Dunkin' Dunts Munchkins are too easy
February 16, 2012 8:52 AM Subscribe
Help me think of miniaturized versions of Irish food!
I'm hosting a St. Patrick's Day party and my theme is "Leprechaun-Sized." Basically I wanted to serve Baby Guinness Shots and worked backwards from there. I've also thought of mini Guinness cupcakes and individual shepherds pies.
What else can I serve that is either small or easily scaled down, and that is green or at least loosely connected to St. Patrick's Day and/or Ireland?
I'm hosting a St. Patrick's Day party and my theme is "Leprechaun-Sized." Basically I wanted to serve Baby Guinness Shots and worked backwards from there. I've also thought of mini Guinness cupcakes and individual shepherds pies.
What else can I serve that is either small or easily scaled down, and that is green or at least loosely connected to St. Patrick's Day and/or Ireland?
One St. Patrick's day breakfast I had steel cut oats with Bailey's in them. They were delicious. You could put them in tiny ramekins.
posted by nakedmolerats at 8:57 AM on February 16, 2012
posted by nakedmolerats at 8:57 AM on February 16, 2012
Probably won't go over well with the crowd that's gonna be there*, but would be kinda hilarious: thimbles as shot glasses for whiskey
Mini bangers and mash would be pretty easy, too (cocktail wieners!). More English than Irish, but who's counting?
* - Where's my invite?? :-)
posted by Grither at 9:00 AM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Mini bangers and mash would be pretty easy, too (cocktail wieners!). More English than Irish, but who's counting?
* - Where's my invite?? :-)
posted by Grither at 9:00 AM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Brussels sprouts are basically tiny cabbages. Maybe you can serve some leaves or sections with tiny slivers of corned beef.
posted by ROTFL at 9:02 AM on February 16, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by ROTFL at 9:02 AM on February 16, 2012 [7 favorites]
How about a miniature Belfast fry made with undersized pancetta, tiny sausages, soda bread and quail eggs?
posted by bonobothegreat at 9:03 AM on February 16, 2012
posted by bonobothegreat at 9:03 AM on February 16, 2012
Irish soda bread cookies. ...That would pretty much be shortbread with caraway seeds and/or raisins.
posted by maryr at 9:13 AM on February 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by maryr at 9:13 AM on February 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
Last year I went to a St. Patrick's Day party that served tiny corned beef sandwiches on tiny cocktail bread.
You could also try little ramekins of beef/lamb stew, boiled potatoes on toothpicks (the tiniest ones you can find, maybe wrapped in bacon? Or served with salt to dip them in?), little ramekins of trifle, or soda bread shaped into scones rather than a loaf.
posted by corey flood at 9:14 AM on February 16, 2012
You could also try little ramekins of beef/lamb stew, boiled potatoes on toothpicks (the tiniest ones you can find, maybe wrapped in bacon? Or served with salt to dip them in?), little ramekins of trifle, or soda bread shaped into scones rather than a loaf.
posted by corey flood at 9:14 AM on February 16, 2012
Irish and miniature? Go to Trader Joe's and get some Teeny Tiny Potatoes, of course!
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:17 AM on February 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:17 AM on February 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
perhaps you can get Guiness Cheddar where you are ... it can be made into all sorts of tiny cheese things.
Yum!
posted by chapps at 9:25 AM on February 16, 2012
Yum!
posted by chapps at 9:25 AM on February 16, 2012
Small slices of corned beef on biscuits -- like ham and biscuits but with corned beef. With mustard on the side.
posted by Cocodrillo at 9:29 AM on February 16, 2012
posted by Cocodrillo at 9:29 AM on February 16, 2012
For mini pasties, lotus-eater's great idea, you can sub gyoku (Chinese dumplings) if you want a quick cheat.
May I suggest baby red potatoes?
posted by IAmBroom at 9:34 AM on February 16, 2012
May I suggest baby red potatoes?
posted by IAmBroom at 9:34 AM on February 16, 2012
If we're talking about traditional Irish recipes, how about silver-dollar sized boxty pancakes?
Ingredients
6 russet potatoes
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup (125 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
3/4 cup (175 mL) buttermilk
3 tbsp (45 mL) butter
3 tbsp (45 mL) vegetabIe oil
Preparation
Peel half of the potatoes; cut into large chunks. In saucepan of boiling salted water, cover and cook potato chunks until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well; transfer to large bowl and mash.
Peel and grate remaining potatoes. Squeeze out liquid and wring in kitchen towel to dry; add to mashed potatoes. Add green onions, flour, baking powder and salt ; mix well. Stir in buttermilk to make stiff mixture.
Heat skillet over medium-high heat; melt 1 tbsp (15 mL) each of the butter and oil. In batches and using remaining butter and oil, scoop potato mixture by heaping 1/4 cup (50 mL) for each pancake into skillet, without crowding. Using spatula, flatten to 1/2-inch (1 cm) thickness. Fry, turning once, until crispy and golden, about 8 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet. (Make-ahead: Let cool. Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 24 hours; add about 8 minutes to heating time.) Reheat in 375°F (190°C) oven until hot, about 5 minutes.
Additional information : Tip: Leftover boxty are awesome with poached eggs.
posted by LN at 9:38 AM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ingredients
6 russet potatoes
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup (125 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
3/4 cup (175 mL) buttermilk
3 tbsp (45 mL) butter
3 tbsp (45 mL) vegetabIe oil
Preparation
Peel half of the potatoes; cut into large chunks. In saucepan of boiling salted water, cover and cook potato chunks until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well; transfer to large bowl and mash.
Peel and grate remaining potatoes. Squeeze out liquid and wring in kitchen towel to dry; add to mashed potatoes. Add green onions, flour, baking powder and salt ; mix well. Stir in buttermilk to make stiff mixture.
Heat skillet over medium-high heat; melt 1 tbsp (15 mL) each of the butter and oil. In batches and using remaining butter and oil, scoop potato mixture by heaping 1/4 cup (50 mL) for each pancake into skillet, without crowding. Using spatula, flatten to 1/2-inch (1 cm) thickness. Fry, turning once, until crispy and golden, about 8 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet. (Make-ahead: Let cool. Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 24 hours; add about 8 minutes to heating time.) Reheat in 375°F (190°C) oven until hot, about 5 minutes.
Additional information : Tip: Leftover boxty are awesome with poached eggs.
posted by LN at 9:38 AM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Golf-ball sized potatoes, baked, cut in half, and scooped out like tiny potato skins (a totally non-Irish food) then filled with shredded corned beef. Totally Irish-American, but perfect for St. P's.
Also, depending on how much work you're prepared to do, very small stuffed cabbage rolls. But miniature boxty would be easier (half-dollar sized potato pancakes, basically).
posted by aimedwander at 9:39 AM on February 16, 2012
Also, depending on how much work you're prepared to do, very small stuffed cabbage rolls. But miniature boxty would be easier (half-dollar sized potato pancakes, basically).
posted by aimedwander at 9:39 AM on February 16, 2012
The Official Traditional Irish Breakfast™ is a bowl of Lucky Charms with Bailey's and Jameson.
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:47 AM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:47 AM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Fish (sticks) and chips, wrapped in newspaper.
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:47 AM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:47 AM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Remember--Corned Beef and Cabbage is Irish American--Irish Bacon/Ham and Cabbage is Irish. Have a wonderful celebration.
posted by rmhsinc at 9:59 AM on February 16, 2012
posted by rmhsinc at 9:59 AM on February 16, 2012
It's a bit blasphemous, but I think you are practically obligated to sprinkle your table with Lucky Charms.
posted by argonauta at 10:05 AM on February 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by argonauta at 10:05 AM on February 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
Soda bread is actually pretty different from short bread; I would experiment and see if soda bread drop-biscuits would be possible. It's a pretty dense bread, so I'm not sure. Would be fun to find out!
Authentic soda bread doesn't have caraway seeds, raisins, currants, etc. /recipe pendantry
posted by smirkette at 10:15 AM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Authentic soda bread doesn't have caraway seeds, raisins, currants, etc. /recipe pendantry
posted by smirkette at 10:15 AM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Fish (sticks) and chips potato sticks, wrapped in newspaper
posted by gauche at 10:30 AM on February 16, 2012
posted by gauche at 10:30 AM on February 16, 2012
I've made put leftover dough from soda bread in an aebelskiver pan to make tiny soda bread biscuits. It just requires really careful baking times. You could probably use foil muffin papers instead of my cross-cultural approach.
posted by cobaltnine at 10:31 AM on February 16, 2012
posted by cobaltnine at 10:31 AM on February 16, 2012
Leprechauns eat miniature pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars and green clovers. I would happy to encounter these as little rice-krispie-style treats.
posted by apparently at 11:14 AM on February 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by apparently at 11:14 AM on February 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
I realize that soda bread isn't shortbread, but I figured that drop soda bread was probably just scones and it didn't really sound all that appetizing. I thought a sandy, sable-like cookie might convey the idea with caraway to make it "Irish". Perhaps I've just realized that I like the idea of caraway shortbread, though. Bailey's shortbread would also be good.
posted by maryr at 12:11 PM on February 16, 2012
posted by maryr at 12:11 PM on February 16, 2012
Irish coffee served in demitasse cups
Soda bread baked in mini-loaf pans
Carrots & parsnips, cooked until soft, mashed slightly and scooped with a melon baller (mashed potatoes, mashed turnips, or potatoes & cabbage would work too)
Teeny portions of lamb stew
Bailey's cheesecake cupcakes
posted by Dojie at 12:28 PM on February 16, 2012
Soda bread baked in mini-loaf pans
Carrots & parsnips, cooked until soft, mashed slightly and scooped with a melon baller (mashed potatoes, mashed turnips, or potatoes & cabbage would work too)
Teeny portions of lamb stew
Bailey's cheesecake cupcakes
posted by Dojie at 12:28 PM on February 16, 2012
teeny little bouquets on the table of clovers and a small flower like baby's breath. use an airplane bottle as the vase
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:19 PM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:19 PM on February 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
The other option of course would be to make everything enormous so that you and your guests feel like you ARE leprechauns.
posted by Captain Najork at 10:12 PM on February 16, 2012
posted by Captain Najork at 10:12 PM on February 16, 2012
Shot glasses of porridge and baileys?
posted by doozer_ex_machina at 3:15 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by doozer_ex_machina at 3:15 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Catseye at 8:53 AM on February 16, 2012