It's Not Easy Being Green- Traditions

As I have been contemplating what this topic should encompass, I assume it was picked to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  I am about as far from Irish as can be, but being one who likes to celebrate just about anything, our St Patrick's Day Tradition is always to have corned beef and cabbage.  Recently I have realized that not everyone knows how to make this very simple dish.
1.  Buy a corned beef in the grocery store.
2.  Remove wrapper (very important) and place beef with all the juices in the package into a large pot.
3.  Add water to cover meat.
4.  Follow instructions on package which usually tells you to simmer the meat for a few hours.
5.  The last hour throw in some potatoes, cut up (with or without peels), carrots, and onion chunks.
6.  The last 20 minutes put in cut up cabbage on top of meat and vegetables.  The cabbage does not have to be covered by water, it can steam on top.
Here is a recipe for buttermilk biscuits that goes great with this meal:

Buttermilk Biscuits

2 Cups Flour
2 TBS Sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup butter
3/4 cup buttermilk
Preheat oven to 425.  Mix all dry ingredients together.  Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture is crumbly.  Add the buttermilk.  Stir gently with a fork until all flour is absorbed.  Do not knead.  Using an ice cream scoop, drop biscuits onto ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 12- 14 minutes or until golden brown.   Serve warm.

The blog would not be complete without the mention of leprechauns, which until recently I knew very little about.  These legendary creatures from Ireland, are cobblers (shoemakers) they sport at creating havoc on the unsuspecting human world.
     Spotting a leprechaun does bring good luck, according to legend, but it is not easy, as they are known to vanish before a human can spot one.  The leprechaun's job is to guard the treasure believed to have been buried by the Danes who once conquered Ireland.  When they are not making shoes or guarding treasure, these tiny men, dressed in green, are known to be merry-makers who drink, dance and play music.  If you do catch one you may be granted 3 wishes, or you may be taken to the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.    Personally I have never seen one, but I do have stories of spotting gnomes....saved for another blog post.