This fellow St. Patrick has been celebrated in this country for more than 200 years and in Ireland for close to 2000. We have a storybook on my son’s bookshelf that we’ve read over the years which tells the most familiar story. It’s about a young boy named Maewyn who was born to a tax collector in the Roman British empire. This version of the story tells that he was sold into slavery and shipped to Ireland. His captors forced him to herd sheep and he did so until he escaped 6 years later.
Modern Rendition of Maewyn
A more recent version has the wealthy young Maewyn selling his own slaves in order to buy passage to Ireland so he can escape the fate of becoming a tax collector like his father. Clearly, that has stirred up controversy.
In both cases, he left Ireland to study religion in France and later the Pope named him Patricius, the Latin name for Patrick. Patricius followed his dream of returning to Ireland in order to teach the people about God. He died on this day in 461 and that is what is celebrated. Later he was made a saint. Between his return to Eire and his death is where legends kick in:
- He’s said to have driven snakes from Ireland although most biologists agree that there were never snakes on the Emerald Isle.
- He’s credited with using a shamrock to teach the Holy Trinity .
- He loaned his cloak to a man who was later in a fire but the man was never burned.
- He changed the liquid poison in his cup into ice when a wicked wizard was attempting to poison him.
- The sun didn’t set for 12 days following his death.
- He gave several generations an excuse to ingest copious quantities of Guinness and green beer on the anniversary of his death.
When I was young, we had corned beef and cabbage on this day. My grandmother did it in the pressure cooker where it cooked quickly retaining its goodness yet became incredibly tender. It was served with potatoes. Now I live in the Southwest and no one in my family is a corned beef fan. Our version is to cook up cabbage, abundant in our CSA right now, with sauce and spices to inspire a twist on this St. Patrick’s holiday. Clearly, this can be viewed as stirring up controversy.
Mexican Cabbage
Adapted from the Happy Herbivore
Serves 8
Ingredients:
- 3/4 large white cabbage
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 1 large sweet onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 16 ounces tomato sauce
- 5 roasted green chiles, diced
- 2 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp oregano or majarom
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 cups corn, frozen
- 2 cups black beans, cooked
- broken corn chips
Chop cabbage into thin strips, set aside. Saute onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent in a large skillet. Add cabbage, tomato sauce, chilis, paste and spices. Reduce heat to medium and cook until cabbage is tender, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in frozen corn until evenly distributed. Salt to taste and adjust spices as desired. Mix in black beans before serving. Break corn tortilla chips into small pieces and sprinkle over top before serving.
May you live a long life
Full of gladness and health,
With a pocket full of gold
As the least of your wealth.
May the dreams you hold dearest,
Be those which come true,
The kindness you spread,
Keep returning to you.
Agrigirl's Blog 
Eleanor Baron
/ March 17, 2012For me, just not wearing green stirs up controversy, as Irish as I am. In these parts (meaning Boston, to my south), Saint Patrick’s Day festivities abound. No corned beef happening in my household. I’ll definitely hang onto this recipe (even though it’s radical) and try it soon. I can smell it from here!
Eleanor
Tammy
/ March 17, 2012I will be wearing a bit of green!
milkayphoto
/ March 17, 2012The Irish (and whomever else wants to) can wear green, drink beer, eat corned beef and cabbage, dance a jig and sing Irish songs but for me, the significance this day has is, 20 years ago, my now husband proposed to me on bended knee, in our favorite park and I whole-heartedly accepted. It was a good day and well worth celebrating all these years later in our own, controversial way. 🙂
Tammy
/ March 17, 2012In October, we will have our 20 year also!
milkayphoto
/ March 17, 2012Congrats! (and I just realized now that I should have written 21 and not 20 since we had a year long engagement!) We celebrate 20 years of wedded bliss at the end of April. 🙂
Tammy
/ March 17, 2012Yeah!!
dayphoto
/ March 17, 2012I grew up always having Corned Beef and Cabbage (my maiden name is Doyle) , my Mother and Dad always wanted to go to Ireland. After Daddy died Momma said now or never. When she got back she said she was at peace for her eyes touched the soft green of Ireland and her feet walked upon it’s soft soil. She died from a heart attack two days later.
I still celebrate the Celtic heritage that is a father’s birth right.
The darling child is perfect for this post!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Tammy
/ March 17, 2012His hair doesn’t usually look so red but the sun caught it perfectly and I couldn’t think of a better photo.
Sally Mom
/ March 17, 2012Wonderful picture of the modern Maewyn. I will enjoy fixing this cabbage dish tonight. The anser to my question this morning on what to fix my vegetarian guests. Yummy idea. The history lesson new to me and celebrating with some Irish it will be fun to share!
Tammy
/ March 17, 2012Let me know how you like it Sally. We are having it too.
judy davis
/ March 17, 2012Dear Tammy and Sally – I could just kiss your young Maewyn. I will certainly try to do that when he is visiting the island this summer !!!! Love , island friend and neighbor, Judy
Tammy
/ March 17, 2012So great to hear from you Judy and we look forward to seeing you this summer.
daisyfae
/ March 17, 2012a nice reminder that this wasn’t always an alcohol-fueled holiday. as much as i like a good evening of dancing and drink, i stay home on this particular date. too many amateurs out there!
one of my gents is from Limerick. and he hides out on this day as well…i’d imagine that it’s got to give him a bit of a headache!
Tammy
/ March 17, 2012I think we’ll be home tonight too Daisy. Have you visited Ireland?
daisyfae
/ March 17, 2012Haven’t been yet, but hope to within the next few years! Fingers are definitely crossed, as i know it must be wonderful!
Tammy
/ March 17, 2012Me neither and really hoping to go.
Lisa H
/ March 17, 2012We love St. Patrick’s day. I learned how to corn my own beef, which will be cooked in Guinness. We will have sides of cabbage, potatoes and carrots that have been roasted, and my neighbor’s recipe for Irish soda bread. We’re not Irish, but we enjoy experiencing our little version of the holiday.
You have the perfect Maewyn!
Tammy
/ March 17, 2012Mmmm. Sounds great Lisa. I should have made my way past your house today. Those will be great leftovers too. How do you corn beef?
Lisa H
/ March 18, 2012Corning beef is easy. I like to do it myself for two reasons: I can use local beef from the farmer’s market and it tastes so much better using my own spices. The recipe I use is from Simply Recipes website http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/home_cured_corned_beef/
I made a few changes: I cook it in the crockpot with Guinness, carrots and onions, while roasting the potatoes, extra carrots and onions sepatately in the oven. I blanch and sauté the cabbage. I would use my pressure cooker to cook the beef, but it’s not large enough to hold a brisket.
Perhaps you can stop by this week for lunch and we will have the leftovers!
Rukmini Roy
/ March 17, 2012Of course, we dont celebrate St.Patricks day here in India but I have read about him. I love steamed cabbages. Cabbages are my favorite.
Here is a quick recipe that you’d really like:
Heat one teaspoon oilive oil and add mustard seeds one dry red chili. Add cabbage, salt, turmeric and slow cook for about 15 minutes. Tastes great with “roti” or as sandwich filler. If using for sandwich filler, dont add turmeric. 😀
Tammy
/ March 18, 2012Rukmini, that sounds delicious! I love cabbage and that recipe sounds great.
nursemyra
/ March 17, 2012My dad was from Galway, my mum cooked the best Irish Stew this side of Dublin, and I have 3 bronze medals for Irish dancing. We like St Patrick’s Day here too 🙂
Tammy
/ March 18, 2012I love to watch Irish dancing! I’d do that anytime rather than watching the crowds puke green.
Debbie
/ March 18, 2012Tammy, loved all of this . . .your humor, your writing, your Maewyn, and the history lesson and recipe. Not much celebrating going on here. Except we went for Shamrock shakes . . .and they were out! haha! Thank you!
Tammy
/ March 18, 2012Ha! I forgot about shamrock shakes. Our plans actually changed at the last minute and we aren’t having that cabbage until this afternoon.
Kathryn Mattson
/ March 18, 2012I love corned beef and cabbage with carrots and potatoes!! Yum! Although I don’t think I could eat corned beef more than once or twice a year 🙂
Tammy
/ March 18, 2012Well, after posting this, I learned that my husband and my oldest do also. Guess I’ll make it next year.
kateshrewsday
/ March 18, 2012An appetising way to serve cabbage! I could certainly use one of those – thanks, Tammy 😀
Tammy
/ March 18, 2012See the way that Rukmini suggested it as well. It sounds delicious.
nrhatch
/ March 18, 2012Sounds delish, Tammy. And I love your modern Maewyn . . . he’d charm the wee beasties for sure!
Tammy
/ March 18, 2012Certainly looks Irish in that photo, doesn’t he?
Know Thank You
/ March 18, 2012Great stuff! I still use a pressure cooker for cabbage; it’s a great way to contain the cooking odor. When it’s done I take the cooker out on the patio and let the steam escape out there.
Your southwestern version sounds really good! I usually just chop up some seitan and add it to the cooked cabbage to make a mock St Paddy’s feast.
Funny that St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Ireland about as much as Cinco de Mayo is in Mexico, i.e. not too much at all. It makes me wonder if people in other countries might celebrate Grover Cleveland’s birthday and have big drinking parties, thinking that’s what Americans do. 🙂 Whatever the case we all have a good time, and I suppose that’s the big idea. We celebrated by visiting the Desert Botanical Garden’s plant sale and were able to scoop up two Boojum trees! Score!
Tammy
/ March 18, 2012I love a pressure cooker and I love the DBG. You probably know that I sit on their board of trustees. It’s a magical place. I was supposed to go to the plant show preview on Thursday night but my HS freshman got called up to play varsity and the game trumped. Boojum trees rock too!
Know Thank You
/ March 18, 2012Game on! Fantastic crowd at the DBG sale; parking lots were nearly full. Sorry that today must have been a wash out, but I suppose that means a bigger plant selection outside the gift shop.
Inger Wilkerson
/ March 18, 2012The cabbage sounds delicious–I may have to try it next year since we have given up the corned beef as well.
Tammy
/ March 19, 2012Cabbage is something that I have trouble using up. We aren’t big slaw eaters although I do like it shredded on fish tacos. I made some great vegan cabbage rolls that went over well with rice and lentils.
Tandy
/ March 19, 2012And the same blessing for you 🙂
Tammy
/ March 19, 2012Thanks Tandy!
hotlyspiced
/ March 19, 2012Whatever is or isn’t true about the legend of St Patrick, he caused a great public holiday with a wonderful celebration. I like corned beef but no one in my family likes it so I don’t cook it too often. But we all like cooked cabbage. Great recipe!
Tammy
/ March 19, 2012I thought no one in my family did when I posted this and now, I’m hearing a couple of them say how much they like it! Put one in the freezer for later.
Joanne
/ March 19, 2012I love your Mexican cabbage! Wonderful idea for a vegetarian on St. Patrick’s day.
Tammy
/ March 19, 2012It went over really well!
therootedtable
/ March 19, 2012I am so looking forward to making this! My husband loves cabbage and I’m never sure how to make it for him. I am certain he and I both will love this recipe. Thank you!
Tammy
/ March 19, 2012I’m always looking for new things to do with cabbage and this was a hit.
Jen
/ March 19, 2012Looks yummy! Can’t wait to try it!
nancy at good food matters
/ March 20, 2012delightful post! the pressure cooker seems to be making a comeback–
and I am intrigued with corning my own beef (thanks to Lisa’s comment and link above) it is far more likely in this mostly vegetarian household that I’d make your Mexican cabbage dish—looks delicious.
Tammy
/ March 20, 2012My husband and I were laughing that the title for next year’s post might be Corn Your Own Beef.
The Laughing Housewife
/ March 20, 2012I saw something in the news the other day about that evil slave trader St Patrick. Nobody’s reputation is safe these days 😦
Tammy
/ March 20, 2012Nor is their corned beef!
Jane
/ March 20, 2012I’m as Irish as they come. Green eyes and all. And I’ve never liked corned beef. My husband lived in the southwest for years and misses the flavors there. This recipe is going to be a must-try! With no controversy in this house – it’ll be a win-win!
Tammy
/ March 20, 2012Well, if you read the other comments, you know I’ve been chastised by my family for saying that two of them don’t like corned beef. I will be making one sometime this year.
Jane
/ March 20, 2012All I can say is open the windows, turn on the fans and light a few scented candles. My delicate nose can’t stand the lingering odors of that corned beef/cabbage combo. Yuck! (Cowering now, as my relatives (and a few of yours) start throwing things in my direction.)
Tammy
/ March 20, 2012Funny!!
Tesney Ap
/ March 20, 2012It is really great to know about this special day 🙂 The cabbage looks really yummy 🙂
Tammy
/ March 20, 2012Do they ever celebrate this in India Tes? I think you’d like the cabbage dish.
Mands
/ March 20, 2012Hi Tammy, I had no idea the reasons for celebrating St Patricks day, *Grin* …however since we don’t celebrate it here in South Africa, that could be the reason why. There are no cabbages at the moment, to hot as Autumn is just beginning, so I will plant a special row of cabbages this season, just to try this recipe… and I am so excited, we have managed to protect a half a dozen butternuts from the monkeys and we’ve harvested two… and the carrots were the best yet. Not hugely abundant but very tasty. Smile Thanks for sharing and happy spring ~ Mands
Tammy
/ March 20, 2012Would have thought that there were some Brits who did celebrate the day in South Africa. And protecting butternuts from the monkeys? oh wow. We live in different worlds. Thanks for sharing.
Mands
/ March 21, 2012My husband’s British and apparently the English don’t celebrate St Patrick’s day as it’s an Irish holiday! Obviously, my Irish friends celebrate in style… however most of them have returned to Ireland….
dianescholten
/ March 21, 2012Omigosh – does your son EVER look Irish! I love St. Pat’s – even though I have some misgivings about dear Patrick himself and the American beer-soaked craziness is far afield from the celebrations in Ireland (until recently it was a religious family holiday ala Easter). My mom was SO proud of and into being Irish and I must say it’s rubbed off on me. And, though the corned beef came from the mingling of the Irish with Jews in New York and though I don’t eat beef the rest of the year I DO have the Irish-American typical boiled dinner on St. Pat’s and enjoy every bite.
The cabbage recipe sounds grand – I’ll give it a try! Cabbage is a really healthful cruciferous vegetable, too – an important part of any diet wishing to be healthful.
Do you make colcannon, Tammy? That’s another traditional Irish dish (that one really IS Irish, I believe) which I adore.
Tammy
/ March 21, 2012I have a colcannon recipe on my desk and plan to do it with a proper corned beef later on – now that I know how much my guys like it!!
timkeen40
/ March 21, 2012Great story of the history of St. Patrick’s Day. I will pass the recipe on to my wife (of 21 great years) and I will continue to check in. Great post as always.
Tim
Tammy
/ March 21, 2012Thanks Tim. It seems like there is a group of us with long term marriages. Yeah!!
I Made You A Mixtape
/ March 22, 2012I never ever knew the story behind St. Patrick’s Day… how facinating! And the poem at the end… beautiful!
Tammy
/ March 23, 2012Thanks Krista. I like that little Irish poem also.
Kath (My Funny Little Life)
/ March 23, 2012I didn’t know St Patrick’s Day before I entered the blog sphere. I diid know, however, that there are no snakes in Ireland. 😀
The cabbage dish looks delicious! I love cabbage. 🙂 I also love that you have food pics on your blog now. 😀
Tammy
/ March 25, 2012I am often thinking about the food when I am writing and then do the cooking afterwards. In this case, I went back and amended the post.
Andcookiestoo
/ March 26, 2012This cabbage dish looks amazing! For some reason, I am always lacking inspiration when it comes to cabbage. I am actually posting a cabbage-ful recipe today on my blog. I am definitely going to try your recipe with my next head of cabbage. It has also been abundant in our csa boxes this season.
Tammy
/ March 26, 2012We’ve had so much too. I also did some yummy vegetarian cabbage rolls with rice and lentils.
isathreadsoflife
/ April 10, 2012Every year St. Patrick’s day reminds me of the three happy years I spent there. Cabbage and potatoes were very popular vegetables there. Your recipe – and Rukmini’s – sounds delicious. Something to try definitely. Not only on St. Patrick’s Day. Thanks Tammy.
Tammy
/ April 10, 2012We actually had the last of our cabbage tonight in cabbage rolls. I’ve been surprised at how much the kids like them.
crystal
/ October 8, 2012I had no idea about the history so thanks for enlightening me! My Irish friends always tell me I’m crazy to think that the Irish eat corned beef and cabbage to celebrate St. Paddys Day, but I force them to maintain the tradition. Maybe next year I’ll give them your version to try instead – looks great!
Tammy
/ October 8, 2012It’s very different but if you like Southwestern spices, it’s a great twist.