Corned Beef & Cabbage Time!

Anyone else make this every March?

I know it's a little early; but I've got my yearly corned beef and cabbage cooking today and I cannot wait for dinner time!!    When I saw the case full of corned beef at the grocery store I decided to get one while there is a large selection to pick through.  I got the biggest roast I could find since we all like it and always run out of meat before anything else.

I cook it in a slow cooker and it turned out that roast was too big for it!   So I cut about 1/3 off and put that in my smaller slow cooker, divided up the carrots, potatoes, onion and beer.  I just hope having to divide up the spice packet doesn't affect the flavor.  This is really one of our favorite meals but I only make it once a year; so we savor it.    DH and I aren't beer drinkers so I had to go to Facebook and ask what kind to get.  Almost everyone said Guinness so I had DH get that.  I don't even remember what I've used in years past; but I'm hoping there is a noticeable and pleasant difference.  It smells good! 

Count me in! Our store has it on sale right now and I mentioned in the Name 3 Things thread that I'd like to buy a few packages: one for St. Patrick's Day, one for freezing for later on, and one to cook and slice for Reubens. Love my Reubens, so I do. 

I have a really good recipe for Irish Soda Bread, too. 

I do mine in the crock pot. Can't wait until March 17th! In fact, I may just go ahead and make it early. Just because. Yum.

I didn't see a point in waiting myself. Sometimes the good heads of cabbage are gone if you wait too long too.    DH is talking about getting a small refrigerator for the garage to keep his drinks and ice packs for work.  I've been wanting a freezer for years so maybe he will come around on that.  I'd love to freeze one for later but we don't have the room in my side-by-side fridge inside. 

No corned beef since I'm vegetarian but I absolutely love Irish soda bread. 

I haven't bought any corned beef this year because I don't know if I can eat it all before it's time for the hospital, but I usually do. Corned beef is so rarely featured in the stores that I snap it up when it's there. Last year, they had it again later in the summer, what a surprise, and I bought some then, too. It makes delicious sandwiches.

My mom makes it every year. I always look forward to it. My dad? Not so much but he will eat cabbage rolls.

Wow, I haven't made cabbage rolls in forever!. Good stuff! I wouldn't touch them as a child, but I really like them now. Funny how things like that work. I wouldn't eat corned beef when I was little either. I really enjoy it now.

Rick isn't particularly fond of corned beef and cabbage at all, but he'll eat it once a year. Kind of like sauerkraut; he'll eat it on New Year's Day, but then he'd be really happy to not see it again for the rest of the year. That doesn't work, though; I use sauerkraut throughout the year, too....much to his dismay.

I really enjoy corned beef and cabbage, but rarely eat it. Last year for the first time ever I made it. I was in the grocery store on St Patrick's Day and bought corned beef on a whim and cooked it in the crockpot. It came out really good!

I love a boiled dinner! Unfortunately, I made one last year, discovering that I cannot eat cabbage anymore!! sigh.. Cabbage does not agree with me anymore.. sigh.. that is the best part of the meal...

I have a corned beef already also - and I'm Jewish LOL

It's one of my guilty pleasure meals. I hardly make it but Tom is (mostly) Irish so it's a good excuse.  I don't usually make it with cabbage since he isn't a fan, but I like it so if I find a very small one I'll add it to the pot.

Does anyone else find that the packets of pickling spices they enclose are never enough to give it deep flavor? I always have to add in extra which I keep on hand but have trouble figuring out the amount needed.

Best part is having left overs to make Ruben sandwiches afterwards.  LOVE those!

Lily Paddy said:

Its never enough for me either i use this.. easy to find adds such a nice flavor when added with the pack with the corned beef.. i just bought one too at BJ's they had GORGEOUS ones with almost no fat.. 

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I wish I'd seen this before I made mine.  They don't increase the amount of spice in the packet when the size of the roast increases. And since I split the roast into 2 crock pots I had to divide the spices.  It was still really good; but next year I'll have to remember this!

Lily Paddy said:

Its never enough for me either i use this.. easy to find adds such a nice flavor when added with the pack with the corned beef.. i just bought one too at BJ's they had GORGEOUS ones with almost no fat.. 

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Hmmmm, that's interesting. I have some pickling spice leftover from the last time I made Old Farmhouse Chutney, I think it was. About a half jar yet. Thanks!

Lily Paddy said:

Its never enough for me either i use this.. easy to find adds such a nice flavor when added with the pack with the corned beef.. i just bought one too at BJ's they had GORGEOUS ones with almost no fat.. 

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That's the one I use also.  How much extra have you been using? I think last time I put in another heaping tablespoon of the McCormick along w/the small package it came with. Still didn't quite have enough of the flavor I expect.  Maybe I need to use more.

Well being that I've done this for a long time I have never felt like I used too much I use the pack of the comes with it and at least two heaping tablespoons with my corned beef I actually soak it in a brine the night before I cook it I put a bunch of pickling spices with some water and soak it overnight with some kosher salt and the pickling spice it comes out the flavor is all the way through the meat. My BF and my family love corned beef I make it over home fried potatoes with onions I like sandwiches and I bought one already and cooked that I will cook it again on st. Patrick's Day but I will also get one more at least