Planning The Perfect
St. Patrick’s Day Feast

Ah the wearing of the green and the only day that I must have corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread! My Nana was from Ireland, Limerick, and I celebrate her memory every March 17th. I lived for many years in a very Irish section of Manhattan and I walk around and visit with my very Irish neighbors. It’s a grand day for a parade and a grand day to be Irish!

Corned beef and cabbage is the Irish-American traditional dish for St. Patrick’s Day, as corned beef is rarely eaten in Ireland anymore. This tradition was started in the mid-1800’s by the Irish immigrants settling on the lower East side of Manhattan, where their Jewish neighbors had a cheaper cut of beef, the brisket. To “corn” meat, is simply to preserve it in brine (large rock salt kernels were called “corns of salt”).

Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe
Serve the corned beef in slices, drizzled with mustard, surrounded by the veggies, basted in a bit of the stock. Serve with Irish soda bread and a pint of Guinness.

Ingredients:
1 (4-5 lb.) corned beef (serves 6-8)
1/4 cup pickling spices
2 bay leaves
3 large carrots, cut into large chunks
4 large potatoes, cut in half
6 to 8 small onions
1 cabbage
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 cloves garlic, mashed
salt and freshly ground pepper
chicken stock (3 qts)
Guinness Extra Stout beer (6 bottles)

Method:
Place the corned beef in a large stock pot, sprinkle the spices over the meat, add the carrots and onions, and cover with the chicken stock and beer. Add the brown sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil. Simmer covered for two hours.

Peel the potatoes and cut into quarters. Discard the outer leaves of the cabbage, cut in half and then cut the halves into quarters, and add to the pot. Cook for another 1-2 hours or until meat and vegetables are soft and tender.

Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!