IRISH SEAFOOD CHOWDER
 
by Joan Ricketts Locke
  and some great Irish Chefs


Irish Seafood Chowder and Irish Soda Bread served at
Inch Beach Pub
After a walk on Inch Beach, the Irish Seafood Chowder was warming and absolutely delicious!




Inch Beach
 
Inch Beach
 
 
 




Inch Beach is located on the Dingle Pennisula in County Kerry.

Trying to remember the tastes of several Seafood Chowders that I had the pleasure to enjoy while in Ireland, I made several attempts at making this chowder.  This is my final trial.  Hope you enjoy!!

Ingredients:

2lbs of any white fish, mussels, salmon, shrimp and crab meat
1 1/2 pints of fish stock (I used Swanson Cooking Seafood Stock)
1 1/2 pints whole milk
1/2 cup  finely chopped onion
2 cups white or red potatoes, peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons flour
2 sticks finely chopped celery

1/2 cup yellow corn  
salt and pepper to your taste
8 oz. white wine
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon chopped tarragon

Directions:

In a large pot, bring the fish stock, milk, onion, potatoes and celery to a boil, turn heat to low. Simmer until the veggies are soft.   With a wire whisk, mix in the flour, then add...salt, pepper, corn, wine and tarragon. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Cut fish to bite size pieces. (make sure the mussels are washed thoroughly).  Now, add all of your fish combination to the pan and simmer gently for 4 minutes until mussel shells have opened and all the fish is opaque.    Gently pour in cream, stirring lightly.

Ladle in to your favorite soup bowl and serve with a warm, buttered slice of Irish Soda Bread.

 
 BANGERS AND MASH

                 by Joan Ricketts Locke

 
 
In May 2012, my husband, Wayne, and I travelled to Ireland.  One of the  entrees I thoroughly enjoyed was "Bangers and Mash" (Irish sausage and mashed potatoes).  In fact...I enjoyed this delicious dish four times during our three week stay.
 
Recipe:
  • 1 pound fresh Irish sausages (8 large sausages)
  • 1 pound Red potatoes, peeled and diced
  • Kosher salt (we use sea salt)
  • 2 tablespoons butter , or margarine
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons whole-grain or coarse mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  •  1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  •  1 teaspoon onion powder

  •  
    Directions:
     
    Place sausages in a prepared fry pan of 1 tbsp. olive oil on med/high heat, brown sausages on both sides and then turn your heat down to medium, continue cooking until the sausages are just cooked through.
     
    While sausages are cooking, place the potatoes in a large saucepan with 1 tbsp. salt, add enough water to cover potatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, until potatoes are done. Drain potatoes and return to saucepan. To potatoes, add butter, milk, whole-grain mustard, dry mustard, 1 tbsp. salt, and pepper, beat potatoes on low speed to mix in ingredients, increasing speed until smooth and creamy.
     
    Back to our sausages, add 1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tsp. onion powder, and one bottle of Irish Beer (We use Guinness or Smithwicks) Remove sausages to a platter.  Back at the fry pan, increase heat to high and add 1 tbsp. flour to liquid, stirring constantly, to make a thickened gravy. Return sausages to gravy and let simmer ten minutes.
     
    Ready to eat...place a mound of potatoes in center of plate and top with one or two sausages. With a gravy ladle...place one ladle of gravy on top of sausage and potatoes.   Sprinkle with chopped parsley and enjoy!!
     
     
    Make this dish a tradition at your next St. Patty's Day Celebration!  We purchased Irish Sausages at COSTCO.  Brother Bill says he is glad I introduced him to this dish and now he loves cooking and preparing this dish for our St. Patty's Day dinner.
     
    

     

    SOME NEW FAVORITE RECIPES
    by Family and Friends
     
    Dad's Great-Grandkids...our future chefs!
     
     

    We're adding a new section!

     

    Friends and family have requested the addition of new dishes which The Ricketts Family, and friends, have come to enjoy since the original cookbook was created.

     

    We hope you will enjoy these additional recipes. 

    Special Request: If you have a favorite dish you would like to share with us,  well...we'd love to try it and share with everyone else. Please send your recipe, with your name, a few comments why this is your favorite, and a photo of your recipe to joanlocke1@gmail.com