Happy New Year with an Irish Coffee!

Happy new year to you my readers, my customers, my friends and anyone else who may stubble across my Irish culinary verbage on this new year occasion! 2010 was a great year for me, and for my small business 'The Ulster Kitchen', and it is my sincere wish that 2011 be even better for us all! So, to celebrate this fine new era, I'm including an absolute favorite...my recipe for the perfect 'Irish Coffee'. What could be better?

An Irish coffee is a way we say welcome and offer hospitality in our home. It’s definitely a celebratory drink, the perfect ending to a great meal and the perfect way to carry on a conversation.
It may surprise you however to know that Irish coffee is a relatively new tradition in Irish terms, created in 1943 by bar man Joe Sheridan. The drink was first served to transatlantic passengers arriving on boats from the USA to Foynes in Co. Limerick and it did not take long for the recipe to spread all over the island. The drink became even more famous in 1952 when a journalist from San Francisco visited Ireland and brought the recipe back home passing it on to Jack Koeppler owner of the Buena Vista. The drink was a huge hit and the rest is history!

Here are the measurements for 1 cup of coffee, and you can make them to order as your guests are ready to enjoy. In Ireland it is traditionally served in a glass, so you can see the dark coffee and whisky base with the floating cream on top. The cream is lightly whipped and not beaten too thick so it will float on the top.

So, raise your glass, tip the tipple, enjoy the comfort and start the new year in style!

Enjoy!
Judith the Irish Foodie.

(measure for 1 cup coffee)

• ½ cup strong hot coffee
• 1-2 Tbsp brown sugar (to taste)
• ¼ cup Irish Whiskey
• 2 Tbsp cream (lightly whipped)
• freshly ground nutmeg

Method

1. Beat heavy whipping cream with electric beater until stiff. Set aside in refrigerator until ready to serve coffee.
2. Heat stemmed glass or coffee cup. Place the sugar in the bottom of the glass before adding the freshly brewed coffee. Stir until dissolved.
3. Pour in the Irish Whisky.
4. Top with the freshly whipped cream spooned lightly on top. Sprinkle a little freshly ground nutmeg on top. Do not stir.