Thursday, March 12, 2009

Early St. Paddy's Day

The leprechauns of the sporadic cook household were feeling restless so we decided to have our St. Patrick's day feast a little early. I haven't worked with corned beef too much but I'm thinking it's fairly foolproof.
This was made in the crock pot. I added about a cup of beer, and a half a cup of water that I seasoned with some dry mustard and garlic powder. I also sprinkled part of the package of spices that come with the corned beef over the top. I would have cooked the potatoes in with it but didn't have any right then, so just boiled them up separately later in the day.
It cooked about 8 hours on low, then I turned it up to high, chopped the cabbage up and stuck in for about 1 1/2 hour.
It turned out really nice and tender, didn't even really need a knife to eat it with.
For dessert I copied Kevin at Closet Cooking by making this Chocolate Stout Cake with Bailey's cream cheese frosting. I used an oatmeal stout, whatever the heck that is. Sounds healthy though, right?
I thought this cake turned out super moist and velvety, with just a little something different going on. My daughter says she's "kookoo" for it.
Not sure what I'll do with all that left over Bailey's.

Gratuitous cute dog pic

32 comments:

Jaclyn said...

That chocolate cake looks SO GOOD! I could probably eat the entire thing in one sitting! (which is a good reason for me to NOT make it!)

Emily said...

Are you kidding me?! Drink it! Or send it to me. :)

The cake looks amazing. The corned beef looks amazing. I used to think corned beef was gross when I was a kid, but not anymore! It sounds sooo good right now.

Kimi said...

MMMM. I love corned beef!!! That looks delish. You are a very good cook, according to all your pics!

What A Card said...

Mmm, I love St. Pat's! I just discovered last year how great it was to cook the corned beef in the crock pot with some beer. And you might want to try some colcannon with it, if you're cooking again on the 17th. Oh boy, I just love the food on St. Patrick's Day!

Anonymous said...

I've got to get myself a crock pot! This corned beef looks great and love the addition of beer. The cake looks wonderful! The Bailey's frosting must be insanely good!

Julie said...

I might be able to figure out what to do with the bailey's.
I used to think corned beef was yucky too. I don't know what colcannon is. I'll have to google it.

Joie de vivre said...

Oh my, I saw Kevin's cake a few days ago and was drooling over it, now you torture me with it more! Your frosting turned out very pretty. Isn't corned beef easy? I don't know why I don't eat it more than once a year.

Sandie said...

Delicious looking meal---there isn't one bite I could resist (especially that cake, yum)!

Anonymous said...

Oh very, very nice. I'm making my Bailey's Cake this weekend! I can't wait.

Linda said...

Went over to some friends the other night for an early St Patty's dinner. It was great and yours looks delicious too. I never make corned beef so you are giving me some inspiration!

Brandy said...

No wonder I love St. Paddy's Day. Both dishes look DELISH!

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Jelly Belly said...

Oh my gosh, I am SO HUNGRY right now. Corned beef is one of favorites - and so is Bailey's Irish Cream. :)

Mary Bergfeld said...

Julie, what a fabulous meal! I stopped by to say hello...you visited my blog while I was in Asia and I had no chance to thank you for stopping by.

Girl Tornado said...

Oooooooh, it all look so deeee-lish!! Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting ... we are in Cottonwood (my mom has lived here before and just bought another home today, haha)... ate at Oregano's in Scottsdale (one of our fav's) Thurs nite while we waited for another friend to get in at the airport. Went up to Jerome today (we love Jerome!) and are going to Sedona tomorrow. Having a great time! BUT looking forward to getting home next week and back to my regular computer so I can stay on top of comments better and get back to my blogging! Nice to meet you! :)

Unknown said...

oh that looks fabulous!

Thanks for coming by and saying hi.

I enjoy your blog

Pam said...

I love cornbeef but have never made it myself. The whole meal looks delicious.

Unknown said...

You can send me over the leftover Bailey's! I love corned beef. I have never made it before. I did not realize how easy it could be. I love the beer additions, so appropriate for the occasion! I also love oatmeal stouts. A decade ago I chugged them down like water. Now, I can not afford the calories :-(

Lunch Buckets said...

That's the same cake I bookmarked! Finding it -very- interesting that I wasn't offered any Bailey's to go with my toilet paper and conditioner though ....

Julie said...

All I do is give and give...and you just want more. I offered you a beer for the road, what more do you want?

Mamarazzi said...

love the cute dog at the end of the post. nice touch.

i love corned beef and cabbage...mmm total YUM!

I decided to take a minute and visit my fellow Welcomistas…I should have done this a long time ago *hangs head in shame*.

OH and be sure to come by and enter my FABULOUS giveaway too…so much fun stuff happening in the SITStahood, I’m L-O-V-I-N-G it!!

test it comm said...

Your St. Pattys day meal looks great! That cake was good I am going to have to make it again soon.

Sue said...

Julie, thanks for visiting and commenting on my new blog. I love to cook, just not to clean up!LOL
I made my St. Paddy's meal last nite for company. Came out probably the most delish ever. Even went out shopping while the beef was simmering on the back burner... I want to try out your cake recipe. I am trying to be good thru Lent and not eat any goodies.... Can't wait for those chocolate bunnies and eggs on Easter Sunday, though! Again, thanks for dropping by. ~ Sue

Jen Sue Wild said...

That looks so yummy
I wish I could cook like you!1

Controlling My Chaos said...

That cake looks awesome! Thanks for stopping by my blog and welcoming me to SITS.

3 Bay B Chicks said...

Mmm...corned beef. Is there anything better, especially this week? Wonderful post! I just had dinner and am actually feeling a bit hungry again after reading this!

LOVE the chocolate cake too.

-Francesca

The Blonde Duck said...

I'll be Irish for a day if you'll let me eat that!

Amy said...

Thanks for welcoming me to SITS! :)

That cake looks SO good! But then again, I love anything with Bailey's. :)

Ms. Ganshirt said...

I'm not a fan of beef in general, but that CAKE! It looks absolutely scrumptious! Bailey's icing? I think I just drooled on the keyboard...!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! (and thanks for the welcome to SITS)

Kaycee said...

That cake looks awesome! We had our St. Patty's dinner early too, it turned out ok. I'm not a huge corned beef fan, but the hubby loves it.

Kerri said...

Hey thanks you for stoppin on over and commenting on my blog! Wow, you Sitsa are so nice! It's great to meet you!

Xazmin said...

It looks FABULOUS! I love corned beef and cabbage. Actually, I love anything and cabbage! The cake looks divine also!

Tiffany said...

That cake looks fantastic!