Best Butter Cream Frosting

This recipe I found on I am baker which is an AMAZING blog about baking and decorating cakes and cookies with tons of tutorials. I absolutely LOVE her! And this frosting recipe she adapted from an Allrecipes.com recipe is my absolute FAVORITE frosting that I only use for special occasions!
oh I also make my own adaptations of this for other flavors such as strawberry, chocolate, coconut, almond, etc...

THE BEST BUTTERCREAM

2 cups shortening (I use butter instead, quite often for more flavor, but shortening is cheaper)

8 cups confectioner's sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon clear imitation vanilla extract

6 fluid ounces heavy cream

In a large bowl, cream shortening with mixer until fluffy.  Add confectioners sugar (2 cups at a time) until well blended.  If the frosting gets to thick at any time you can add some of your heavy cream.

Add salt, vanilla, and heavy cream and blend until combined, then blend on high until frosting is light and fluffy.  If you need to add additional cream you can. (up to 2 tablespoons)

For CHOCOLATE, replace 1/2 cup confectioners sugar with 1/2 cup of coco powder, mix into sugar before adding to the butter.

For STRAWBERRY, omit vanilla extract and add strawberry instead, OR put a cup of FRESH strawberries in blender and puree, add to frosting after creaming butter and sugar but before adding cream.

For COCONUT, add coconut extract instead of vanilla, OR omit 1 cup shortening for one cup coconut oil (store and keep in cool area because the coconut oil will melt easily!)

For other flavors, either add extract of other flavor instead of vanilla, OR puree/melt and cool/ or just add softened ingredient to the butter and sugar mixture before adding heavy cream.

♥Happy Baking!♥ 

Traditional Irish American Feast!

Having been made in a crock pot (or slow cooker) this meal was simple, fast to prepare, and easy to serve!

Corned Beef and Cabbage with Potatoes and Carrots

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 8 hours

Ingredients:

• 1 Corned Beef Brisket from the store (I got mine half off at Albertsons)
• 1lb bag of baby carrots
• 5 large red potatoes or 1lb bag of small red potatoes
• 1 medium to small sized white onion
• 1/2 head of cabbage (or the whole thing depending on the size of your crock pot)
• 1 cup of water

Cut the potatoes and onion into quarters ( or 1/2 inch chunks). Mix with the carrots and place half of the veggie mixture into the crock pot. Unwrap the corned beef brisket and rub the spices that come with it if desired. Place on top of veggies, fatty side down. Place remaining veggies all around the brisket. Cook on LOW for 7 hours. If you start this at 9:30am your dinner will be ready to serve by 6pm.

when your meat and potatoes have cooked for 7 hours slice the cabbage in half twice lengthwise and place into the crock pot on top of the meat. Continue to cook on LOW for 1 more hour.

This is when you would start your Irish Soda Bread.

Brennans Irish Soda Bread

Of all the soda bread recipes ive tried this one is by far my favorite. I follow this recipe to a "T" and it always turns out great! I found it on Allrecipes.com. Its fast, easy and goes GREAT with corned beef and cabbage!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Stir the milk and vinegar together, and allow to stand until curdled, about 10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet. In a bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.

Gradually stir the soured milk into the flour mixture until the dough just comes together, and turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface. Knead a few times, and shape into a round. Place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. With a sharp knife, cut an X shape into the top of the dough to release steam and help the bread keep its round shape. (i also dusted mine with flour, giving it a more rustic look)

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 45 minutes. (i left mine in for 40 minutes)

Put on some classic Celtic music for added Irish atmosphere and have yourself a Happy St. Patricks Day!

An Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.