Corned Beef and Cabbage with Irish Soda Bread

Ok, so this is late, I'm fully aware of that, but at least its up! St. Patrick's Day is known for two thing: the color green and corned beef and cabbage. I've never made it before, so figured I had to for the blog.


Ingredients

• 2 stalks celery, halved
• 4 carrots
• 1 medium onion, cut in 4 wedges
• 4 to 6 red potatoes, quartered
• 4-pound corned beef brisket
• 12-ounce bottle stout or dark ale
• 1 tablespoon corned beef spices or pickling spices (or spices that come with the brisket)
• 1 medium head cabbage, cut into 6 wedges

Directions
Place celery, carrots, onion and potatoes in the bottom of a large slow-cooker or crock pot. Rinse the corned beef brisket and place over vegetables. Add the bottle of stout (I used Guiness of course), spices and enough water to just cover the meat. Cover and cook on LOW for eight to nine hours. About 30-45 minutes before it is done, add the cabbage to the top.

Slice brisket across the grain, serve with vegetables, mustard or horseradish sauce. Pass extra cooking liquid at the table.

Results
Wow, this was great. The beer really makes a difference, and while I'm not usually a big fan of cabbabe, this was pretty damn good.

Irish Soda Bread
A true soda bread has exactly 4 ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. If it has anything else, it is something else. Might be tasty, but I wanted to go with tradition.

Ingredients

• 4 cups (16 oz) of all purpose flour.
• 1 Teaspoon baking soda
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 14 oz of buttermilk

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 F. degrees. Lightly crease and flour a cake pan.

In a large bowl sieve and combine all the dry ingredients.

Add the buttermilk to form a sticky dough. Place on floured surface and lightly knead (too much allows the gas to escape)

Shape into a round flat shape in a round cake pan and cut a cross in the top of the dough.

Cover the pan with another pan and bake for 30 minutes (this simulates the bastible pot). Remove cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

The bottom of the bread will have a hollow sound when tapped so show it is done.

Cover the bread in a tea towel and lightly sprinkle water on the cloth to keep the bread moist.

Results
Again, this was pretty awesome. Smear with a nice sweet butter, and you've got yourself a little slice of heaven.