17 March 2018 - Paddy's Day Drunken Cake

An Irish Fruitcake, Begorra!

"It's Saint Patrick's Day. So let's think Irish. For instance, how about an Irish whiskey fruitcake."

Begorra isn't a food. It is a euphemism that means "by God". In some Irish counties, saying begorra means "Holy Mother of God".

So it's kind of like....slang.

You can click here for a recipe for a Traditional Irish Fruitcake, which is called barmbrack.

Our Almanac post suggests that you purchase one from Molly O'Rourke's Label!

Unfortunately, the company that made these famous fruit cakes has gone out of business.

These cakes in a green tin were sought after at one point.

It's almost sad to see them gone and not find much information on their company and how it got started.

...

Fruit cakes have been around since the Romans.

You might have a loaf that has been passed around the family ever since the first Christmas.

Barmbrack is usually eaten on Halloween and eating it could be frightening.

There are some great choking hazards associated with this bread.

Here is a copy and paste from WIKI on this tradition.

"In the barmbrack were: a pea, a stick, a piece of cloth, a small coin (originally a silver sixpence) and a ring. Each item, when received in the slice, was supposed to carry a meaning to the person concerned: the pea, the person would not marry that year; the stick, would have an unhappy marriage or continually be in disputes; the cloth or rag, would have bad luck or be poor; the coin, would enjoy good fortune or be rich; and the ring, would be wed within the year."

So to summarize this post:

1. Don't go around exclaiming BEGORRA

2. Irish fruit cake is literally soaked in whiskey

3. Fruit cake is as old as time

4. You actually eat this at Halloween not St. Patrick's Day

5. You could die from it

I think I will stick to drinking green beer and exploiting a country and their culture while altogether forgetting who St. Patrick was.

It's the American way.

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