Corned Beef and Cabbage will be on a lot of tables this weekend.
I love it – when I can get it. I can’t get corned beef here.
Actually, when we lived in Ireland there was no corned beef there, either.
There were boiled dinners, of course, with potatoes, cabbage and carrots. But the meat used would have been a slab of bacon, a piece of ham or pig cheeks.
I remember going to the big market in Cork in the spring and seeing a counter lined with pig heads. I thought they were a plastic decoration.
They weren’t – they were for cooking and I haven’t a clue how.
If you want the taste of traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage, but not the work or time involved try this.
The recipe, Corned Beef Hash with Poached Eggs, has been updated, nutrition information added, and re-posted here: Ham Hash with Poached Eggs.
And if you make the classic over the weekend, do this with the leftovers on St. Patrick’s Day (Monday).
If you’re using leftovers from a Corned Beef and Cabbage Boiled Dinner it’s even easier. Just cut it all into bite-size pieces and fry in a large skillet until it’s as crispy as you like it.
I was sitting quietly at my desk in school the other morning waiting for class to start. My teacher poked her head in the door and asked me to come into her office.
I’ve never liked being called into the teacher’s office. Experience has taught me that nothing good ever comes of it.
There was another teacher there, and someone I didn’t know. They asked me if I would be willing to go the local school and talk about the U.S.
I hesitated.
They encouraged – said it would be easy.
I agreed – as long as it was in English. I assumed they wanted me to talk to their English class in American English. Something that comes up often in my French class is differences between American and British English.
They laughed….
And said, of course not. I would be speaking in French.
The students they want me to talk to don’t speak any English. They’re young just in third grade.
I said no, I couldn’t possibly do that. I mean, why would they even think I was capable of doing that?!?
They laughed….
And said of course you can
And then the platitudes….. Don’t worry; you’ll do fine; someone will be there to help.
Yeah, right….
Fortunately, I’ve been getting a lot of suggestions on Facebook and Twitter.
But, please, give me more.
I’m supposed to keep the little darlin’s occupied for 30 minutes.
Did I mention that I had to do it all in French?
Maybe I’ll just take the dogs with me….
Honestly, I think the dogs are a great idea and maybe the corned beef hash would help too! Honestly.
Good luck. I battle to get out a couple of sentences at Alliance française each week but 30 whole minutes – that is another level completely!! The dogs would be a distraction but even photos of the dogs to illustrate some of their antics might help. I’m sure they wouldn’t have asked if they did not think you could do it. If you can get the children joining in , they may take over from you!
I haven’t done corned beef for years, I tend to do a Boston butt instead but this weekend it is ostrich steaks on the barbecue to celebrate the sun returning .
YES – take the dogs. The kids will be so excited by those that they won’t care what you say. 🙂
I appreciated what you said about corned beef not being Irish. It is funny to me how everyone serves it up on March 17th (mine is already boiled – I finish it off in the oven with a glaze). I remember when my friend from Ireland first heard about the St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage tradition. She was horrified.
Third graders will have a hard time sitting through 30 minutes. Maybe tell them about the life of a ” typical” American third grader? What sports, what interests, what their school experience is like? If you have family pictures you can use to illustrate ( nieces,nephews) they will enjoy pictures. It seems scary but so nice that these youngsters will have your views to counteract the prevailing picture of Americans depicted in our movies and tv shows. Leave time at the end for their questions. That will shorten the time you spend presenting and will engage them more actively. Wow, good luck! When do you have to be ready?
Good luck with that Katie. So gracious of you to be willing to do it. I have no suggestions but wish you well. Love your hash. Let us know how it went. Dogs always help.
I’ll make corned beef and cabbage tomorrow. I only make it a couple times a year because it’s very expensive near me most of the time.
History.com has a short article on how it became a tradition here in the US:
http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/corned-beef-and-cabbage-as-irish-as-spaghetti-and-meatballs
And I agree! Take the dogs. Kids don’t care a whit about what you have to say when there’s an animal in the room. 🙂
Get them to do a dot to dot of the country and individual states so they can see the size, or colour in a US flag .
Or make hamburgers with them !!!!!
Don’t take the dogs – take cookies!
They love to participate at that age. How about taking a big map of America and asking them to name some cities, then show them where they are on the map and give a little anecdote about the cities they name – New York = Statue of Liberty or bagels, Los Angeles = cinema, Boston = Tea Party!
I’m not American, can you tell?
Tanna, the dogs are always a hit – but maybe too big….
Gill, haven’t had corned beef since we left the U.S., Never heard of it in Ireland
Jerry, pig heads – the love pig heads LOL
Pam, but I haven’t been in a third grade – or talked to a third grader in years….
Thanks, Penny, I never did learn how to say now 😉
Nightsmusic, thanks for the link – interesting… I love it and used to make it in winter.
Kate, maps are good… and pictures of animals. They have McDo’s here for the burgers LOL
syrahsuzie, cookies…. Too bad it’s not closer to Christmas.