Happy St. Patrick's Day, y'all. It's a holiday in Boston.

[No Elephants]

Not because Boston is celebrating St. Patrick Day, but only because Boston is commemorating the Boston Massacre, which occurred on March 5, 1770.

See, it's not an excuse to give City employees a day off to drink . Not at all. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to why they commemorate on March 17 an event that occurred on March 5.

They don't get off for the Boston Marathon, either. Not a bit of it.

They're only commemorating Paul Revere's ride, which, as the poem says was on "the 18th of April in '75," meaning 1775.

Some years, though, that holiday gives us an extra day for our federal tax returns.

[KoKo]

1. I'm doing my Corned Beef & Cabbage/Carrots/Potatoes...

To commemorate the Irish Potato Famine. Relatives left Ireland and came to America because of that.
I've read the Irish don't eat Corned Beef and Cabbage..it's just an American Irish custom. But, it's a tradition. Also doing the Irish soda bread with caraway seeds. Don't know what to do for dessert, though.

There's a new Irish Pub opened with an intriguing name "Saints & Scholars." Thought about going there but it will probably be mobbed and after last weeks experience with "Outback Steakhouse" ...think we will be cooking in for awhile. :-D

[ellisonz]

2. Someone has talent in the kitchen...

Sounds delicious

[No Elephants]

4. Mine is just about done. I addded a couple of other veg-

so mine is corned beef, cabbage, carrots, parsnips, onions and potatoes. Around here, that is called a New England boiled dinner. Some people use rutabaga, too, but I've never tried it.

As usual, I made too much.

I have made soda bread in the past--raisins, though, instead of caraway.

But, I did not make it this time because I don't really like the combo. I like the dish and I like soda bread. I just don't like them together.

I think the corned beef goes better with rye or pumpernickel bread. Not having any bread at all today, though. There is way too much food as it is.

I heard a chef from Ireland saying corned beef and cabbage is strictly Irish American. He thinks it came from New York or Boston, somewhere where Irish people lived side by side with Jewish people.

[bikebloke]

3. Down in DC

For the previous two weekends, they've been wearing green and getting drunk. (When did Mardi Gras beads turn Irish?) I guess the piss-up counts today.

[No Elephants]

5. Best corned beef dinner I ever made! I can't figure out why.

Was it because I overcooked the beef (I really did) or because it was simply a good hunk of beef?

Meanwhile, if anyone needs cooked vegetables, please let me know. I think they are multiplying in my fridge.