Celebrate a taste of Ireland on St. Patrick's Day

One doesn't have to be Irish to celebrate a taste of the Emerald Isle on St. Patrick's Day!

A holiday that seems to bring out merriment and social opportunities, there are certain foods that are synonymous with this annual celebration. Perhaps the two most popular are corned beef and cabbage dinners and Irish Coffee.

Try these recipes below and don't forget to put on a bit of Celtic music to dine by!

Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner enhanced with Guinness

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

• 1 corned beef brisket (approx. 4 lb.)
• 1cup brown sugar
• 1 or 2 12-fluid-ounce can or bottle of Guinness (or other brand of Irish stout beer)
• 1/2 large head green cabbage (cleaned and cut in wedges)
• 6 red potatoes (cleaned and cut in chunks)
• 6 carrots (peeled and cut in chunks)
• 1 large onion (peeled and cut in chunks)

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees
2. Rinse the corned beef brisket and pat dry
3. Place the brisket (on a rack) in a roasting pan
4. Rub the brown sugar on the corned beef – coating it all over including the bottom
5. Pour one bottle of Guinness gently over corned beef, carefully wetting the sugar and pouring the rest in the pan around the brisket
6. Using heavy aluminum foil, cover the pan, sealing edges tightly
7. Place in oven and bake for 1-1/2 hours.
8. Remove roasting pan from oven (leave oven on), carefully remove foil, and place cabbage wedges, potatoes, carrots, and onions around corned beef. Pour all or part of second bottle of Guinness over vegetables.
9. Replace foil on top, sealing well.
10. Return to oven for one more hour.
11. Remove from oven and allow corned beef to sit for five minutes before slicing.
12. Place all on large platter for serving

Irish Coffee

Some sources attribute today's Irish Coffee style to chef Joe Sheridan who worked in County Limerick. The tale is that Sheridan was on duty when a group of United States-bound travelers found themselves stranded due to inclement weather that grounded their plane. Whether Sheridan was trying to warm the travelers up or wake them up after their ordeal, the chef served them coffee with a swirl of Irish whiskey mixed in. When the group inquired as to what they were drinking, Sheridan reportedly told them, "Oh, that's Irish coffee."

To cap off St. Patrick's evening in style, prepare this Irish Coffee recipe courtesy of A.J. Rathbun's Good Spirits to serve following the meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce (jigger) Irish cream liqueur
• 1 ounce (jigger) Irish Whiskey
• 1 cup hot, brewed coffee
• 1 tablespoon whipped cream
• 1 dash ground nutmeg

1. In a coffee mug, combine Irish cream and Irish whiskey.
2. Fill mug with coffee.
3. Top with a dab of whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg.
4. (about 6 ounces fresh, hot coffee)
5. Whipped cream (optional)