Our St. Patricks Day Meal

We decided to try a traditional Irish meal for St. Patrick's Day, so we had Corned Beef and Cabbage, some Irish Soda Bread, and a Mixed Berry Pie. Even though the corned beef isn't a popular Irish meal, everyone associates it with St. Patrick's Day. 

Corned Beef and Cabbage

This is the more traditional recipe for corned beef and cabbage, even though there are a lot of fancy recipes. I found out that my mom used to make this a lot when I was little, but I didn't remember. It tastes a lot like ham, I thought. 

3-4 lb fresh corned beef (not canned)

6-7 new red potatoes, quartered

3-4 carrots, peeled and cut into big chunks

2 onions quartered

1 head of cabbage, quartered

Place corned beef into a large pot and cover completely with cold water. Add the seasoning packet (if it comes with the corned beef, otherwise you can add peppercorns, caraway seeds, a bay leaf, and thyme). Bring to a boil, scrap away the fat that boils to the top and turn the heat down to a gentle boil. Boil for 2 hours. Add the potatoes and carrots and boil for another 1/2 hour, then add the onions and cabbage. Let boil for another 1/2 hour. Place corned beef on platter and cut into strips. 

Irish Soda Bread

This is also a recipe from Food Network, and it tasted a lot like corn bread.

2 C flour

2 Tb baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 Tb butter

2Tb shortening

1 egg, beaten

1 C buttermilk

Mix dry ingredients and cut in cold butter and shortening. Combine the egg and the buttermilk in separate dish. Add to dry mixture. Knead dough on floured surface. You may need more flour if it is too sticky. Roll into a ball.  Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 375º for 40-45 minutes.  

Mixed Berry Pie

Most Irish desserts have good helping of hard liquor in them, but one dish I found was Rhubarb Pie.  I hadn't planned on doing a dessert until the last minute, so I decided any fruit pie would do. I ended up making a mixed berry pie with a graham cracker crust, and served it with some cream drizzled over the top.