Happy (belated) St Patrick's Day

Yesterday we celebrated St Patrick's Day (even though we are not Irish).  Just something fun to do. I made Corn Beef and Cabbage.  It was great. We did still celebrate some on St Patrick's Feast Day. We had friends over for dinner....the boys enjoyed green macaroni and cheese (as well as their own version of Leprechaun Hunt (as Lego Ninja Warriors).  It was so cute.   They had all the neighbor kids joining in the fun and excitement. (I wish I had a picture of the whole posse,)

Corned Beef & Cabbage

adapted from: http://thefamilyfudge.com/2017/03/08/apple-brown-sugar-corned-beef/

2.25lbs seasoned corned beef

1 1/4 cups apple juice

7 red potatoes, washed and quartered

1 karge onion, (cut into 1/8ths)

3 large carrots, peeled and chunked

1 large head cabbage, chunked

Place potatoes in the bottom of greased crockpot.  Top with carrots. Place corned beef on top of that (fat side up).Onions on top of that. Pour apple juice into the pot. Cook on LOW for 8hours. Then put cut up cabbage top and cook for another 4hours on LOW.

Luck O' Leprechaun

Are you wearing your green today? Neither am I! As I am not Irish, I don't care to sport such nonsense (though BAP and SSP will).  I may or may not have a green shamrock drawn on my hand or a piece of paper.  However, I really enjoy making reuben sandwiches for this feast day. I thought soup sounded better this year, so I tried this with rye bread croutons.

Reuben Soup
adapted from: http://peaceloveandlowcarb.com/creamy-reuben-soup-low-carb-gluten-free/

1 medium onion, diced
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
3 T butter
1lb corned beef (I am using Pastrami), chopped up
32oz beef stock
1 cup sauerkraut
1 t sea salt (omit)
1 t caraway seed
3/4 t black pepper
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups swiss cheese, shredded

Saute onion, celery and garlic until softened and clearish.  Transfer to a slow cooker. Add meat, stock, sauerkraut, salt, caraway and pepper.  Cover and cook on HIGH for 4.5hours. Add remaining ingredients and cook for an extra hour.

Sweet & Tasty

Today is my dear sister in law's birthday.  For St Patrick's Day this year I made one of her delicious recipes.  The boys loved it; especially my bread-aholic son SSP. He loves just butter sandwiches. Crazy kid! I think he would live on bread and butter if I let him.

Sweet Irish Bread
adpated from: http://beautifulmess46.blogspot.com/2013/03/sweet-irish-morning-bread.html

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream (or plain yogurt)
2 cups flour
1/4 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
1 t cream of tartar
1 cup raisins, softened in 1/4 cup water with a splash of lemon extract (I microwaved these ingredients together for a few seconds)

In a large mixing bowl combine butter and sugar.  Stir in eggs and sour cream.  In another bowl/measuring cup, mix together flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar.  Slowly add to wet ingredients.  Stir/fold in raisins. Pour in a well-greased 9x5inch bread pan.  Bake at 350 for an hour. This bread smells wonderful as it bakes. Serve warm with a slather of butter or without (whatever suits your fancy).

Lucky Leprechaun

I am sure you have had corned beef over the years....just the store bough variety.  This recipe is exceptional....it is much better and tastier.  Try it instead of getting the pre-seasoned/marinated variety. My sister got me hooked on this recipe. I am excited to try it.

Corned Beef
Sister & Cuisine at Home

1 t mustard seeds
1 t juniper berries
1 t coriander seeds
1/2 t whole allspice seeds
1/2 t whole cloves
1/2 t red pepper flakes
1/2 t black peppercorns
1 dried bay leaf
Whiz all the above spices together until they form a fine powder.

1/4 cup Tenderquick (salt /sugar mixture)
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 T brown sugar
2 T fresh ginger, minced
Combine spice mixture with the above seasonings.

5lb beef brisket (fat removed) or beef roast, pierced with a fork all over.  Rub spices/herbs all over the meat. Cover with plastic wrap. Place in a dish top with another slightly smaller dish with soup cans weighing it down.  Cure for 72hours. Flipping at 36hours. Rinse under cold water; let rest. Preheat oven to 300.

2 cups diced onion
1 1/2 cups apple juice, unsweetened
1 1/2 cups beef broth, low sodium
1 cup diced carrot
1 cup diced celery
5 garlic cloves, smashed
1 piece ginger, sliced
1 t mustard seeds
1/2 t juniper berries
1/2 t coriander seeds
1/2 t whole allspice
1/2 t whole cloves
1/2 t red pepper flakes
1/2 t black peppercorns
1 bay leaf

Place all ingredients in a large Dutch oven. Next submerge the rinsed meat.  Boil slightly. Cover and braise in oven for about 3 hours. Flip meat halfway through the cooking process. Uncover partly; let rest/steam for another hour.
Alternatively after rinsing the meat, you can cook in the crockpot for 10 to 12 hours on LOW.
Remove from (crockpot) pot and let cool slightly. Cut against the grain.  Serve with roasted cabbage sections and taters.