Meandering and cooking around the world channeling Julia Child: Baileys Irish Cream Desserts for St. Patrick's Day: Even Julia McWilliams Child Would Approve

Imagine my delight to see Baileys Irish Cream for sale in this window of a tiny grocery store on a remote "Calle" in Venice's Ospedale neighborhood. . . from my people! The area had 3 retail shops and a lovely, small cafe literally in the middle of nowhere. I had to snap this picture. Notice, I only purchased water, well, and coffee grounds, but that's another blog post.

The world's supply of cream used to make Baileys Irish Cream comes from County Cavan, Ireland the birthplace of my great-grandparents Mary Reilly and Mathew Sheridan. The Glanbia plant shown here is located in Virginia, County Cavan, the village next to their homes in Ballyjamesduff. The Irish word for milk, bán-chia, translates as white meat, which explains the importance this food source is in the Irish diet. They have many, happy, grass-fed cows.

County Cavan is known as the land of lakes (loughs) about 365, one for every day of the year. Located 45 miles northwest of Dublin, people say it is a 45-minute drive from the airport, but it takes me a wee bit longer! You should book a vehicle with GPS (that accent can be tricky) and automatic transmission so you can concentrate on driving on the other side of the road. It isn't as scary as it sounds!

In Virginia, I've stayed at the Virginia Park Lodge, which has been transformed into an amazing wedding venue. It is owned by Michelin-rated chef and cookbook author, Richard Corrigan. Cookery classes are offered periodically and special occasion meals. Do not miss a stop here! Arrangements may be limited. You can view this lovely property at https://www.virginiaparklodge.com

Another great option is staying in Cavan town about 5 miles north of Ballyjamesduff at the Cavan Crystal Hotel with their award-winning restaurant, Opus One. If you sign up for their newsletter you will be offered local discount savings. You can see for yourself at: https://www.cavancrystalhotel.com

I am sharing two very easy, quick desserts you can throw together for your St. Patrick's Day festivities. Adults only! If you have children to serve, you can make these recipes without using the Baileys.

Baileys in Venice store window

Glanbia Virginia Ireland Baileys 'Cream' Factory

Baileys Brownies

Baileys Brownies (even Julia McWilliams Child would love!)
Serves 9

Ingredients

1 box of your favorite brownie mix
1 8 ounce thawed container regular Cool Whip
1 shot glass full of Baileys Irish Cream or 1.5 ounces
Hershey's syrup to decorate top

Method

Prepared and bake brownie mix as directed in an 8 X 8 pan.
Cool completely about 1 hour.
When cooled make holes in brownie with a straw or chop stick.
Take the shot glass of Irish cream and spread over brownie to go into holes.
Cover with container of Cool Whip.
Decorate top with streams of Hershey's.
Cool in refrigerator overnight or 6 hours.

Sláinte!

Bailey-os: No Bake Baileys Oreo Layer Cake Magic
Serves 8-12

Ingredients

1 - 14 oz package of original Oreo cookies
2 - 8 oz containers of thawed Cool Whip
4 shot glasses of Baileys Irish Cream or 6 ounces (2/3 cup)

Method

Container of your choice. Glass preferred. Size will determine number of layers. Read all the instructions below to determine the size of container needed to hold your ingredients. A glass 9 X 12 will work, too, just fewer layers. Metal or foil containers fine, too, just not as pretty.

Prepare filling by adding Baileys to bowl. Take one tablespoon size amount of Cool Whip and in small amounts incorporate the Cool Whip into the Baileys. Slowly you will allow the liquid to fold into the Cool Whip. Don't over beat or you will deflate the Cool Whip. Set aside.

A little math required.

Open package of cookies and separate tops from bottoms. Keep frosted no frost separate. There will be about 36 cookies and once separated you will have 72 pieces. That's the hardest part!

Take the no frosting cookies and line container. Count how many you used. Divide that amount into 72 and that will tell you how many layers you can make. Here's an example:

If 12 cookies were used for the bottom. Divided into 72 equals 6. You can have 6 layers total. With one layer for topping, you will have 5 layers to top with the Irish cream flavored Cool Whip.

Divide your Cool Whip into 5 servings just using a knife in the bowl. Spoon Cool Whip on top of cookies. Repeat using frosted cookies first until the top. The top layer of cookies should be unfrosted and crushed and sprinkled on top.

Cover with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator overnight. The cookies will become moist like cake from the Cool Whip!

Sláinte!