springdellgirl

St. Patrick's Day

I hope that you all had a fun St. Patrick's Day! It was a festive time around here.



Can I tell you how annoying it is to have St. Patrick's Day and Easter so close together. I am wondering if I should even get all my Easter stuff out...for a week? ugh.

Our kids did try to catch a leprechaun again this year. They had so much fun with it last year that they were excited to try it again. They decided to reuse the "trap" from last year. Reilly thought she could out smart that wily old leprechaun this year. (No...Reilly doesn't really believe in leprechauns. But she set the trap and went along with everything with such gusto that I began to wonder....and then I get the "Ohhh...Pleeezzeee Mom!" from her. But she makes it so fun for the little guys. Unfortunately that lucky Leprechaun got away again.The kids are blaming a design flaw in the trap and are full of plans for next year. That dastardly leprechaun made quite a mess...turning over furniture...leaving shamrocks everywhere...and a snide little note about how they will "never catch him"!!


The idea was for the leprechaun to climb the Lego stairs, greedily grab for the money and fall into the box.


The beguiling note should have worked...right? But um...maybe we should work on spelling. :)

We started the day off with a leprechaun's favorite breakfast...Lucky Charms. I stole Kristi Brooke's idea of the themed lunch. My kids LOVE this. I did it for Valentine's Day (all pink and red food) and they went CRAZY! Not a healthy lunch but a fun one.




For dinner this 95% vegetarian mom made...gasp...I know...Corned Beef and Cabbage!! I dusted off my rarely used roasting pan and made the best darn corned beef you could imagine. Although removing the meat from the package with its gelatinous, pickley blood nearly did me in. After averting my eyes and refusing to answer the kids many inquiries of "What animal IS that?" I was OK. Tradition is tradition...we ALWAYS eat this for St. Patrick's Day. Even Kirk called and wanted the recipe emailed ASAP! We also made Hannah's jello poke cake for dessert with green jello of course!

I must say it was my best corned beef yet! Divine.

In case you would like the recipe to store away for next year...or get hungry for

The Best Darn Corned Beef Ever

Corned Beef
Cabbage
Onions
Red Potatoes
Butter
Salt and Pepper
Malt Vinegar
Horseradish
Sour Cream

Buy whatever sized corned beef you want. Put the corned beef in a stock pot and cover with water...add the seasoning packet that comes with it. Boil for approximately 2 1/2 hours or 1 hour per pound. If most of the water boils out...add more. Keep the corned beef covered with water. After 2 1/2 hours put in a roasting pan and roast it fat side up for about 1/2 an hour at 375 degrees...until the fat crisps up and isn't so gelatinous.

When you put your corned beef in the oven...it's time to do your veggies. Boil some red potatoes in salted water...cut in half before you cook them. After about 20 minutes they should be done...then add to the potatoes...1 to 2 thickly cut onions...and 1 chopped up cabbage. Boil until the onions are tender. Don't over boil. Drain. Serve with lots of butter and salt and pepper. A MUST is malt vinegar. Drizzle it over all the veggies. Now make the horseradish sour cream to go with it. Buy the prepared horseradish in a jar...not the horseradish sauce...add to some sour cream. All of this is d@#$ good mixed in with the veggies and the vinegar. We also made corn bread to go with it.

(No, the kids didn't eat the corned beef...just me and Tyler). But they ate all the veggies and bread etc. Reilly probably had about three plates. She kept exclaiming how much she "loves cabbage". Hilarious.

Erin Go Bragh!!