Banana Coconut Milk Pops

Last weekend Emmett and Isla performed in the Spring Performance at their school, Montessori Learning Center of Edison Park.  This was by far the highlight of our weekend and we were so proud of how they both fearlessly took the stage, singing and dancing in front of all of the parents and relatives of their classmates. I don't think I will ever be able to wrap my head around how their teachers get them all in and out of costumes and up on stage to perform for us. It's truly amazing. 

Other than the french toast and bacon “power breakfast” that I made the day of the show, I barely cooked a thing all weekend.  But I did make something. Because I cannot stand to throw food away, I freeze all of our overripe bananas until I figure out what to do with them. They usually end up in muffins, banana bread or pancakes but since it’s finally warm out, this time I decided to try something a little different.

Banana Coconut Milk Pops.

I don’t think I can think of anything easier to make and, BONUS, you can feel good about giving them to your kids. The only ingredients are agave nectar, vanilla extract, bananas and coconut milk (although you could throw some chocolate chips in there if you want). The high fat content of coconut milk makes them more creamy than icy, and most of the sweetness comes straight from those super ripe bananas which you can really taste.  Much better than the banana Popsicles of my childhood - as much as I LOVED those!  I can probably think of a hundred variations of these that I would like to try. Fruit flavored, chocolate, peanut butter, or and adult version with coffee and Bailey's (wouldn't that be a fun dessert for a summer dinner party?). 

Now I'm starting to think that I might get some use out of these silicon ice pop molds I bought last year. 

Banana Coconut Milk Pops

makes 6 pops

1 can coconut milk

1 tbs agave nectar

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 super-over-ripe bananas (room temperature)

Place all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender and mix until smooth.  OR, place ingredients in a large bowl (preferably with a spout) and blend with an immersion blender until smooth.

Pour mixture into Popsicle molds molds and freeze until solid.

No raw eggs! Lick the bowl! 

If you're squeamish about licking the bowl when there are raw eggs involved (I'm not - must be the Japanese in me but I'll eat anything raw), this is your opportunity to get in there.  Oh yeah, and it just dawned on me, these are vegan too. So a great treat to have on hand if you're vegan or have vegan guests. Because no one should ever miss out on dessert. 

Apparently, you can purchase an "easy-fill stand" separately, but I lo and behold, I found one in my cupboard (a glass). 

Done. I felt like I accomplished something and it only took about 2 minutes. The hard part is waiting until they are frozen. 

5 Words of Irish Slang

Outside of Paul's Family's store in County Louth

The past week or so has been quiet in my kitchen and happily busy everywhere else. So no food for today.  As a lover of language (I majored in linguistics in college) I thought I’d share some Irish slang with you. Hopefully you will have a chance to use these terms on your next trip to Ireland.  

1.  Lash

This word can be used to mean a few different things.  It can be used to describe heavy rain as in “Heavy rain lashes Dublin”. It can also be used to refer to making an attempt at something, as in “I’ll give it a lash”.  Finally, it is commonly used in the phrase “on the lash” which means to go out drinking.  

2.  Jo Maxi

This term is used to refer to a taxi. This is something called rhyming slang, a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases. Jo Maxi t is also the name of a late 80’s early 90’s Irish TV show that was named after this Dublin slang term for taxi.

I'm sure everyone who has ever visited Dublin has some version of this photo in their archives.

3.  Yoke

An all purpose noun for something whose name escapes you, like thingamamob, watchamacallit, doodad, etc. Yoke can refer to an object or an indescribable person. Yoke can even replace the “thing” or the “bob” in other similar terms as in  yokeamajig, thingamayoke or yokeamabob.

4.  Jackeen

According to Wikipedia, this term is a mildly pejorative term for someone from Dublin, Ireland.  The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as "A contemptuous designation for a self-assertive worthless fellow," citing the earliest documented use from the year 1840. The term comes from the Union Jack (As Dubliners were considered the most English of all the Irish) combined with the Irish diminutive suffix "-een" (meaning little).

Look at all that green. They don't call it the Emerald Isle for nothing. 

5.  Hames

Hames actually refers to two curved pieces of iron or wood forming or attached to the collar of a draft horse, to which the traces are attached. In Ireland, hames is used in the phrase “make hames of” which means to make a mess of something, usually due to carelessness, sloppiness or ineptitude. Often times hames is preceded by an intensifying or modifying term.  A soccer player who missed an easy opportunity to score may be said to have made a right hames of it.  Or, a complete hames of it, a fierce hames of it, an awful hames of it and so on.

For all those mother's out there. I hope you have an especially wonderful weekend full of appreciation for all that you do. If the rain is lashing down and your husband makes a terrible hames of the whole occasion, just chalk it up to miscommunication and don't let it get you down. Mother's are magic. And a special thanks to my Momma, the most magical of them all. I love you Mom! 

Mint Julep with Irish Whiskey

Every year when the Kentucky derby rolls around, I wish I had planned ahead and thrown a derby party, or better yet, planned a trip to Louisville. But it always sneaks up on me. This year the Kentucky Derby falls on my birthday, which also snuck up on me. How does that keep happening? I’ve always wanted to go to the Derby and I hope that someday I do.  But this year I am just going to hang out around here and probably catch up with some friends.  Keep it low key. Nothing very Derby related except for this…

A mint julep. Though I’m not sure you can still call it that when the whiskey is Irish, not Bourbon. I’m no spirits sommelier, but I would venture to guess that since mint juleps involve sugar, soda water and mint, it probably doesn’t matter too much what whiskey you use.  When we have whiskey around, for obvious reasons, it is always Irish whiskey.  

Paul’s cousin’s husband works for Cooley distillery, in County Louth, Ireland. The distillery  was converted in 1987 from an older potato alcohol plant by John Teeling and within a decade it began to earn an impressive reputation for outstanding quality.  In 2011, the distillery was bought by Beam Inc. which was purchased by Suntory Holdings in 2014.  Despite the changes in ownership, the product line remains very Irish. Popular for its Kilbeggan blended whiskey, Greenore single grain whiskey, Connemara peated single malt whiskey, and Tyrconnell double distilled single malt whiskey, the Cooley distillery is proud of its heritage as the oldest licensed distillery in Ireland. And it is definitely on my must-see list for our next trip to Ireland.

I wonder what the Irish would think of the mint julep? I remember the first time I tasted one, sometime in my early twenties,  I thought that the combination of mint and Bourbon was so weird. But now, now I love it.  I love the smell of a mint julep and the way it’s strong and sweet at the same time.  The way it conjures up images of seersucker suits, big hats and deviled eggs - three of my favorite things.

This recipe involves just a tiny bit of advance planning but it’s great because you can make just one or a whole pitcher of them, in case you are having a Derby party (show-off).  And also because mint simple syrup is delicious and can be used for a number of different things. Like for mojitos, dressing up a fruit salad or brushing on cake layers.  Here’s how you do it.

To make Mint Simple Syrup

1 cup water

1 cup granulated sugar

½ cup mint leaves

Heat water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off heat and add mint leaves, pushing them down gently with a spoon so that they are totally immersed in liquid but not getting torn or muddled.  Remove from heat and let the mixture infuse for one hour. Strain, discarding mint leaves and store in a jar with a tight fitting lid.

To make 1 Mint Julep with Irish Whiskey

Ice

2.5 oz Irish Whiskey

2 splashes soda water

1 tbs mint simple syrup

Mint leaves for garnish

Add ice to a rocks glass. Pour in whiskey, mint simple syrup and about two splashes of soda water. Stir and garnish with mint leaves.