Pass the Corn Beef and More Comments from St. Pat's Day

Eight years ago, we were newly married and were scratching our heads on what traditions we wanted to incorporate into our union. My mom had Easter, Mary Ann rocked Christmas and Uncle Rog had a firm hold on the annual turkey gorge.  The only major holiday left was the big day on the Irish calendar but never celebrated growing up. I never knew why. We were proud Irish Americans and not just during the month of March.  My sisters and I knew the turbulent history of the island and why our grandparents left. The only explanation was St. Patrick's Day is a holy day in Ireland that celebrated his attempt to convert the Irish people to Christianity. Go figure, the day has saint in the name.  There was no green beer, corn beef or parades.

Bryan and I decided St. Patrick's day needed its due recognition with full honors. We invited my family and his parents for a formal dinner with all the traditional sides. From the first dinner until last Saturday night, the traditional St. Patrick's Dinner in Crazyville continued.

This year the dinner was held early to accomodate a certain person's travel schedule. Bryan, Uncle Rog and dad trekked over to O'Connors for their annual pre-St. Pat's lunch and to purchase the star of the dinner - the corn beef. The guys must have been hungry because they purchased 40 pounds of corn beef.  Yes, 40 pounds for 22 people. The store's owner delivered the meat on an industrial cart.  The meat does shrink, but not that much!

The night before the main event the CrockPots were dusted off, spices gathered and the meat trimmed.  

Bryan, the butcher, trimmed off the fat. He easily removed ten pounds of fat.  Too bad this does not work on thighs.  

Roughly 30 pounds of meat were divided between four large CrockPots. Each cut was doused with two bottles of Miller High Life and seasonings. Then the beauties cooked overnight on low.  The next morning the meat cooled and was sliced. Placed back into the CrockPots until it was time to savor.

This year there was a new tradition; the Irish flag was hung outside. Our Italian neighbors were color confused thinking it was the Italian flag. They thought it was a nice way to be welcomed to the neighborhood. That is orange not red, Paolo!

On Saturday at 5:00 p.m. my family arrived.  The guests munched on imported cheese, crackers, chips and a few veggies. Then the main event was served at 5:30.

The menu included boiled potatoes, boiled cabbage (yuck), roasted potatoes, gardens salad, Patrick's Soda Bread, rye bread, boiled carrots and corn beef.  The traditional meal of boiled potatoes and cabbage with corn beef seemed so plain. So I added to the menu. Mary Ann and I both agreed if you are going to eat potatoes, at least make them roasted.

After the dishes were cleared and Amazing Ann showed off her Irish dancing skills dessert was served.

Irish Americans celebrate dessert different than most Americans. The main event is the Irish Soda Bread with a strong cup of tea.  The tea is so central there is a formal process on how to brew a pot. Start with boiled water, scour the pot and add two bags per tea pot. When the pot needs to be refilled add another tea bag. (When we got married, I had to instruct the banquet staff how to brew the perfect pot of tea.  If, not there would have been anarchy.)  As you can see there was Porter Cake, a traditional Irish cake. For the non-Irish Americans the table had coffee, chocolate cookie dunkers, Baily's Cheese Cake squares and Pixie chocolates.

The meal started at 5:00 and did not end until 10:00 p.m. We all had a wonderful time talking, eating and drinking tea. Ireland came up several times and asked when we all were going back for a visit. My cousins talked about the family tree and I learned my great grandmother came to America but did not like what she saw. She left and went back to Ireland for marriage. Little did she know her daughter would brave the same ocean passage and thrive in this country. My Grandmother and Grandfathers kept their Irish roots but adopted their new country. On March 17th we celebrate more than St. Patrick and his quest to convert the Irish people to Catholics.  In Crazyville on the 17th we celebrate my family's connection to Ireland and how my ancestors traveled to this country to make a better life for themselves.

The only time my sisters and I had green beer was when we were young and dumb.  Would you eat green eggs and ham?  Then why green beer?

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?  If so, how?

Sharon, The Mayor.