MUSKEGON, Mich. — The 25th annual Michigan Irish Music Festival kicks off in Muskegon on Thursday. It’s the biggest Irish festival in the state.
You can expect the same great fun this year with dozens of live musical performances, spectacular dancing, loads of vendors, and, of course, delicious food.
Chef Amanda Miller and Chef Chris Sowa with the Culinary Institute of Michigan are guiding students in a cooking demonstration at the festival.
Miller is putting the final touches on a special batch of cookies for the Michigan Irish Music Festival.
“We're going to be preparing the Irish cream chocolate chip cookies using the Five Farms Irish Cream chocolate chip cookie recipe. But then, of course, you know, we're going to put our own twist on it,” Miller said.
Like the cookies, the dark chocolate ganache on top is made from Five Farms Irish Cream.
“It's made from the cows right there in Cork County, Ireland, and within 48 hours, they're making the Irish cream with that milk. So it's super, super fresh kind of farm to table, and it's got the most whiskey in it of any Irish cream ever made," Miller said.
There will also be plenty of traditional food options.
“They'll do like lamb with Shepherd pies. We'll do fish and chips," Chef Sowa said. “It's very homey food, very like a comfort food. So it's really cold, windy there, being there by the ocean.”
Students will also be making a "Dublin Coddle."
“So it's a stew, it's made usually at the end of the week, with Irish families, out of like the leftover meats they had left over from the week," Sowa said.
You’ll get to wash it all down with the festival's featured drink.
“We're going to make the 'Shamrock Sunrise', which is Five Farms Irish Cream and Jameson orange whiskey. So it's going to be delightful," Miller said.
Cheers to yummy baked goods, hearty Irish staples and festive drinks that will transport you to an Irish pub here in West Michigan.
The cooking demo by the Culinary Institute of Michigan is this Saturday at 3 p.m. over at Hedge School.