St. Patricks Day

Happy St. Patricks Day!  Today I took my Girl Scout Troop (Juniors in High School) to a church friend's home to learn how to make jam.  We brought the jars and she provided the fruit, sugar and sure jell.  I have always wanted to learn to make jam.  It was much easier than I thought.  I was really proud of the girls, all working so hard to boil, measure, stir and fill the jars!  When we were done everyone had 2 jars of strawberry jam and 2 jars of mixed fruit.  The mixed fruit had wild grapes, blueberry and pineapple.  This is truly an art.  I am so afraid that in the next two generations there won't be anyone left to do things like this.  Truly a lost art.  The most fun I had was listening to the little jars pop as they sealed. Some were popping in the car on the way home.  Now the real test is, could I do this again?  I can't wait to try......

When I got home I started working on my next project, St. Patrick's Day dinner.  I put a huge corned beef on to boil along with cabbage, potatoes and carrots.  No matter how big I buy the roast it is never big enough. It barely fed my family plus my parents.  I had bought two of them last week with intentions of freezing one but I am thinking I may go back and buy another to freeze. The price on them is so good.
My mother-in-law taught me how to make corned beef and cabbage when Tom and I first got married. We have enjoyed it ever since. I did try to make some homemade irish soda bread and it turned out really good.  I found a recipe online (see link below) and Catherine sat with me while I made it.  She wouldn't eat it, it had currants. She said she doesn't like currants or raisins.  Well it was a pretty good dinner and cost about $15.00 to feed 6 people.  Not to bad for a festive meal.  So I am wrapping up another day of living simply and I feel pretty good about it so far.
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/irish_soda_bread/