Irish Dishes: How to Make Corn Beef and Cabbage Hash Recipe

 

Corn Beef & Cabbage Ingredients:

Corned Beef and Cabbage:

2 pounds corned beef brisket plus seasoning packet

1 large onion

1 medium head of cabbage

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

½ teaspoon caraway seed

2 (12 ounce) bottles stout beer

For Hash:

4 large potatoes

1 bell pepper

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon dried thyme

4 eggs, for serving

Toast, for serving

Directions:

1. The night before, put the corned beef brisket, fat side up, in the slow cooker. Top with the seasoning packet.
2. Chop the onion and cabbage into large wedges and put them in as well. Season everything with salt and pepper.
3. Mix together the mustard, honey, vinegar, caraway seeds, and cloves. Pour the mixture over the brisket and vegetables. Then, top with the beer.
4. Cook everything overnight, on low for 8-10 hours.
5. The next morning, take the meat and vegetables out of the slow cooker to cool for at least 15 minutes. Dry off any excess moisture by patting lightly with paper towels.
6. Meanwhile, peel and chop the potatoes into even cubes. Slice the bell pepper, onion, and cabbage wedges into thin strips.
7. When ready to cook, melt about two tablespoons of butter over low heat and cook the onion until it becomes translucent.
8. Turn the heat up to medium high and add in the potatoes, stirring them occasionally until they brown.
9. Meanwhile, slice about a pound the corned beef, against the grain, into bite-sized chunks.
10. When the potatoes are golden and have started to become tender, add in the corned beef, cabbage and the bell pepper.
11. Once the pepper becomes tender and the edges of the meat have started to caramelize, add in the garlic and thyme.
12. Toss everything and use you’re the back of your spatula to mash the hash together.
13. Serve warm, topped with eggs in the style of your choice and buttered toast.

While you could absolutely make the corned beef the night before as instructed, this dish is perfect for using up leftovers. You could even make things a bit fancier by serving the hash over a toasted English muffin and topping it with a poached egg and a drizzle of hollandaise. But whatever application you choose, this is one St. Patty’s Day recipe that you’ll look forward to using year after year.

For more St. Patrick’s Day recipes, click here.

21 of Our Favorite Football Themed Desserts

1. Football Themed Desserts: Sugar Cookies Recipe

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Super Bowl Dessert Ingredients:

For Cookies:

2 cups flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 stick room temperature unsalted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon milk or cream

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Football Themed Cookies Icing:

2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 tablespoon milk, plus more if needed for consistency

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Brown food coloring

Football Themed Desserts Directions:

1. Use your mixer to cream together the butter and sugar together. When thoroughly combined, add in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract.
2. Meanwhile, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
3. Turn the mixer to the lowest setting and gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Continue mixing until a cohesive dough forms.
4. Flour a work surface and flatten the dough into a disk. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and transfer it to the freezer to set for at least half an hour.
5. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
6. Flour two sheets of parchment paper. Unwrap the dough and roll it into a 1/8 inch thick sheet between the two pieces of parchment paper, dusting as needed to keep the dough from sticking.
7. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper and use a football-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Gather the dough scraps into a ball, roll it into another sheet, and continue cutting out shapes until all the dough has been used.
8. Bake the cookies for 10-15 minutes, rotating them halfway through.
9. Allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
10. While the cookies cool, start the icing by thoroughly sifting the confectioners’ sugar.
11. Mix the sifted sugar with the milk until a spreadable consistency is achieved.
12. Beat the corn syrup and almond extract into the icing until it becomes smooth and glossy.
13. Separate 1/3 of the icing into a different bowl. Stir brown food coloring into the larger portion until it reaches the shade of a football.
14. Leave the other icing white. Cover the bowl with a moist paper towel to make sure the icing does not dry out.
15. When the cookies have cooled completely, use the back of a spoon to spread a dollop of brown icing across each one.
16. Let the cookies stand for at least 20 minutes to allow the brown icing to harden.
17. Put the white icing into a pastry bag with a 2” tip. (Note: If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can use a thumbtack to work a small hole into the corner of a sandwich baggie.)
18. To decorate each end of the cookie: Pipe two lines of white icing to create a thick, curved C-shape. Fill in the space between the two lines with more icing.
19. To decorate the center of each cookie: Pipe a single vertical line. Then, pipe several smaller horizontal lines across it in order to create the laces.
20. Allow the white icing at least 10 minutes to set before serving.

This recipe will make around 30 football-shaped cookies. But when planning for your party, aim for two cookies per person. Feel free to play around with cookie shapes, food coloring, and piping designs in order to make this recipe work for you. While, as it stands, this is a super bowl dessert, it could easily be made into a go-to recipe for every special day.

20 Football Themed Desserts from our Blogger Friends

1.  Chelsea’s Messy Apron – Sugar Cookie Football Stadium
2. Life Love and Sugar – Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Footballs
3. The First Year Blog – Football Bark
4. Brite and Bubbly – DIY Dairy-Fre Football Shaped Fudge
5. Jenn’s BlahBlah Blog – Nutter Butter Football Cookies
6. Life is Poppin – Dr. Pepper Football Brownies
7. Jman and Miller Bug – Ice Cream Football Pops
8. Thrifty Jinxy – Snickers Rice Crispy Football Treat
9. The Country Chic Cottage – Snickers Football Cake
10. Mom Endeavors – Football Oreo Pops
11. The Suburban Mom – Dairy-Free Football Truffles
12. Well Plated – Football Peanut Butter Blondies
13. B Inspired Mama – Football Brownie Cupcakes
14. Sweet Simple Stuff – Sweet, Salty, and Gooey Footballs
15. Your Cup of Cake – Football Field Cupcakes
16. Shugary Sweets – Cookies and Cream Football Cheese Ball
17. Jman and Miller Bug – Iced Football Cookie
18. Chelsea’s Messy Apron – Football Shaped No-Bake Granola Bars
19. The First Year Blog – Football Oreo Balls
20. Sarah’s Bake Studio – Chocolate Football Pretzel Rods

Are you looking for more football themed appetizers and snacks for the big game?

Take a look at our 24 Super Bowl Snacks that are sure to get the party started!

For more desserts on Stagetecture, click here.

Healthy Dinner: Roasted Pear Salad Recipes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

Summer Salad Ingredients:

For Roasting:

4 pears, cored and sliced

6 beets, sliced

½ cup olive oil

1 tablespoon honey

Salt, to taste

2 cups walnuts

For Salad:

4 cups spinach

4 cups mesclun greens

4 ounces bleu cheese, crumbled

1 tomato, sliced

Pre-cooked protein of choice

For Maple Vinaigrette:

1 cup olive oil

½ cup balsamic vinegar

¼ cup maple syrup

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon chili flakes

Salt and pepper, to taste

Salad Recipe Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Prep the roasted ingredients by mixing together the olive oil, honey, and salt. Toss the pears in the liquid to coat and put them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Do the same with the beets and put them on a separate sheet. Then, put the dry walnuts on a third.
3. Put the baking sheets in the oven and let cook for about five minutes or until you can smell the nuts.
4. Meanwhile, whisk together the ingredients for the maple vinaigrette, adjust seasonings to taste, and set aside.
5. As soon as the nuts become fragrant, take them out of the oven and let them cool. Give the pears and beets a toss and let them roast for an additional 5-10 minutes or until they are fully cooked through.
6. When everything is roasted and cool enough to handle, assemble the salad by combining the spinach, mesclun greens, tomato, protein, pears, and beets in a large bowl. Toss to coat with the maple vinaigrette. Top the salad with walnuts and crumbled goat cheese.

When it comes to easy weeknight meals, finding a recipe that quick, healthy, and tasty can feel like searching for the holy grail. Well, the search is over. This roasted pear salad checks all the boxes on your healthy dinner wish list. Top it with your favorite steak or chicken recipe from last night’s meal and you’ll have more than enough for a filling supper. Go ahead an have a little dessert after this one, you deserve it.

More salad recipes we love!

Roquefort Pear Salad

Pear Salad

Roasted Pear Salad with Endive

Do you make an effort to eat healthy as the weather gets cooler? What are your favorite fall salad recipes? Share them with us in the comments.

For more healthy eating inspiration, take a look at Stagetecture’s archives.

Creative Kids Easter Crafts, Activities & Treats

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How to Make Origami Kids Easter Bunnies – Video Tutorial

Handprint Easter Cards

If your family absolutely loves sending cards during the holiday season, this is your chance to spread joy during the warmer months – plus it’s ridiculously easy. For this, start with postcard-sized sheets of cardstock. Have your child make a Y-shape with their dominant hand (thumb out and pinky up). Then, have them dip their hand in paint. Let them press the painted hand into place onto the cardboard, being careful not to smudge, and allow it to dry. Once it does, have them draw a face on the circle portion of the “bunny” and write an Easter above or below it. Your family and friends will love this piece of mail. 

Easter Bunny Napkin Rings:

Get the kids involved with Easter brunch or dinner by having them make bunny napkin rings. To make these, just cut an empty toilet paper roll in half. Then, apply glue to the outside of the roll and cover it completely in white paper. You can use a paperclip to hold the paper to the roll while the glue sets. Trace two equally sized flower petal shapes on white paper and color the insides pink to stand for the ears. Add glue to bottom of ears and slip between cardboard roll and paper that is wrapped around it. Finally, once everything dries, have the kids draw a face on the bunny with crayons or supply them with googley eyes and pompoms and let their creativity go wild.

Peanut Butter Egg Nest

This is a simple recipe that your mini-me’s will love helping out with. Give them a bowl of thin pretzel sticks and let them break them up into smaller pieces. While they’re working, an adult should bring a ½ cup of sugar, and ½ cup of light corn syrup in a saucepan over medium heat. When the mixture bubbles and the sugar melts, stir in ¾ cup of peanut butter until smooth and pour the mixture over the pretzels. Once the pretzels are cool enough to handle, let the kids help you make the mixture into small balls. Then, make an indentation in the middle of each ball, so each one resembles a bird’s nest. Allow the nests to cool completely and plop a few jellybeans in the middle to represent eggs.

Easter Egg Trivia

Make this years Easter egg hunt a little more educational by turning it into a quiz. When filling the eggs, mix a few trivia questions in with the candy pieces and pocket change. Then, hide them as usual. Let the kids know that if they find the question and answer it correctly, they will be given an extra special prize – the dollar store is great for these. You’ll be surprised how fact they’ll be clamoring to show off what they know!

These Kids’ Easter Activities are a great jumping off point if you’re looking for new ways to entertain the kiddos, but they are certainly not the only options. If you have an activity that your family loves, share it with us in the comments below. We always love to hear from you.

For more Easter ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Christmas Dessert: Marshmallow Treat Wreaths

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Prep Time: 90 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 36-48 mini wreaths

Marshmallow Treats Ingredients:

½ cup butter

10 ounces marshmallows

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

6 cups plain cereal (Rice or corn will work perfectly.)

1-1 ½ teaspoons green food coloring

1 jar of red cinnamon ball candies

Christmas Dessert Directions:

1. Line 3-4 baking sheets with parchment paper. (Note: Parchment paper is truly necessary. Otherwise the treats will stick.)
2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat.
3. When the butter is melted, add in the marshmallows. Stir everything together until the marshmallows are completely melted and a sticky paste forms.
4. Turn off the heat to add in the vanilla extract and green food coloring. Put the food coloring in a little at a time so you can control the shade. Then, return it to low and stir to combine.
5. Once you’re happy with the color, stir in the cereal until everything is mixed together.
6. Working in batches, dump ¼ cup of the mixture onto the parchment paper. Use greased hands to form it into a round, wreath shape.
7. When all your wreaths are formed, decorate them with the cinnamon candies. Arrange the candies in groupings of three so they look like holly berries.
8. Transfer your completed wreaths into the refrigerator and allow them to set for at least and hour.
9. Remove the wreaths from the parchment paper, using a knife to release the edges, if necessary.

Our favorite feature of this Christmas dessert is that it can be easily adapted to fit your needs. Wrapping a few of these up in a box would make the perfect DIY holiday gift. If you’re short on time and hosting a crowd, go ahead and make one big wreath instead of the mini ones pictured here. If your family doesn’t celebrate Christmas, you can easily use white food coloring to create snowman-shaped treats instead. Just be sure to make extra because, whatever shapes you create, your loved ones will be vying for second helpings.

What are your favorite holiday desserts? Are you trying out any new seasonal recipes this year? Tell us all about it in the comments.

For more holiday recipes, head on over to Stagetecture’s archives.

4th of July Grilled Pulled Chicken Sliders Recipe

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Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 18-20 sliders

Ingredients:

For Barbecue Sauce

¾ cup ketchup

¾ brown sugar

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons whole grain mustard

2 tablespoons maple syrup

3 dashes worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon chili powder

For Sliders

6 chicken pieces (Note: A mixture of thighs and breasts works well, but use whatever you have on hand.)

3 tablespoons prepared chicken seasoning rub

18-20 slider roles

Sliced white onion, for garnish

Bread and butter pickles, for garnish

Cole slaw, for garnish

Shredded cheese, for garnish

Directions:

1. Set up your grill. If using charcoal, create a hot side and a cool side. If using gas, turn one burner to high, one to medium, and one to low.
2. Prepare the chicken by rinsing it, drying it thoroughly with paper towels, and seasoning it with the dry rub. Don’t be afraid to use your hands to ensure the chicken gets completely coated.
3. Place your chicken on the grill with the breasts over high heat and the thighs on low to account for their different cooking times. Allow the chicken to cook for 30 minutes, turning once it starts to brown.
4. While the chicken cooks, combine the ingredients for the barbecue sauce in a small saucepan. Adjust seasonings to taste and cook it over medium heat until it reduces down and thickens into a glaze. (Note: This step can be done up to 3 days in advance.)
5. After the chicken has browned on all sides, lower the heat on the grill below 265 degrees F to prevent the sugars in the sauce from burning. Then, baste the sauce over the chicken and close the lid to allow the chicken to cook for 5 minutes.
6. Then, flip the chicken and baste the other side before cooking it again. Continue until all sides are coated with a generous layer of sauce.
7. Once the glaze has darkened and the juices run clear, remove the chicken from the grill and allow it to rest for five minutes.
8. As the chicken rests, prepare the garnishes for the sliders.
9. Pull the cooked chicken meat using two forks or by slicing the meat into bite-sized pieces.
10. Serve the meat alongside the garnishes and rolls for a make-your-own slider bar or assemble them by placing a generous portion of meat inside of each bun and topping as desired.

Sense this meal is easy to prepare, tasty, and fun to eat, your family will want it every week. While Fourth of July grilling seems extra special, you could easily adapt this recipe to be made in a slow cooker during the colder months. Just add the chicken to the slow cooker with the barbecue sauce and a little extra liquid – some chicken stock or even beer – and you’ll have succulent sliders in just a few hours. Whichever cooking method you choose, these little guys are bound to be a success.

For more 4th of July recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

SuperBowl Food Ideas : How to Host a Crowd

Create A Pre-Game Party Checklist:

Planning ahead is a must for every party, but is especially necessary when you are dealing with a long guest list. Once everyone starts to arrive you’ll be too busy mingling to worry about items that have been forgotten. Sit down a week before your big day and make a list of everything you could possibly need. Then, take that list and create a play-by-play schedule of when you’ll get tasks done. Use the checklist to keep yourself on track as the big game approaches and you’ll be able to watch it worry-free.

Super Bowl Menu: Set Up Snack Stations:

Life’s too short to spend the day playing waitress. Embrace football’s easy-going nature and offer your guests a smorgasbord of snacks. Finger foods like hotdogs, wings, or even football sugar cookies are perfect. To avoid having your friends and family bottleneck around a buffet table, stagger the stations throughout your party area. Think appetizers by the TV, hot foods in the kitchen, and dessertson the dining table. That way, people can serve themselves quickly and focus on the foods they love.

Build Your Bar Beforehand:

For bigger parties, alcohol is often the steepest cost. Limit your budget and mess by offering your guests selections from a pre-stocked bar area. You’ll need six items: two beers, a wine, a pre-mixed cocktail, and two non-alcoholic drink options. As a rule of thumb, provide enough so that each guest can have one drink per hour, tapering off towards non-alcoholic options toward the end of the night. Then, stock the bar area with plenty of cups and ice. Don’t forget a marker to encourage guests to label their drinks

Don’t Forget The Non Football Fans at your Super Bowl Party:

Let’s be honest, not everyone is going to be glued to the TV. As the host(ess), you want to make sure that all of your guests are entertained, even if they’re not the biggest sports fan. If you have the room, set up a separate area where people will be able to sit and chat comfortably without having to yell over cheers. Offer games like bingo to add another level of friendly competition. Don’t forget the little ones, either. You may want to create a child-safe play area to keep the kiddos occupied and offer a few small versions of your snacks.

Parties are one of the best parts of football season. After all, how often do you have the chance to get together with friends for beers, bar food, and everyone’s favorite fall pastime? However, if the idea of hosting one of these big events seems too overwhelming, listen up. Use these tips and we guarantee that you will have as good of a time as your guests. We’re all about game day entertaining that lets you relax too.

Do you entertain during football season? If so, what game day entertaining hints do you love? Share your favorite tips with us in the comments.

For more Super Bowl Party Ideas , check out Stagetecture’s archives.

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Thanksgiving Entertaining: Thoughtful Gifts For The Host

Image Via: Party Wagon

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Think Fresh Herbs:

Thanksgiving is really just the beginning of holiday entertaining. As winter rolls around, your hosts’ are bond to have at least a few small get-togethers. Whether they’re fans of a fancy cocktail party or more relaxed brunch, you can give them a gift that will send their menu over-the-top: fresh herbs. Stick seasonal favorites like sage and rosemary into a dolled-up container and your good to go. Just be sure to label the herbs for clarity during cooking.

Image Via: Celebrate Mag

Give Kitschy Kitchen Items:

Most people who organize a Thanksgiving dinner know their way around a kitchen, which means that cooking items are a safe bet. Small trinkets like dish towels or an apron are especially great for those on a budget. Make sure that the kitchen goods are holiday themed or at least show off fall colors to really drive the point home. Wrap them up with ribbon and a thankful gift tag for extra creativity points.

Image Via: Crazy Little Projects

Bring A Breakfast Basket:

We all know how the morning after hosting a party feels. At that point, you’re so concerned with cleaning up that making yourself breakfast is often the furthest thing from your mind. Take that worry away from your hosts by bringing them a basket full of their favorite breakfast goods. Beagles and flavored cream cheese is usually a safe bet, but if you wanted to do something a little special, why not whip them up a batch of pumpkin cinnamon rolls?

Image Via: Southern Living

Consider Festive Dishware:

This is undoubtedly a bigger purchase than some of the other items on the list, but it’s bound to be appreciated, especially if they’re in the habit of hosting guests for the holidays. An extra casserole dish will always come in handy, as will a dip set. Just be sure to make it to make it clear that the host knows she doesn’t have to use it for tonight’s dinner and can save it for next year.

Image Via: Crate & Barrel

Thanksgiving entertaining is no easy task. Be sure to let your hosts know that you appreciate their hard work by bringing a gift that you know they’ll love. Use this list as a great guideline, but don’t be afraid to get a little more personal. Whatever you choose, your hosts will absolutely appreciate the extra thoughtful touch.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year or going to someone else’s home? What’s your go-to-gift for the host? Tell us in the comments.

For more gift suggestions, head on over to Stagetcture’s archives.