smudged camera lens kept me from taking great photos!

Kylemore Abbey Gothic Church

 

marble of Ireland

Columns of Irish marble are both decorative and musical; if you run your hand across them they make a lovely sound. The green marble represents Connemara, where Kylemore Abbey is located.

Kylemore gardens

Our final stop at the abbey was the Victorian Walled Garden which, in summer, is filled with plants and flowers.

Kylemore gardens

Even in the off-season though, the sisters living here keep the garden perfectly groomed and maintained. In addition to the garden, they also do some farming nearby.

Victorian walled garden at Kylemore Abbey

After saying our goodbyes to my sweet auntie-in-law, we visited another favorite place, Ballynahinch Castle, a family tradition for my husband and a new one for me.

Ballynahinch Castle

By the time we arrived at Ballynahinch, which is a castle hotel and restaurant, it was dark and cold so I could not take photos of the surrounding grounds which are breathtaking.

Ballynahinch Castle

The inside of Ballynahinch was exactly what the evening called for. It’s a well-known spot for fishermen and outdoors enthusiasts, and the pub welcomes everyone in from the cold with a roaring fire. Rainy, dark views from the restaurant part of Ballynahinch show just a peek at what diners on a fine evening might enjoy.

Ballynahinch Castle

wellies

We stuck to warm-up drinks, hot Port and for some of us, hot whiskeys, a mix of hot water, lemon with cloves, sugar, and Irish whiskey. This drink is a cure-all that will definitely make you feel a little warmer anytime and a little better if you have a cold.

hot whiskey

Ahh yes, relaxing with a hot whiskey by a fireplace in a castle in Ireland after a fun day of wandering the Connemara countryside; it’s a very good thing.

Ballynahinch Castle

We’re still enjoying Christmas through January 6, Three Kings Day, and are looking forward a quiet but festive New Year’s Eve at home. Are you still enjoying the holiday spirit?

Tags: Ballynahinch, Connemara, Food, Ireland, Kylemore, Travel, whiskey

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