Irish Firefighters Are Smilin'

In our Fire House, we had a great Italian-American and Polish-American influence. And as an Irishman, I can say that the the Italians (Pete) never even acknowledged anyone else. So on St. Patrick's Day, I got to cook something other than Pasta or Pierogies (Pete is saying right now: "Irish make food?").

The heat was on that day so it had to be good and if it took too long, I would get my balls busted bad. I had to limit my exposure. So here is how to make a good Corned Beef & Cabbage, Firehouse style, and note; this will serve 12 hungry men whom, contrary to the cook-abuse, will devour it on sight:

*4 5lb Corned Beef Briskets
*4 2 liter bottles Ginger Ale
*1 bunch fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
*3 cabbages
*24 large carrots, peeled w/ ends snipped off
*36 new red potatoes, washed

1. In a huge pot, put the parsley, ginger ale and briskets. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat so it slowly simmers about 3 hours.
2. Peel the outer, loose leaves off the cabbages. Now, with the stem pointed to the ceiling, cut through the stem into 8 wedges each, being sure each wedge has some of the stem in tact to help hold the wedge together. Near the top of the wedge, insert a tooth pick to hold the top of the leaves in place.
3. To the pot, add the cabbage, carrots and potatoes, and simmer another 45 minutes.

While it's simmering, take about 1/3 cup stone ground mustard, about 1 1/2 tablespoons quality honey, 1 tablespoon corn starch dissolved in 1/2 cup water. In a small sauce pan, add all the ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. This is a very mild, mustard-ie sauce that should be brought to the table in a gravy boat. I like it drizzled over everything, the beef, cabbage, the works. But allow for personal preference.

At the firehouse I would slice the meat into 3/4" slices across the grain, then lay out the beef & veggies an a huge platter.

This is easy, Irish and delicious.

And if you want to know why Irish food is so, well, plain, study your history of Ireland and the tyranny they had to endure. You will begin to appreciate some of the reasons that our Founding Fathers sacrificed everything to establish a free new world!


Irish
History


Happy St. Patrick's Day!