Irish Moss Drink

Ingredients  

250g fresh Irish moss or 50g dried Irish moss

2.5 liters water

1 tablespoon rum

250 ml milk

1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1 tbsp. strawberry syrup - (for color)

Sugar to taste

Preparation Method

1. If dried Irish moss is to be used, soak it for a few hours in water.   Otherwise, clean the fresh moss of all other bits of seaweed, and wash thoroughly to remove sand and grit.
2. Simmer the moss in the water until tender.   Then top up the water to the original level and bring to boil.
3. Strain the liquid through a muslin cloth or fine sieve.
4. Add sugar to taste, then the rum, milk, nutmeg.
5. Add enough strawberry syrup to make it slightly pink in color.
6. Transfer the liquid to a glass bowl and refrigerate until it has set.

Dessert - Irish Moss Ginger Jelly

Serves four

Ingredients

  1oz Carrageen moss

  1 Egg white

  ¼ pt Cream

  2 oz Sugar

  1 pt Water

  ¼ teaspoon Fresh grated ginger

  Zest of 1 lemon

Instructions

Simmer the carrageen moss for three minutes in the water with the sugar, ginger & lemon zest. Strain into a bowl and leave to cool. Whip the cream & egg white separately until stiff, then combine together. Add the two mixtures together and heat until almost at boiling point. Pour into small individual moulds lined with cling film.

Chill for one hour. To serve, turn each mould out onto a serving plate and decorate with orange segments flambéd with Irish mist & fresh mint.

Rinse moss in fresh water to remove all traces of salt. Chop fronds into small 1 to 2-inch pieces and place into a saucepan with 2 quarts of boiling water. Cook till water begins to thicken. Remove from heat, strain and measure juice. To each cup of juice add sugar as directed. Mix together in saucepan and add lemon juice. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Boil for 1 full minute, then pour into hot, sterile jars and seal.