Last week, for instance, the city joined its Asian communities in celebrating the Lunar New Year. We even had our first-ever Lunar New Year fireworks display along the Hudson River.
For a glimpse of that spectacular display and a little video trip to Chinatown, click here.
Now we're gearing up for our annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Events, parties, and parades will soon be taking place all over the city, including the biggest parade of all, down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. It’s the largest parade in the world and Marc and I always enjoy it.
The recipe we have for you today is a bit of a culinary metaphor, tipping its hat to Irish tradition, but with flavors added to reflect our city’s glorious melting pot...
Cleo Coyle has a partner in
crime-writing—her husband.
Learn about their books
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Fully-Loaded Colcannon
When you're writing mysteries, murder is your business. When you're writing cozy mysteries, so is word play. And that’s primarily how this dish came about.
My husband and I were writing one of our Coffeehouse Mysteries, Roast Mortem, a book that pays tribute to the FDNY, which has a long history of Irish pride. During our collaboration, we joked about what might happen if we "loaded" the colcannon.
Wait a second, we thought, why not fully load it—like a baked potato?!
Marc and I then put the recipe together much like New York City puts its cultural communities together: We started with a basic Irish colcannon; added an Italian kiss of olive oil and hug of warm, sweet garlic; and finished the dish with an American-style flourish of gooey melted cheddar and smoky crumbled bacon.
It's a colcannon that's practically exploding with comfort-food flavor. (Hey, no groaning, remember, puns were once the highest form of humor!)
FYI - A slightly different version of this recipe appeared in our Coffeehouse Mystery, Roast Mortem, along with plenty more tasty recipes.
Our fully-loaded colcannon truly makes a wonderful side dish; it's addicting, nutritious, and delicious. And now Marc and I invite you to jump into our melting pot...
Cleo Coyle's
Fully-Loaded Colcannon
Marc and I then put the recipe together much like New York City puts its cultural communities together: We started with a basic Irish colcannon; added an Italian kiss of olive oil and hug of warm, sweet garlic; and finished the dish with an American-style flourish of gooey melted cheddar and smoky crumbled bacon.
It's a colcannon that's practically exploding with comfort-food flavor. (Hey, no groaning, remember, puns were once the highest form of humor!)
See Roast Mortem's free recipe guide by clicking here. |
Our fully-loaded colcannon truly makes a wonderful side dish; it's addicting, nutritious, and delicious. And now Marc and I invite you to jump into our melting pot...
Cleo Coyle's
Fully-Loaded Colcannon
Makes about 6 cups
Ingredients
1 pound red potatoes, cut into uniform pieces
2-3 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped (or 4-5 regular bacon slices)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 head cabbage, sliced thin (about 6 cups)
1 cup milk
1 Tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or ¼ teaspoon table salt)
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
2/3 cup (around 2 or 3 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
(mild or sharp cheese, your choice)
Step 1—Cook the potatoes: Boil the red potatoes, skin and all, as you would for mashed potatoes—about 15 to 20 minutes. (Test a potato to make sure they’re cooked through.) Remove the pot from heat, drain any extra water, and cover to keep the potatoes warm.
Step 5—Mix and mash: Combine the hot cabbage and the potatoes. Mash with a metal potato masher or large fork until the ingredients are blended.
New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries
* * *
Once Upon a Grind:
A Coffeehouse Mystery
A Coffeehouse Mystery
* A Best Book of the Year
Reviewer's Pick - King's River Life
* Top Pick! ~ RT Book Reviews
* Fresh Pick ~ Fresh Fiction
* A Mystery Guild Selection
Reviewer's Pick - King's River Life
* Top Pick! ~ RT Book Reviews
* Fresh Pick ~ Fresh Fiction
* A Mystery Guild Selection
Delicious recipes are also featured in my 14th
culinary mystery, Once Upon a Grind, including...
* Black Forest Brownies
* Cappuccino Blondies
* Shrimp Kiev
* Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken
* Silver Dollar Chocolate Chip Cookies
* "Fryer Tuck's" Ale-Battered Onion Rings
* Poor Man's Caviar
* Caramel-Dipped Meltaways
...and many more recipes, including
a guide to reading coffee grinds...
Delicious recipes are also featured in my 14th
culinary mystery, Once Upon a Grind, including...
* Black Forest Brownies
* Cappuccino Blondies
* Shrimp Kiev
* Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken
* Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken
* Silver Dollar Chocolate Chip Cookies
* "Fryer Tuck's" Ale-Battered Onion Rings
* "Fryer Tuck's" Ale-Battered Onion Rings
* Poor Man's Caviar
* Caramel-Dipped Meltaways
* Caramel-Dipped Meltaways
...and many more recipes, including
a guide to reading coffee grinds...
a guide to reading coffee grinds...
* * *
The Haunted Bookshop
Mysteries
Mysteries
Get a free title checklist,
with mini plot summaries,
by clicking here.
Or learn more about the
books and meet Jack Shepard,
our PI ghost by clicking here.
with mini plot summaries,
by clicking here.
Or learn more about the
books and meet Jack Shepard,
our PI ghost by clicking here.
(Recipes, contests, videos, fun info)
* * *
* * *
Such stunning photos Cleo! I would skip the corned beef and fill my plate with your colcannon! Hope you stay warm up there... xo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lucy. Yes, we are trying to stay warm. Fortunately furry lap cats help a lot.
Delete~ Cleo
I'm with Lucy/Roberta...just fill my plate with the Colcannon! Your posts are always amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed the jump to the blog and videos. too.
ReplyDeleteWish we could fill your plate, Patricia. We're enjoying the leftovers tonight. Thank you for your very kind words.
Delete~ Cleo
Now that should warm us to the tips of our toes!
ReplyDeleteCub looks ready for a bit of that bacon!
You are so right about Cub, Libby! Don't let his cute expression fool you. That guy would kill for bacon.
Delete~ Cleo.
Do you know the 1970's Kliban Cat books? He had a running thing about cats as the dreaded ham-wort, always trying to steal ham.
DeleteThat looks delicious. I am substituting it this year for the plain old boiled potatoes and cabbage.
ReplyDeleteJust finished Once Upon a Grind. Got behind so read this one out of order because the reviews were so good I couldn't wait. Yep, it was terrific. Going back now to catch up on those I missed.
Thank you so much, Grandma. Your warm compliment has dispelled the chill of winter. (Well, not completely, but as I said above, furry lap cats help.) I hope you enjoy all of our books--and the colcannon!
Delete~ Cleo
What a fun recipe, Cleo! Sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteFun it is! Thanks, Krista.
Delete~ Cleo
Bacon and cabbage. Delicious! Happy early St. Paddy's day. From another Irishwoman.
ReplyDeleteDaryl / Avery
Thanks, Daryl/Avery. A great St. Paddy's Day to you, too, and to everyone who stopped by. Don’t forget to wear green, chase that pot of gold, and catch a leprechaun if you can!
ReplyDelete~ Cleo
That does look very tasty, even though I am so full from my supper! Thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDelete