Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Happy St. Patrick's Day...


Some years ago before my mother had passed away she loved to bead and boy did she ever bead the most beautiful of pieces! I thought that today I would show you what she had made for me one St. Patrick's Day that I really treasure now.


Now here's a few St. Patrick's Day recipes for you to try today if you have the time.

Busy Woman's Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner (without the fuss)

3 1/2 to 4 lb. Corned Beef Brisket (include seasoning packet)
Head of Cabbage cut into 6 wedges (do not remove stem; cabbage stays together better)
6 medium Red Potatoes (or 1 med potato per person) Quartered
1 lb. Carrots (peeled and cut into 1 inch slices)
1 Onion (cut in half)
1 can of Beer
1 cup of water
Large crock pot (oval works best)

Layer as follows
Carrots
Potatoes
Meat (Sprinkled with seasoning packet)
Onion
Cabbage
Liquid ingredients

Cook on low 10 to 12 hours. Serve with Rye Bread




Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients:

4 to 4 1/2 cups flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 Tbsp butter
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 3/4 cups buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Whisk together 4 cups of flour, the sugar, salt, and baking soda into a large mixing bowl.

2. Using a pastry cutter or two knives (can also use your fingers), work butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal, then stir in raisins.

3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add beaten egg and buttermilk to well and mix in with a wooden spoon until dough is too stiff to stir. Dust hands with a little flour, then gently knead dough in the bowl just long enough to form a rough ball. If the dough is too sticky to work with, add in a little more flour. Do not over-knead! Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and shape into a round loaf. Note that the dough will be a little sticky, and quite shaggy (a little like a shortcake biscuit dough). You want to work it just enough so that it comes together. If you over-knead, the bread will end up tough.

4. Transfer dough to a large, lightly greased cast-iron skillet or a baking sheet (it will flatten out a bit in the pan or on the baking sheet). Using a serrated knife, score top of dough about an inch and a half deep in an "X" shape. The purpose of the scoring is to help heat get into the center of the dough while it cooks. Transfer to oven and bake until bread is golden and bottom sounds hollow when tapped, about 35-45 minutes. (If you use a cast iron pan, it may take a little longer as it takes longer for the pan to heat up than a baking sheet.) Check for done-ness also by inserting a long, thin skewer into the center. If it comes out clean, it's done.

If the top is getting too dark while baking, tent the bread with some aluminum foil.

If you use a cast iron skillet to cook the bread in the oven, be very careful when you take the pan out. It's easy to forget that the handle is extremely hot. Cool the handle with an ice cube, or put a pot holder over it.

Remove pan or sheet from oven, let bread sit in the pan or on the sheet for 5-10 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool briefly. Serve bread warm, at room temperature, or sliced and toasted. Best when eaten warm and just baked.



St. Patty's Day Shamrock Pretzels

Ingredients:

Canned refrigerated bread stick dough (Pillsbury Original Bread sticks work well)
Cinnamon
Green Colored Sugar

1. Line cookie sheet with foil and light cooking spray.

2. To create clover shape, mold 3 sections of bread sticks into hearts and press them together. Add a stem, decorate, bake as directed on package and serve.



Also, if you click on this link there's a free pattern for a Four Leaf Clover Peyote Stitch Earrings




I hope that you have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day! May the luck of the Irish be with you!
Hugs...
Bobbi

14 comments:

Crazy Mama said...

fun post! happy st. patrick's day to you too...don't forget to wear green. unless of course you want to get pinched. ;)

Miss Val's Creations said...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I love your mom's beaded flowers. This is something I wish I had the patience to do so I really respect those who do!

Bobbi Ann said...

Hi Lisa Criswell / Indigo's Beads, Good to see you this morning and Happy St. Patrick's Day to you! Green it is!
Hugs...
Bobbi

Bobbi Ann said...

Hi Miss Val's Creations, Happy St. Patrick's Day! Thanks so much for your kind words about my moms pieces. She could make just about anything! Mom had patterns, not only for beaded things but for crochet work also. She taught quilting, crochet and bead work. My mom was a very talented woman! I hope that your day is a wonderful one!
Hugs...
Bobbi

Jean Hutter said...

Happy St. Pat's Day to you too. Great photos and great recipes - I love corned beef and cabbage.

Bobbi Ann said...

Hi Jean Hutter, thanks so much for your kind words!
Wow, you're one of my hero's and you stopped in to visit me at my blog...thank you!!! I love your work, everything is just so awesome! Your cuffs are fabulous! Very nice to see you and I hope that you have a great St. Patrick's Day to!
Hugs and happy beading...
Bobbi

Sarah said...

Happy St Patricks Day, Bobbi! I love the flowers your mum made for you!

Bobbi Ann said...

Hi Sarah, thanks so much Sweetie! I hope that you have a great St. Patrick's Day!
Hugs...
Bobbi

Marie S said...

Wow, your mom did wonderful pieces, no wonder you treasure them. I am so glad you have some of her beautiful creations.
Where is the picture of St. Patty Rockie?
Oh, I love irish soda bread, yum! Thanks for the recipe.

Thank you so much Bobbi.
"Time watching over you" Bobbi that is great!
What a wonderful description you gave me for my Iron Angels, do you mind if I use that?? LOL!!
And thank you sweetie, you are good friend too!
Thank you for being my friend!
Love and hugs.

Bobbi Ann said...

Hi Marie, thank you so much! Yep, my mom made so many different beaded pieces, quilts, wall hangings, gosh the list goes on and on. She was so talented! I'm very happy that I have many of her works of Art! I'll tell you Marie, I sure do miss her, she was a wonderful woman, awesome mother, best friend, fantastic Me-me, and the greatest Great Me-me ever! "The Great Meem" as my gran-children use to call her.
As for St. Paddy's Day Rocky, hmm very good question. lol
You're more then welcome. I had found that recipe for the bread some years ago on the internet and it's a good one so I thought that I would share it, I hope that you like it to.
Oh Sweetie, you're more then welcome! Your Angels are just fabulous and your Iron Angels, well...love, love, love them!!! For someone like me that's been sick for any time, gosh Marie...I just loveeee the entire idea, they way they look and to think about what they really mean. Strength, power, with time watching over you! I loveeeee this idea Marie and loveeeee your Iron Angels! You really are a genius, a awesome Artist, a great friend and you're an Angel to me!
Hugs and much love...
Bobbi

Bellesanbeaus said...

Miss Bobbi...Your moms work is so precious and beautiful. I know you and the boys will treasure them always as we all treasure our memories of Marge. Big hugs to you Beth

Bobbi Ann said...

Hi Beth, thank you so much! I know that you thought the world of my mom as she did you! I'm happy that you started a blog finally, I know that you'll love it! Hope you have a great evening!
Hugs and love to you...
Bobbi

Denise Marie said...

What a terrific post!

Bobbi Ann said...

Hi Denise, Very pleased to meet you and thanks so much for stopping in and your kind words! Happy 1st Day of Spring and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!
Hugs...
Bobbi