Writer's Choice Piece

St. Patrick's Day = Corned Beef and Cabbage
I am always amazed at the comments I receive when I am purchasing the fixings for my St. Patrick's Day feast. As I am in the check out line I hear: "You really eat this?", "I've never liked that stuff." or "That meat is horrible." I always reply with the same comment, "You've just never had it fixed properly. I continue on and purchase my corned beef, green cabbage, leeks, carrots, canned potatoes, real butter and if I am feeling energetic I get the ingredients for Irish Soda Bread. But, if not I usually buy the pre-made loafs at the store.

Once the day arrives I am ready to fix my meal "properly". What would be the proper way for me to fix Corned Beef and Cabbage? That is a question I can answer. I now always fix it in a crock pot. I have tried many different ways but, the best for me is a crock pot. I put my corned beef in and fill the pot with water and some apple juice to just cover my meat. This will then cook for about 6 hours. After the 6 hours I add the carrots, leeks and chopped cabbage. These will cook for a good hour, just long enough to make them soft. Oh, the smell that is now coming from my kitchen is great. I've put the bread in the oven, I am roasting the potatoes in a pan with butter and I may have started on my Guinness. The table is set and the meal is ready to be put down. I usually put green food coloring in my children's milk just to make the meal a bit more festive. My family gathers and we say grace. This meal is one that never has leftovers. No matter how much extra I prepare it just disappears.

This meal has become a tradition in our household. I did not have this meal growing up because my father was one of those who never had corned beef prepared to his liking. Once I was married my husband and I learned how to cook corned beef for St. Patrick's Day. We've always had this meal on St. Patrick's Day. Our children look forward to it and several of their friends come around on that day for this tasty meal.

Corned beef and cabbage is an Americanized meal for this day. If you go to Ireland they look at you a bit funny in the restaurants when you ask for corned beef and cabbage. They know that you certainly are an American with that request.

One other meal on St. Patrick's Day that has become a tradition for us is breakfast. My children get to have Lucky Charms, a big treat for them. I don't otherwise buy this sweet stuff. A definite Americanized meal. I bet they don't even have Lucky Charms in Ireland.

Our St. Patrick's Day traditions have been with us for many years. And I am always willing to try something new or add another dish to the meal. I don't see that our tradition has to be set in stone but that it will change as our family grows and changes and others will bring their traditions to be shared with us.

Erin Go Braugh.