Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Working Girl's Corned Beef and Cabbage

There is nothing better than Mom's corned beef and cabbage on March 17th.  But if you're going it on your own, and if you are like yours truly and have other things to do on a weekday besides be in the kitchen all day, then set it and forget it in the Crockpot.  Prepare all the vegetables the night before so you can get this together the morning of in 5 minutes flat.  You'll have a proper Irish dish waiting when you come home.  And made with Guinness to boot.  Bet Mom never did that ;)

Ingredients:
  1. 4 pounds corned beef
  2. 10 peppercorns (or pickling spice included with the corned beef)
  3. 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  4. 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
  5. 3 bay leaves
  6. 2 cups beef stock
  7. 1 cup water
  8. 1 15 oz can Guinness Stout
  9. 6 garlic cloves, minced
  10. 3 medium yellow onions, cut into bite-size pieces
  11. 3 parsnips, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
  12. 3 carrots, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
  13. 3 stalks celery, cut into bite-size pieces
  14. 10 small red potatoes, scrubbed and cut in half
  15. 1 head green cabbage, cut into 8 equal wedges
Let's Get Started:
  • Rinse off corned beef and place in Crockpot
  • Add items 2-14 to the Crockpot
  • Cook on lowest heat for 8 hours
  • After 8 hours, remove corned beef and vegetables from Crockpot, set aside and keep warm
  • Place cabbage into a large pot on stove
  • Pour liquid from Crockpot over cabbage until there is 1/2 inch of liquid in the cabbage pot
  • Boil cabbage for 20 minutes, rotating cabbage onto opposite side half-way through cooking time
  • Arrange corned beef and vegetables on a platter and serve with a pint of ...say it with me... Guinness.
  • Enjoy, and...

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand. 

Monday, March 14, 2011

Guinness Onion Soup

What's an Irish girl to do when she is sick as a dog at the start of St Patty's Week?  No chicken noodle soup is going to do...not today.  Guinness onion soup is what the doctor ordered.  This soup is much like French onion soup, with an Irish twist.  Simple ingredients, bold flavors, warming, and comforting...this soup is the perfect way to kick off the week, and kick out my cold.
Ingredients:
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 large yellow onions (or 6 small), thinly sliced
  • Sea salt
  • 1 Tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 1/4 cup sherry vinegar
  • 1 15oz can Guinness Stout (not Extra Stout)
  • 6 cups beef stock
  • 6 slices crusty bread, toasted
  • 6oz Irish cheddar
Let's Get Started:
  • Heat evoo in large skillet
  • Add onions, season with salt, and cook for 5 minutes
  • Add garlic, cook for 1 minute
  • Reduce heat to low, cook for 15 minutes or until onions are completely caramelized
  • Add thyme, bay leaf, vinegar, and beer
  • Reduce beer by half, and add beef stock
  • Bring to simmer and cook for 10 more minutes
  • Preheat the broiler
  • Remove bay leaf from soup
  • Equally divide the soup between 6 broiler-proof soup bowls or ramekans (should be about a cup per bowl), leaving at least half an inch at the top
  • Top each ramekan with toasted bread and cheddar slices
  • Broil until cheese melts and starts to brown
  • Serve right away

Onions and garlic have long been used to battle respiratory ailments such as colds, coughs, and asthma, not to mention their strengths in heart health and cancer prevention.  This soup is chalk full of them, and warms you right down to your Irish soul.

*Recipe adapted from Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello* 

Wine Country: Napa

As seen in my Sonoma post, I am having technical difficulties with the uploading of my pictures.  And I feel like posting about wine country without all the pictures just wouldn't do it justice.  So, I am on a mission to figure this out, and I will soon.  Truth be told, I had a crazy week at work when I got back from Wine Country, followed by a Bachelorette Bender in Vegas, and then BAM! I have been hit with whatever bug has been flying around.  So, I promise I will get back to Napa very soon, but I just cannot go this week of St Patty without posting some Irish nosh.  Stay tuned...

Wine Country: Sonoma

Day Two of our Wine Country excursion was spent in Sonoma at a few choice wineries recommended by some Valley veterans.  We began at Valley of the Moon, then headed to Imagery and ended at Benziger.
Valley of the Moon
Valley of the Moon Barrel Cellar
Valley of the Moon Tasting Room

Ok friends, I am having some technical difficulties with the uploading of all my pictures, so I will have to finish this post when I can be smarter than the blogger...to be continued.