March 6, 2014

Top of the day to you!  And an early St. Patrick’s Day greeting.  Corned beef, cabbage and soda bread bring the luck of the Emerald Isle.  And who couldn’t use a little luck?   I thought I would give you easy recipes to make a traditional Irish dish.  And this crockpot corned beef and cabbage recipe is just the thing.

Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick pieces
  • 5 baby red potatoes, quartered
  • 1/2 onion, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 (4 pound) corned beef brisket with spice packet
  • 3 ounces beer
  • 1/4 head cabbage, coarsely chopped

Directions:

  1. Place the carrots, potatoes, and onion into the bottom of a slow cooker, pour in the water, and place the brisket on top of the vegetables.
  2. Pour the beer over the brisket. Sprinkle on the spices from the packet, cover, and set the crockpot on high.
  3. Cook the brisket for about 8 hours.
  4. An hour before serving, stir in the cabbage and cook for 1 more hour.

Soda Bread

Soda bread is a common Irish bread.  It is actually more of a sweetbread and there are many different ways to make it and shape it.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1 egg white, lightly beaten
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk

Instructions:

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.
  3. Cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs (I use my fingers to do this, but you could use a pastry cutter if you had one).
  4. Stir in the raisins and make a well in the center of the mixture.
  5. Pour the buttermilk and the egg white into the well and stir in until just moistened.
  6. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 10-12 strokes, until it just comes together and is almost smooth. Do not over-knead!  Shape into a round loaf.
  7. Score the top of the loaf with a sharp knife, making an ‘x’.
  8. Place the loaf on a greased baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

For a change, substitute the raisins with dried cranberries or cherries.

The Irish wouldn’t have a meal without saying a little blessing so, here is one for you:

May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.

photo credit: Kodamakitty via photopin cc