(Food-Beverage-News.Com, March 11, 2015 ) Oakland, CA -- Preparing a traditional Irish meal is no piece of cake. With a lot of ingredients to keep in mind and a lot of cooking to do, plus the pressure of keeping the dishes as authentic as they can be, it can be quite a challenge to keep it sane in the kitchen. To make things simpler for those in charge of cooking for St. Patrick's Day, contemporary kitchenware maker Finesseur advises individuals to be more organized for a stress-free dinner preparation.
"It pays to have some sort of a system when cooking for a special occasion," says Allison Montgomery, spokesperson for Finesseur. "When everything is in order, the preparation and the cooking itself will become easier."
Planning ahead of time is key for a successful St. Patrick's Day feast. "This is especially helpful when there are so many recipes to tackle. When you have a good plan in place, you will not get overwhelmed by the task at hand. You'll be able to concentrate better on your cooking and even simplify the process along the way," adds Montgomery.
To help individuals with their cooking plans, here are some tips to prepare a traditional St. Patrick's Day feast without the fuss:
1. Plan the menu. Corned beef, cabbage, mashed potatoes, colcannon, bacon, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and Irish soda bread are the traditional staples for a true Irish feast. Prepare a good menu that incorporates all these classic favorites or include only a few depending on guests' preference and diet. "You can make an all-green menu, which is definitely a great way to commemorate the occasion," suggests Montgomery.
2. Research for recipes. There are various St. Patrick's Day recipes available online that are easy to prepare and cook. "Choose only the recipes that you will be comfortable to prepare. Keep in mind your guests' preferences, especially those who are into a healthy diet. With the multitude of healthy Irish recipes that you can find on the Internet, you can still keep it authentic while ensuring your dishes will not compromise their diet restrictions," advises Montgomery.
3. Prepare the kitchen utensils and cookware to be used. Get all the kitchen tools and cooking gadgets ready to save on time. "By preparing them ahead of time, you don't have to waste time finding them. You can also check on their condition if they need replacing or not," says Montgomery.
4. Make the dishes that can be prepared beforehand. "Do the recipes that can be prepared ahead of time so you can concentrate on the ones that need to be cooked on the day of the holiday itself," advises Montgomery. Soup dishes like the creamy potato-leek soup and baked delights like the rainbow cake, can be done a day or two before St. Patrick's Day and at least two weeks ahead of time, respectively.
5. Chop vegetables ahead of time. St. Patrick's Day is all about the greens, especially green leafy vegetables like cabbage that has become a traditional ingredient in many Irish-American recipes. Chopping this vegetable, though, can take a lot of time so it is best to have them prepared beforehand. "To save on time, having a high-quality chef's knife is helpful so you can do your cutting with ease and precision. Keeping a good knife handy enables effortless food preparation," suggests Montgomery.
Various ways to celebrate a delicious St. Patrick's Day
Partaking in good food together is a must-do on St. Patrick's Day and there are a number of ways for flavorful Irish fare to be enjoyed with guests during this occasion. One can choose to serve up an all-green Irish brunch or a lunch buffet featuring traditional Irish favorites like smoked salmon and Irish soda bread. Or, prepare a sit-down dinner of must-have classics like lamb, sausage, corned beef, bacon, and potatoes.
With these simple tips, Finesseur hopes individuals will find preparing a hearty Irish meal on St. Patrick's Day easier and stress-free. "With these simple tips, you will not only get through cooking with ease; it will also improve your cooking routine, making it simpler and more systematic," concludes Montgomery.
About Finesseur
Finesseur brings fashion design, precise engineering, and top quality craftsmanship together in American kitchens. Finesseur believes kitchen tools should be not only functional, but also inspirational.