'SPIRITED' CELEBRATION ~ BAILEYS IRISH CREAM CHEESECAKE / IRISH COFFEE

"Life's too short not to be Irish!"

~ an Irish saying

~ Irish Blessing on Waterford crystal shamrock

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"May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand."

~ Irish Blessing

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BAILEYS IRISH CREAM CHEESECAKE

~ Trust me ... favorite St. Patrick's Day treat adapted from tattered Bon Appetit (1989)
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Crust:
2 cups crushed Oreo cookies

(or Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers)
1/4 cup sugar
6 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter

Filling:
2 1/4 lbs. room temperature cream cheese
1 2/3 cup sugar
5 room temperature organic eggs
1 cup Baileys Original Irish Cream
1 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup premium semisweet chocolate chips
Coffee Cream:
1 cup chilled whipping cream
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. instant coffee powder
Chocolate curls or English toffee bits

• For crust: Preheat oven to 325-degrees. Coat 9-inch springform pan with nonstick spray. Combine crumbs and sugar. Stir in melted butter. Press mixture into bottom and 1-inch up sides of pan. Bake until light brown, about 7 minutes.
• For filling: Beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually mix in sugar. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Blend in Baileys and vanilla. Sprinkle half of chocolate chips over crust. Spoon in filling. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips. Bake cheesecake until puffed, springy in center and golden brown, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Cool cake completely.
• For cream: Beat cream, sugar and coffee powder until still peaks form. Spread mixture over cooled cake. Garnish cheesecake with chocolate curls or English toffee bits. Cut into thin slices to serve.

MURPHY'S IRISH COFFEE
~ a healthy jigger of Brandy
(Brian's claim to smoothness instead of Irish whiskey)
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freshly brewed rich black coffee
1 healthy tsp. brown sugar
1 healthy jigger Brandy (or Irish whiskey)
fresh whipping cream

1 Tbsp. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

freshly grated nutmeg, chocolate, or cinnamon

• In chilled bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar & vanilla. Continue whipping until medium-firm peaks forms.
• Warm Irish coffee glass in hot water. Wipe dry. Pour brandy (or Irish whiskey) & brown sugar into the glass and stir. Slowly pour fresh coffee filling the glass to within half an inch or so from top of glass. Carefully top with whipped cream. Garnish with grated fresh nutmeg, chocolate shavings or cinnamon.

Important Note: Toast loved ones while sipping through the rich cream.

(In Memory: Thanks Brian!)

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"Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat."

~ Alex Levin