The Irish Blessing and Corned Beef Brine

I come from a large Irish family and today I’m kicking off a week of celebrating food, drink, family and friends!  It’s unfortunate that this day always falls at the peak of tax season but my husband graciously offered to make a shepherd’s pie for our office and to get the beef into the brine for this weekend. 

Basic Corned Beef Brine

1 gallon of water

½ cup of salt

*1 tablespoon of pink curing salt

½ cup of brown sugar

4 bay leaves

1 tablespoon of crystallized ginger

1 teaspoon of whole cloves

1 tablespoon of mustard seeds

1 tablespoon of celery seed

4-6 pounds of beef brisket

Brine meat for 3-5 days, rinse well before making

*I usually avoid food dye but I do make an exception for the pink curing salt – you can omit this but your corned beef will have a grayish color

In memory of my Grandpa Murphy - The Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.