St Patrick’s Day Food Safety

One of my favorite days of the year is upon us. St Patrick’s Day is almost here and while we don’t bar hop or do anything outside of our home usually I find that it is exciting to build a leprechaun trap for my kids and see if the leprechaun leaves them any golden coins. Okay, they aren’t really golden coins but more foil wrapped chocolates that are a delicious treat just in case that pesky leprechaun gets away.

We always have cabbage and kielbasa for dinner that night, sometimes cornbread. It is just a little tradition that we have here in our home to celebrate my Irish heritage. Plus, we wear something green, so we don’t get pinched.

St Patrick’s Day Food Safety

Do you eat corned beef on St Patrick’s Day? I have made it several times but it isn’t really my cup of tea. I do want to share some facts and tips about it here though just in case others want to enjoy this Irish treat:

Corned beef gets its name from the large chunks or “corns” of salt used to cure it. In the 17th century the Irish used that method of curing meat for pork and adapted it for beef in the 17th century, when British landowners first brought cattle to Ireland. Although Ireland became known as an exporter of corned beef, most Irish people couldn’t afford to eat beef until the 18th century when they immigrated to America where salted beef brisket was inexpensive. Cabbage, which is rich in nutrients, was also inexpensive. Combining the two made a hearty, nutritious meal that quickly became a staple of working class Irish-Americans, according to the USDA.”As St. Patrick’s day evolved into a celebration of Irish heritage and nationality for Irish-Americans, corned beef and cabbage became a holiday tradition for consumers across the nation.”

If you are thinking about preparing corned beef for St. Patrick’s Day, remember that brisket is a tough cut of mat that needs to be cooked over along period of time for the best results. Read the the USDA’s complete safety tips on preparing corned beef and remember to use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature has reached 145 degrees F before serving.

Cabbage

Just like with the corned beef, there are several different ways to cook cabbage.  However, when it comes to food safety, the consensus seems to be to make sure that the cabbage has been thoroughly washed before cooking.  There is no best way to cook the cabbage, but it must be cooked until it is tender.

Any corned beef left over should be refrigerated promptly, within 2 hours of cooking.  Eat any leftover corned beef within 3 to 4 days or freeze 2 to 3 months.

Why Do We Celebrate?

Why celebrate you ask? Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, established monasteries, churches, and schools in Ireland during the 5^th century.  He died on March 17, 461.  Ireland celebrates his day with religious services and feast.  St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a celebration of Irish heritage and nationality for Irish Americans.

Though there are many misconceptions that surround this holiday, any tradition that celebrates the proud history of a culture is worthwhile. Yes, St. Patrick’s Day may just be an excuse for some to drink excessively on a weekday, but to others, it is an opportunity to honor a Christian missionary and the culture and tradition he helped to create.

It also provides a welcome respite from the many restrictions that many Catholics place upon themselves during Lent, which is the main reason why the celebration includes an overabundance of many delicious foods and alcoholic drinks.

It is also the day in which the old Irish saying rings particularly true: “There are only two kinds of people in the world, the Irish and those who wish they were.”

Why Drink Beer on St Patricks’s Day?

The St. Patrick’s Day tradition began as a feast day held in honor of St. Patrick on the anniversary of the day he died. Christians are allowed to put aside their Lenten restrictions on food and alcohol consumption on this day, which is why excessive drinking has become so permanently linked to the celebration.

Eventually, the feast day evolved into a greater celebration including not only St. Patrick, but also Irish culture, history, and traditions. Though the feast day began in Ireland, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade began in America. The parade tradition became exceptionally popular in the 1840s, when hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants came to America to escape the potato famine.