Created by Kchurchill5 on March 18, 2012
Step 1: Vegetables ... Prepare all your vegetables - cut them in similar sizes so they cook evenly. I like to cut mine in approximately 1 1/2" pieces. You can add parsnips or turnips too which are common, but I tend to stick with carrots, potatoes, onions and cabbage.
Step 2: Corned Beef ... I am basing this on a 7 hour cook time which is what mine took for a 4 lb corned beef and enough vegetables to fill up an oval 5 qt crock pot.
Step 3: Add the sliced onion to the bottom of the crock pot. Then, rinse the corned beef well and add it to the crock pot. Pour the beer over the top and add the seasoning packet that comes with the corned beef, along with the peppercorns, bay leaf, fresh thyme, and cook on high approximately 3 hours. Then add the potatoes, carrots, quartered onion, and brandy and cook another 2 1/2 hours. Finish by adding the cabbage wedges and cook another 1 1/2 hours. Again, cooking times can vary - these are approximate times.
Step 4: Sauce ... As dinner cooks, make the sauce. Three (3) parts sour cream to 1 part stone ground mustard and 1 part prepared horseradish sauce. You can substitute dijon for stone ground if necessary. Now, if you like your sauce a bit spicier or tangy, add more horseradish or mustard to taste. This is just the blend that I like best. You can make as much as you want to serve with this meal.
Step 5: Finish ... After approximately 7 hours of cooking, check to see if the vegetables are tender. If so, remove the vegetables to a serving bowl, and the corned beef to a serving platter - and cover both with foil as you make the broth / sauce.
Step 6: Broth / Sauce ... Transfer the broth to a small pot straining it as you add it, and bring it to a medium simmer. Mix the corn starch with cold water and add to the pot to thicken the sauce. Heat to a light boil to thicken, then reduce to low heat. Thicken the broth as much as you want. I prefer a thinner broth.
Step 7: Serve ... The broth is wonderful over the vegetables and the sour cream sauce is just so good with the meat. But I honestly use both on everything. And of course don't forget the Irish Soda Bread or Beer Bread to round out the dinner. ENJOY!!