Shamrock Dinner Party

The Details

Number of People: 7 – 10

Serving Style: Buffet

Guest Arrival Time: 7:00 pm-ish

Getting Ready for the Irish Themed Dinner Party

Advanced Prep (3 or More Days in Advance)

• Preferably 3 (or more) Days in Advance of your dinner party
  • Make Grocery List
  • Go Grocery Shopping
  • House Clean-up for Relevant Rooms
  • Plan out your Cooking and Serving Dishes (to make sure you have what you need
• 2 Days in Advance
  • Corned Beef (~15 minutes Active Time, ~10 hours Passive Time) – I suggest putting this on in the morning regardless of your cooking method and just letting it go all day.
    • NOTE: You can cook this the day before your dinner party if you prefer, but doing this two days in advance helps to even out your time commitment and means that you can go straight to dicing it the next day.  
    • Cook Corned Beef – Use the Sous Vide if you have one.  If you don’t, low and slow in the crockpot would be recommended method #2.  If you don’t have a crockpot, then low and slow in the oven preferably using a Dutch Oven.  
    • Reserve the juice for warming the corned beef on the day of the dinner party
    • Once done, store it in a container or zip top bag it in the fridge. 
  • Reuben Stuffed Mushrooms
    • Clean mushrooms
    • Remove stems and scoop out gills / innards and store mushroom caps in zip top bag in fridge
    • Dice stems and innards and store in zip top bag in fridge
    • Shred cheese if you are not using pre-shredded cheese and store in air tight container in fridge
    • Drain and rinse the sauerkraut and store in container or zip top bag in fridge
  • Reuben Raclette Casserole
    • Cube keto bread
    • Dry bread cubes in oven (see recipe for instructions), then store in zip top bag on counter top
    • Drain and rinse the sauerkraut and store in container or zip top bag in fridge
    • Shred cheese if you are not using pre-shredded cheese and store in sealed container in the fridge
  • Keto Irish Boxty
    • Shred the zucchini
    • Thoroughly drain the shredded zucchini then store in a zip top bag in the fridge
    • Dice the green onions and store in zip top bags in the fridge

Day Before Prep

• Corned Beef
  • Alternative Note: If you didn’t cook the Corned Beef yesterday, do it now.  
  • Alternative Note: Once done, put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes to firm up, which will make it easier to dice.
  • Dice 1 pound of corned beef for Reuben Raclette Casserole
  • Dice ½ pound of corned beef for Reuben Stuffed Mushrooms
  • Leave remaining corned beef unsliced and refrigerate
• Reuben Stuffed Mushrooms
  • Saute diced mushroom pieces and sauerkraut
  • Add cheese and cream cheese to melt and combine, then corned beef
  • Stuff mushrooms and store in covered container in fridge overnight
• Reuben Raclette Casserole
  • Mix wet ingredients
  • Add bread and cheese, then corned beef and sauerkraut
  • Combine well and pour into greased 9×13” casserole
  • Cover casserole dish and store in fridge overnight
• Keto Irish Soda Bread
  • Prep pan, baking sheet, and parchment paper.  Preheat oven.
  • Mix wet ingredients per recipe instructions
  • Mix dry ingredients per recipe instructions
  • Combine wet and dry ingredients
  • Form and bake for 30 – 40 minutes at 350 F
  • Open oven door halfway and let cool in oven for another 40 minutes
  • Wait to slice it until you are ready to serve the bread
• Keto Irish Cream Creme Brulee
  • Combine the crust ingredients
  • Bake the crusts in muffin liners
  • Mix the ingredients for the filling
  • Pour filling on top of crusts in muffin liners
  • Bake as directed
  • Let cool completely
  • Store covered in fridge

Day Of Timeline (All Times Relative to Guest Arrival Time “T”) e.g. 7:00 pm

• T-2 hours (e.g. 5:00 pm)
  • Make sure table is set with appetizer plates, trivets for hot appetizers, eating utensils for the appetizers
  • Set out water and wine glasses with wine charms (or glasses for whatever other beverage you are starting with
  • Put out guest hand towels in the restrooms if you haven’t already
  • Make sure all of your cooking and serving dishes are easily accessible
• T-1hr 45 min (e.g. 5:15 pm)
  • Keto Irish Cream Crème Brulé Cheesecakes
    • Remove cheesecakes from the muffin liners
    • Set on a heat safe / fire proof surface
    • Mix the brown Swerve and granulated erythritol and sprinkle some on each cheesecake
    • Using a kitchen torch (or as I do, a regular blow torch with a searing attachment), apply heat until the sweeteners liquify and just start to brown
    • Let them cool
• T-1 hr 15 min (e.g. 5:45 pm)
  • Reuben Raclette Casserole & Reuben Stuffed Mushrooms
    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
  • Keto Irish Boxty
    • Microwave mashed cauliflower per package instructions. 
    • Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels.
    • Begin heating oil on the griddle or pan that you’ll be using to cook the boxty.  
    • In a large bowl, combine the eggs, almond flour, mashed cauliflower, shredded parmesan cheese, shredded cheddar, salt, pepper, and dried chives.  Mix well until it resembles a thick batter (like lumpy pancakes).  
    • Spoon or ladle the batter onto the hot griddle and begin cooking the boxty in batches.  
    • Lay the finished boxty on the paper towel lined baking sheet. 
    • If you have a 2nd oven, set it 180 degrees F (or the “Warm” setting if your oven has one), and set the sheet pan of boxty inside to keep warm.  If you do not have a 2nd oven, cover the boxty with a clean kitchen towel for now.  We’ll stick it back in the oven for a quick warm-up once your other baking is done.  
• T-1 hr (e.g. 6:00 pm)
  • Reuben Raclette Casserole
    • Place in oven at 350 degrees F and bake for 45 – 50 minutes
  • Reuben Stuffed Mushrooms
    • Place in oven at 350 degrees F and bake for 45 minutes
• T-45 min (e.g. 6:15 pm)
  • Corned Beef
    • Slice the remaining Corned Beef and place with reserved juice in crockpot on Warm setting
• T-30 min (e.g. 6:30 pm)
  • Irish Soda Bread
    • Slice and cover with a clean towel in a serving basket or bowl
• T-15 min (e.g 6:45 pm)
  • Reuben Raclette Casserole
    • Check and temporarily remove from oven if done
  • Reuben Stuffed Mushrooms
    • Remove from oven
    • Move to their serving plate
  • Turn the oven down to 180 degrees F.  Leave the door open / cracked for a few minutes to help the temperature drop.  
  • Put the Reuben Raclette and Keto Irish Boxty in the oven at 180 degrees F to keep warm
• T (e.g. 7:00 pm)
  • Pour aperitif / wine for guests as they arrive
  • Set the Reuben Stuffed Mushrooms on the table with serving utensils