Tuesday, March 15, 2022

St. Patty's Day Corned Beef & Cabbage

Whether you are attending a vibrant parade in your hometown or you are having a quiet dinner party at home, St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday that everyone can celebrate – regardless of your Irish heritage (or lack thereof!)
 
While St. Patrick’s day origins are in Christianity and about St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, emigrants from the US in particular were the ones who transformed St. Patrick’s day into a primarily secular holiday. Today we see the holiday has gained a lot of popularity.  For example, Home Goods is stocked with throw pillows, signage, and decorations like never before. Last year, we saw an elementary school assign “homework” to make a leprechaun trap! Pinterest has accelerated the concept of being “pinched” and viola, this holiday is now a full-blown THING.  If you want to jump on this bandwagon, we have a few tips for celebrating this lucky holiday!
 
Set your table 
We love any good excuse to host a dinner party with fine china. Why not break out the good stuff for this holiday?  Invite a few couples over.  If you have children, set up two tables – one for the adults and one for the kids!  There are plenty of paper product options available at your local craft store that are festive for the kiddos. Snag some festive flowers at the grocery store. Gaining popularity – the carnation.  Once thought of as outcast in the flower world, the carnation is gaining popularity in large scale arrangements.  Being relatively inexpensive, you can make a big statement with a LOT of carnations on the table. Let’s just not make them so popular that they increase in price! 


Photograph via Southern Living & Hector Manuel Sanchez

Serve Up Traditional Faire
Go outside your comfort zone and make traditional Irish food for this holiday. It’s easier than you think.  Corned beef and cabbage are always a staple for us.  Follow this recipe below for both! 
 
CORNED BEEF & CABBAGE RECIPE
Ingredients: Pre-Packaged Corned Beef Brisket and spices (contained inside); green cabbage ; salt ; butter 
 
1.     Place your corned beef in a large crockpot and fill with water until your corned beef is fully submerged
2.     Sprinkle the spice package on top
3.     Cover and cook on “low” for 5-7 hours. Beef should be falling apart when you insert a fork
4.     For the cabbage, cut in long strips and boil until tender and the cabbage turns translucent
5.     Sprinkle in butter and salt to taste; approximately 1 tsp. of butter should do the trick
 
Pro Tip:  Never try to cook corned beef quickly. If you don’t have a crockpot, you can simmer on the stove at very low heat for 6-8 hours.  The prep is fast, but the cooking must be slow! 
 
Serve It Up in Style
Indulge in a personalized St. Patrick’s Day themed platter to serve up your corned beef & cabbage to your guests. That extra special touch feels festive and fun. And why not?? 


We love this one from Kelly Hughes Designs. 
 
How will you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?