Irish Stout Beef Stew with Cheddar Herb Dumplings

March 15, 2015 · by Justin Hankins

Irish Stout Beef Stew with Cheddar Herb Dumplings

Smartmouth Brewing just released its very first Dry Irish Stout. The special St. Patrick’s Day brew was great to drink, and I knew it would be fun to incorporate into a cooking project, so I grabbed a two-pint and brought some home for the kitchen. My original plan was to make my favorite shepherd’s pie, […]


St. Patrick’s Day Macarons

March 8, 2015 · by Justin Hankins

St. Patrick’s Day Macarons

St. Patrick’s Day is on the horizon, so I whipped up some macarons in Irish-themed flavors for the occasion. I decided to flavor them with coffee and Irish whiskey after stumbling upon Irish coffee mugs at a local consignment shop. But as is usual with most good alcohol adventures, one drink led to another, and […]


2015 Traverse City Winter Comedy Festival

March 3, 2015 · by Justin Hankins

2015 Traverse City Winter Comedy Festival

I just returned from the 2015 Winter Comedy Arts Festival up in Traverse City, Michigan. To celebrate the festival’s fifth anniversary, and with perfect comedic timing, Mother Nature delivered a winter punch of terrific proportions, with temperatures down to -20°F, wind chills down to -40°F, and wind gusts pushing 60 mph. Guffaw! Traverse City’s Front […]