Colcannon with Kale and Bacon is a tasty side dish and an excellent choice to make for St. Patrick’s Day, however, I could eat it probably every single day.

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish of buttery mashed potatoes with sauteed kale or cabbage.

I added crunchy bacon because it goes so well together, and who would not like a bit a crunch to their bite.

Let’s be honest, I absolutely adore mashed potatoes. Well, I love potatoes in general.

There are so many amazing meals that we could make using this amazing ingredient. Don’t you agree?

Tap here for more side dish recipes

Anyhow, back to mashed potatoes. I said this many times before, but let me mention again.

When I go to the restaurant I order a bowl of mashed potatoes rather than focused on anything else.

This tasty side dish is just incredible. It is warm, comforting, delicious and such an easy dish to make.

If you want to make it vegetarian or even vegan, skip bacon of course and use dairy-free butter and nut milk to create a creamy texture.

Although I do like a bit of chunky mash from time to time. So as you can see it is really possible to create this dish completely “clean” and vegan.

If you get inspired and make this Colcannon with Kale and Bacon, please tag me on Instagram.

@sandraseasycooking with hashtag #sandraseasycooking. I would love to see all your tasty creations. Thank you so much in advance!

Recipes you might like:

WHOLE WHEAT IRISH SODA BREAD

QUICK IRISH SODA BREAD

EASY LOW CARB SAVOURY SCONES

AIR FRYER BABY BACK RIBS

SAUTEED SAUERKRAUT WITH SMOKED SAUSAGE

Yield: Serves 4

Colcannon with Kale and Bacon

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Colcannon with Kale and Bacon is a simple and extremely tasty Irish side dish.

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Ingredients

• 3 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes, russets (add salt to water)
• 4 ounces unsalted butter
• ¾-1 cup half and half, cream (milk will do as well)
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• Salt, to taste
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 4 slices smoked bacon, diced
• 4 cups stemmed, rinsed, and chopped green kale

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the potatoes. Cook until tender, about 15 minutes in boiling water.
2. While the potatoes are cooking, heat a pan over medium heat and cook sliced bacon, stirring often, until it is nicely crisped, about 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Then add chopped onion (green onions could be used as well) to the pan and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 to the 6-minute max.
4. Add washed and chopped kale to bacon and onion, then cook until wilted but still bright green, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside. If you want softer kale you could steam it prior to sauteing. I add a pinch of salt and pepper just to season kale a bit but no more than a pinch.
5. Use a potato masher or an electric mixer to make a nice smooth mash. Hand masher will make potatoes more chunky, so use it if you like your potatoes that way.
6. Add the butter and half and a half (cream or milk) to the potatoes and continue to mash until the large lumps are gone. Add salt to taste and black pepper, then mix well. I like adding garlic powder to the mashed potatoes so just add about 1/4 teaspoon or more if you would like to the mashed potatoes and stir well. Also, add enough salt to please your taste buds.
7. Mix in the mashed potatoes bacon, kale and onion mixture. Taste the colcannon and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot and top with a pat of butter.

Notes

You may use green cabbage or savoy cabbage instead of kale. I like it with either since it pairs so well with buttery mashed potatoes.

For vegetarian or even vegan options, you omit bacon obviously and use dairy-free butter and nut milk. It will be a bit different but still a tasty side dish.

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Gingerbread cookies are the most popular cookies during the holiday Xmas season at my house. It is a shame that I never posted on my blog.

The thing is I always thought that there are so many recipes online why would you even make mine.

However, I decided to post all the holiday recipes because why not.

I really love making them with my kids. Well, I feel terribly sadden that they are growing so fast.

I just want to turn back the time and relive those days when they were little all over again.

Tap here for more tasty sweet recipes

Although, I am happy to see them grow into these amazing individuals. I am like every mother or a parent out there.

Anyhow, I really enjoyed making these this year and doing it with my youngest one.

He will turn 13 soon, so I am treasuring this time before he finds his mom boring. hahaha (sobbing).

So, one fact about me that might not know before. I have never eaten these cookies before I came to the United States.

We have so many cookies that are served over the holiday season, but gingerbread cookies were just not traditional at all.

Get more cookie recipes by clicking here

That being said, I love them. I like the taste, soft texture on the inside and crunchy on the outside.

You can use any cookie cutter to make different shapes and sizes. Of course, the most popular gingerbread cookie is Gingerbread Man.

In my opinion, I love to make them in all shapes and sizes so I go crazy… maybe a bit too crazy.

I don’t have many cookies on my blog. However, I set my mind to start making different ones now that I am more comfortable around making baked goodies other than bread.

Jokes on the side, I am really getting better at making sweets and I am so very proud of that.

Hey, if you get inspired by me and make these yummy Gingerbread Cookies, please tag me on Instagram.

@sandraseasycooking using hashtag #sandraseasycooking. I would love to see your creations. Thank you!!!

Yield: Makes about 3 dozen cookies, depending on the size

Gingerbread Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Chill Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Gingerbread cookies are the most popular cookies during the holiday Xmas season.

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Ingredients

• 6 oz, 170g unsalted butter (one and a half stick)
• 3⁄4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg, slightly mixed
• 1⁄2 cup original molasses
• 3 cups, 360g all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon, 5.2g ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon allspice

Instructions

1. In a large bowl or a stand-up mixer bowl, beat softened butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until well blended
2. Whisk the baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices into measured all-purpose flour.
3. Gradually stir in dry ingredients until blended and smooth, but do not add more flour because the dough will firm up once it's chilled.
4. Divide the dough in half, this way it will be easier to roll out, and then pat each half into a thick rectangle. Wrap well, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
5. The dough may be sticky and hard to roll if not thoroughly chilled, so make sure it's cold before continuing.
6. Preheat oven to 375F (190C)
7. Prepare baking sheets by lining with parchment paper.
8. Place one wrapped dough portion on a lightly floured surface or use two plastic wraps, on the bottom and top, large enough to roll out dough. Roll dough to a scant 1/4-inch thick.
9. Cut out cookies with a desired cutter; gingerbread man, flour, snowflakes, etc. Space cookies 2-inches apart because they will spread a bit due to the addition of baking soda.
10. Bake 1 sheet at a time for 10 minutes
11. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow the cookies to cool for a bit until they are firm enough to move to a cookie rack. After cookies are cool you may decorate them with traditional royal icing any way you desire.

Notes

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I do not think that there is anything better in this world than freshly baked bread, especially my Easy Homemade French Bread.

Well, my dutch oven for beginners and no-knead bread recipes are amazing, as well.

Anyhow, after many trials and fails, I finally got a winning recipe. I take pride in my bread recipes, so I tested this bread many times. This recipe is more of a “store-bought” copy-cat recipe rather than a true French artisan crunchy baguette.

Tap Here for more bread recipes

With that being said, it is still very delicious bread that I know you will love.

Anyhow, you guys seem to love my easy bread recipes and that makes me so happy. Trust me, you do not have to be a rocket scientist to bake a loaf of bread.

Yes, we all have to measure it in the beginning, but later you will just know what is what.

I must say, without bragging that I probably could make bread with my eyes closed. Well, that’s because I have been baking bread for a very long time.

Not that I am old as a bible, but I was 12 going toward 13 years old when I made my first bread.

I am almost 40 years old, so you see it has been a while since I made my first bread with the messy kitchen and flour all over the floor.

It was a rather unforgettable experience, and as you would typically expect to see on the I Love Lucy show.

With that being said, I have grown a bit and you can say got some experience making bread.

You can make this bread dough with a stand mixer using hook attachment however, you may use a bowl and a wooden spoon as well as your trusty hands to knead it.

I must admit my kids and husband are just like me. We love bread so much, but ever since we went low carb I avoid making it.

The only reason I would bake bread these days is to bring to my neighbors or friends.

However, sometimes I just dearly crave it. I use it my treat. It is nostalgia so I make a couple that we usually finish eating in one day. I know! We have a problem.

If you like this recipe then you might also like these:

No-knead Homemade Bread

No-Knead Homemade Whole Wheat Bread

Dutch Oven Bread for Beginners

Irish Soda Bread

Low Carb Keto Friendly Bread

If you make my amazingly Easy Homemade French Bread, please tag me on Instagram. @sandraseasycooking using hashtag #sandraseasycoooking.

Thank you so much in advance. I cannot wait to see your creations.

Just to add, as some found it quite unusual that I add oil to my dough. I like the dough much better with a drizzle of oil, however, traditional long baguette or French Bread does not contain any oil or fat whatsoever.

My mother-in-law only uses 4 ingredients to make bread; yeast, flour, salt, and water. Your bread will come out just as good.

Yield: Makes 2 to 3 Loaves

Easy Homemade French Bread

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Rise Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Easy Homemade French Bread

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Ingredients

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 2 cups warm water (110° to 115°), 500ml (more if needed)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons oil, for greasing if you're using reg. baking pan
• 3 teaspoons salt, approx. 15g
• 6 cups all-purpose flour + for dusting

Egg wash is optional

• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon cold water
• You may also dust it with extra flour

Instructions

1. Measure, then combine flour and salt. Stir.
2. Add yeast and sugar with a splash of warm water to your stand mixer bowl. Mix it to combine then let the yeast activate. I do this even if I am using instant yeast and before adding the flour mixture.
3. Add flour to the stand mixer bowl, little by little, using a stand mixer with a hook attachment. Then add oil which optional. Traditional Frech Bread does not contain any oil or fat.
4. Add more warm water as needed. Add the water slowly, 1/2-1 cup at the time until you reach the thickness; NOTE: It all depends on what type of flour you have, how old it is, the air & humidity, etc. So if I say 2 cups of warm water, it might be less, so please add water slowly until you reach soft and sticky texture, but not looking like pancake batter.
5. Keep increasing speed on the stand mixer. Mix until the dough starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl. Drizzle a bit of oil, cover and allow it to rise. You may transfer it to a different bowl.
6. Let it rest and rise for an hour to up to 2 hours in total. I advise you to keep your down in microwave or (turned off) oven. This will help the dough to rise better.
7. You can make two or three loaves, depends on the size. If you make 2 then cut the dough in half. Dust your working surface with flour, then using a rolling pin stretch dough in a thinner rectangular shape. You do not need to press it too hard.
8. As you can see on my pictures, roll the dough, then shape it. You may tuck ends if you wish.
9. If you do not have a French Loaf baking pan, then grease your baking pan and put the dough in or line up a pan with parchment pepper or use a silicone mat.
10. Allow dough to proof in the baking pan for the next 20 to 25 minutes. Be patient because this is an important step. You may brush proofed loaves with egg white + water, egg wash or just dust with more flour like I did. It is great either way. You may even add some herbs and seeds if you like.
11. Slash the dough with a blade or a very sharp knife to allow it to expand during baking. The purpose is primarily to control the direction in which the bread will expand during “oven spring.”
12. Meantime, Preheat oven to 400F (200C). If your oven is steam oven add water into a little dish that comes with the oven. I will link the below in the notes, an article that I found informative regarding steam while baking bread. Great info so please check it out before baking.
13. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown. Sometimes I like it more deep brown and crunchy and sometimes I like the light golden color of my bread. This depends on your preference.
14. Allow it to COOL DOWN at least for at least 20 minutes before slicing the bread. This is really important as well. I love hot bread but if you open it too soon while still piping hot the bread could possibly become dense and sticky. Just wait! I like to place my bread on the cookie rack then covering with a cotton kitchen towel.

Notes

You may check out how I make bread without a stand mixer. HERE

Check out this ARTICLE about steam and bread

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