St. Patty’s

Two weeks prior to St. Patrick’s day is Hoboken St. Patty’s day.  Even though the official parade was canceled this year, we still celebrated at the annual house party of my husband’s friend.  It’s my husband’s second favorite day of the year after Derby day.  He was awake before 7 am on a Saturday, so you know he was excited.  I finally got up and ready and we arrived by 11:30.  On the elevator up to his friend's apartment (after the host not answering the buzzer or phone calls) my husband said, oh, I think it starts at noon.  What?!  I was so embarrassed, but we still went in and cracked open a cold beverage before noon.  The night before, my best friend (aka TWN) and I spent way too long baking Irish car bomb cupcakes.  Had she not helped, I’m not sure if I ever would have gone to bed!  Everything was made from scratch.  The cupcakes had Guiness in them.  I scooped out the center and filled them with Jameson chocolate ganache, and then my TWN topped them with a Bailey’s frosting.  They got very high marks from a couple of the guests at the party, but the cake was a little off – it stuck to the paper when you tried to peel it off.  I’m still proud though.

Chopping lot o' chocolate

Making it into ganache

Coring the cupcakes

Beating lots o' butter into icing.

Ta da!

Real Irish car bombs

Real St. Patrick’s day was a mess of intoxicated, loud, crazily dressed people in the city.  I think it should be called Spring Halloween.  How different times are compared to 5 years ago when my girlfriends and I walked into an Irish pub, and at closing time I walked out with who I would later figure out to be my husband.  May not be a romantic story but I’d say we’re both so lucky to have found each other that night!  We went to bed much earlier than 5 years prior because the next morning we were off to Jupiter, Florida….