Corned Beef & Cabbage for St. Patty's Day

Back when Solomon and Celia were little, we used to sneak through the forest searching for leprechauns on March 17. I would hide a few (fake) gold coins along the way as evidence that the little mischief makers were nearby. Of course we never did find any little people in green suits and top hats (although the kids often swore they saw or heard them laughing at us nearby!) but the hunt was always thrilling!

Did you ever wonder why so many of us wear green, eat corned beef and cabbage, tell our children tales about little Irish fairies who hoard gold, and draw pictures of shamrocks, or three-leafed clovers, on March 17th? Or why Americans celebrate a holiday named for a Christian missionary who lived in Ireland more than 1,500 years ago?

While not a lot is known about St. Patrick, he is widely credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland after he was captured in Britain and enslaved by Irish raiders. But for more than 300 years, Irish-American immigrants and their friends and neighbors, and now many children in the U.S., have used March 17 (which is also the recorded date of St. Patricks death), as an opportunity to celebrate our Irish heritage.

You'll likely find packages of corned beef down your supermarket aisle from the green candy and shamrock cookies this week. Corned beef, or salt-cured brisket, is often part of meals celebrating this Irish holiday, along with potatoes, cabbage, and other foods that are associated with Irish-American traditions. Many Americans also celebrate this holiday by wearing something green to remind them of the green hills of Ireland. (Don't forget, or you may get pinched!).

St. Patrick's Day presents a wonderful opportunity to teach our children about Irish foods and symbols that have become part of the American holiday tradition. In addition to the corned beef recipe below, here are a few other edible projects you and your kids can enjoy on or before St. Patrick's Day.

These St. Patrick's Day Cookie Pops look like they are almost as much fun to make as they will be to eat.

Who knew a green bell pepper could look just like a shamrock, as in these Shamrock Toasties? 

Your kids can celebrate St. Patrick's Day and Dr. Seuss with Green Eggs and Ham from the delightful Parent Hacks. Your kids will hardly be able to resist these healthy little green pearls if you make these Kicked up a Notch Green Peas. 

And finally, I hope you and your family will enjoy my family's recipe for tender, juicy corned beef. This recipe, from my mother-in-law Barbara Goldfarb, makes an irresistible family meal. It's easy to make, but cooks slowly, so it's best to make it on the weekend or a day you'll be around the house -- or leave all the work to your slow-cooker! Serve it with boiled new or red potatoes and wash it down with green beer or milk!