Since St Pattie's is around the corner I bought a corned beef at the store to cook. I have never cooked one before. The butcher said to boil it for about 2-3 hours. It came in a bag with juice and seasonings, she said to empty the whole thing into a pot of water and cook it. She didn't really sound like she knew what she was talking about, saying that was what she was told.

My question is, how do I cook this and what is good to have with it that kids might like. My kids are pretty good about trying things. Boiled potatoes seem to be a given. How about cabbage? what are some ways to cook cabbage?

Thanks for any and all help. The corned beef will sit in the fridge until I hear from some wonderful people who can answer my questions.

Thanks in advance,

Susan

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), March 09, 2002

Answers

Although boiling is the traditional way of preparing corned beef. I cook my just a bit differently. One: I cook my in the crockpot. I have one of those ones that are oblong and big. two: you can bake it at 200 degree for about 6 hours or so.... it will be sooo tender. three: YES, without cabbage it is not corned beef. You can add the corned beef in the crockpot at the start, or add the cabbage about 1/2 way into the baking process. It will be fabulous. Also add onion and a crushed garlic. Another thing I do is bake sweet potatoes , not with the beef, but as a sidedish. Corned beef and cabbage with honey buttered sweet potatoes,,, Yum Yum. Now im hungry, Ill go fix dinner....... LOL

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), March 09, 2002.

Susan-----do as Kristean says to cook it---traditionaly ya cook cabbage & onions & carrots & irish potatos with it---

I'm vegetarain----so I just boil all the veggies together-(I put cabbage/potatos/carrots/onions & any other veggies I might have season & cook until done)--& make irish bread to go with it---

ya can't hardly hurt corned beef---just make for sure it is well done- --

my brother puts his corned beef in his big roaster oven---cooks it until almost done & adds all the veggies in to the roaster-(with the meat)--& cooks until the veggies are done!! It will depend on the size how long ya need to cook it of coarse---

hope your family enjoys it----

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), March 09, 2002.

I get raves for my corned beef, wherever I take it. I crockpot it and only add a can or bottle of beer. Experiment with the types of beer, each type has a different flavor. The alcohol cooks off, and it really does taste great!!

I like my cabbage crips, so I take the meat out of the pot, and let it cool to slice, then I add the cabbage to the juice and let it sit, stirring so it all gets in there.

-- Wendy A (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), March 20, 2002.