When you live in the midwest you are well aware of the fact you are living in a four season section of the country. And for the most part, you completely embrace and look forward to the changes each season brings. If you didn't, you would probably consider moving. Yet, in spite of seasonal knowledge and life experience, some of us can't help but remain eternally hopeful the seasons won't be characterized by weather extremes, record setting hot or cold temperatures, and/or unusually high amounts of precipitation regardless of the season. In other words, we want the impossible. Days having only the most optimal seasonal conditions. For some (of us) who like to run outdoors even in the winter, cold weather is refreshing, but double digit below zero temperatures can make running arduous. A run with snowflakes falling from the skies is definitely preferable to one in a torrential downpour. If that wish list doesn't already seem a bit unrealistic or one expecting too much from Mother Nature, particularly during a midwestern winter, well I might as well go all out and add one more. Like wishing there wouldn't be any icy roads and snow packed paths. There that's it. Three simple wishes.
Apparently I am slowly turning into one of those conditional winter warriors. Meaning I love running in the winter when I like the conditions. Because at my age, the thought of slipping and/or falling is slightly worrisome. At the moment I am nursing an overuse injury. As a result I have barely run outside during the last several weeks. At this point, I am so anxious to return to running I don't even care what the weather is, what the road conditions are like, or whatever else Mother Nature throws at me. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't whine an ever so slight amount. I would. However, after experiencing that return to running euphoria, my selective memory would conveniently appear.
Apparently I am slowly turning into one of those conditional winter warriors. Meaning I love running in the winter when I like the conditions. Because at my age, the thought of slipping and/or falling is slightly worrisome. At the moment I am nursing an overuse injury. As a result I have barely run outside during the last several weeks. At this point, I am so anxious to return to running I don't even care what the weather is, what the road conditions are like, or whatever else Mother Nature throws at me. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't whine an ever so slight amount. I would. However, after experiencing that return to running euphoria, my selective memory would conveniently appear.
The one thing you can't ignore or rationalize away after running in arctic cold weather is the chill your body feels. A change of clothes, a hot shower, or a cup of hot coffee can all take the chill off. But the best anecdote came from one of my friends. She sent a group of us a photo of the mugs of Irish Coffee she made after last weekend's run. Needless to say this photo put all of us under a Irish Coffee spell.
Having recently seen a post for an Irish Coffee recipe from the Dead Rabbit. Described as bringing the Irish Pub into the 21st century and winning the 2016 Drinks International Award for the World's Best Bar, I thought surely the mixologists at the Dead Rabbit were experts in making Irish Coffee. There were several links claiming to have the Dead Rabbit's Irish Coffee recipe. All were made with Irish Whiskey, hot coffee, whipped cream, and demerara syrup. However, there were some differences in each of the recipes. They ranged in the recommended amounts of alcohol (ranging from 1 1/4 ounces to 1 1/2 ounces) to the sugar to water ratios in the demerara syrup. But still, the idea of making Irish Coffee with a sugar syrup, one made with demerara sugar, was more than intriguing.
What is demerara sugar? Described as a natural cane sugar with a fairly large grain and pale amber color, demerara sugar brings a deeper flavor than regular granulated sugar. Demerara sugar has long been available in the United Kingdom and has been a relative new 'sugar' import to the states.
Instead of a 1 to 1 ratio of sugar to water, this demerara syrup was made with a 2 to 1 sugar to water ratio. (I used 1/2 cup of demerara sugar and 1/4 cup of water.) The sugar and water are combine and cooked over a medium heat until the sugar melts. I made more of the demerara syrup than I needed, but since it keeps covered in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks, nothing was going to prevent me from making Irish Coffee when the urge struck me.
What would an Irish Coffee be without lightly whipped cream?
Instead of grating fresh nutmeg over the lightly sweetened whipped cream, I crumbled up a Cadbury Flake chocolate bar. If you can't find one, grate some milk chocolate.
Instead of making this Irish Coffee with Irish Whiskey, I used Bailey's Irish Cream. I have a feeling they would doubly lethal (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) if made with Irish whiskey. Not just because I love the flavor of Bailey's, but I am not an Irish Whiskey expert. Which means I wouldn't know which of the 12 best Irish whiskeys to choose. I certainly could ask my Irish friends for a 'best' recommendation, but I have a sneaking suspicion there are as strong allegiances to Irish whiskey as there are to Irish football, rugby, and soccer teams.
I may be somewhat biased but this was the best Irish Coffee I have ever had. Seriously. Not that anyone needs a reason to have an Irish Coffee, but somehow wishing for cold winter days or nights seems justifiable. Just promise me you won't wish for arctic cold, double digit below zero winter weather temperatures. Some of us want to use running in the cold as a reason to have an Irish Coffee or two to warm up.
Irish Coffee (a slight variation recipes attributed to the Dead Rabbit's Irish Coffee Recipe)
Ingredients for a Single Serving
1 1/2 ounces Bailey's Irish Cream (or your favorite Irish whiskey)
4 ounces freshly brewed coffee
1/2 ounce demerara sugar syrup
2 Tablespoons lightly whipped, lightly sweetened whipped cream
Optional garnish: Shaved chocolate or a crumbled Cadbury Flake chocolate bar for an Irish Coffee made with Bailey's; grated nutmeg for one made with Irish Whiskey.
Directions
1. To make the demerara syrup: In a small pan, combine 1/2 cup of demerara sugar with a 1/4 cup of water. Heat until the sugar dissolves. Pour into a heat proof jar. Use as needed. Store unused demerara syrup in the refrigerator.
2. Pour the Bailey's Irish Cream in a heat proof glass.
3. Mix together the hot coffee and demerara syrup and then pour into the glass with the Irish Cream. Stir gently.
4. Pipe or place large dollops of the slightly whipped cream over the top. Sprinkle some shaved chocolate or some pieces of a Flake bar over the whipped cream.
5. Serve immediately.
Notes: (1) Instead of using Bailey's Irish Cream, use Irish Whiskey. If using whiskey, use 1 1/4 ounces to 1 1/2 ounces. (2) A half cup of heavy whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks will be enough for two servings of the Irish Coffee. I like to lightly sweeten the whipping cream using a 1/2 cup of whipping cream to 1 Tablespoon of confectionary sugar ratio. (3) The demerara syrup will keep for 2-3 weeks stored in the refrigerator. (4) If you love Irish Coffee, consider splurging on some clear tall glasses. They really aren't that expensive. (5) You can demerara sugar at many grocery stores. I like India Tree's demerara sugar.
Nathanael Greene Homestead, Coventry, Rhode Island (November 2017)
