Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage: Perfect for ... - Food Fanatic

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner. Corned Beef and Cabbage is a classic Irish dish that, in my opinion, gets neglected throughout the year. It's time to shine (and serve) only comes once a year in most households; March 17th. At least that is how it was in my house growing up.

People either love or hate Corned Beef. As picky of a meat eater that I am, I love Corned Beef. Corned Beef and Cabbage is probably one of my favorite meals to eat and yet I neglect to make it but only once a year.

Thanks to food blogging I've made it multiple times over the past few months. Making Corned Beef and Cabbage in the slow cooker is ideal. You simply prep the vegetables, place everything in the slow cooker and let it do all the work.

Growing up, I remember my mom always cooking Corned Beef and Cabbage on the stove top in a cast iron pot for hours on end. A low simmer to tenderize the meat. I don't think she started using a slow cooker until I was in high school, and even then I think she was apprehensive to embrace it.

Once I moved out on my own one of the first items I bought for my kitchen was a slow cooker. I embraced it alright. I love to cook at least one meal a week in my slow cooker, ensuring that I have a tasty meal prepared after a long day at the office.

I know most people get leery to cook vegetables in a slow cooker for hours on end. Trust me on this recipe. They will not get mushy. The thick carrots cook perfectly and are just fork tender. The onion will break apart, and it?s totally acceptable. It is really there for additional flavoring. Oh, and the red potatoes... fork tender as well!

Now, I cook my cabbage in the slow cooker for about an hour. That is totally up to you. If you are anxious to eat as soon as the timer goes off?. by all means cook your cabbage on the stove top. A quick boil and it?s ready. Or let it slow cook for an additional hour. Cooking is really about preference and I believe strongly that if you don't feel like cooking an item a certain way because a recipe dictates it that you shouldn't feel at hostage! Cook the way you like to cook.

So, I leave you with this fabulous slow cooker recipe for Corned Beef and Cabbage. And if you really want to get fancy make a simple beer bread even a non-bread maker can make this bread (and with just 5 ingredients)! A delightful Irish meal to celebrate a holiday that should definitely be known for more than drinking! So pour a pint of Guinness, and dig into delicious Corned Beef and Cabbage!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds corned beef
• 1 tablespoon pickling spices
• 10 medium carrots, peeled and cut in half
• 2 small onions
• 8 medium red potatos
• 3-3 1/2 cups dark beer
• 10 sprigs thyme
• 1 head cabbage

Directions

1. In a large slow cooker, place the corned beef on the bottom of the slow cooker (do not rinse off--allow all the juices from the packaging to go inside the slow cooker).
2. Sprinkle pickling spices on top of the corned beef.
3. Layer with peeled carrots and onions, followed by whole-medium red potatoes.
4. Place sprigs of thyme around the slow cooker then pour the beer and water over the ingredients.
5. Set on low and cook for 7 hours.
6. Once the corned beef and vegetables have cooked for 7 hours, move around the vegetables to make room for the cabbage.
7. Submerge the cabbage in as much liquid as possible, place the lid back on the crock pot and place on high for 1 hour.
8. Slice the Corned Beef against the grain and serve with a grainy mustard.

Notes

You know your slow cooker best. Depending on slow cooker brands your cabbage may need to cook longer. Don't serve raw cabbage - it's just wrong. Nor should you serve soggy, over-cooked cabbage. Keep an eye on your slow cooker. To prevent under and over cooking I suggest you check your cabbage at the 30 minute mark. If you don't feel comfortable cooking your cabbage in the slow cooker, simply boil it on the stove top for about 20 minutes or until it is cooked to your liking.

Source: http://www.foodfanatic.com/2013/03/slow-cooker-corned-beef-and-cabbage-perfect-for-st-patricks-day/

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