Traditional St. Patrick's Day Meal

"I found out that the traditional St. Patrick's Day meal in Ireland is not corned beef and cabbage, but bacon and cabbage. Here's a great recipe for your St. Patrick's Day meal." Recipe submitted by Deanna of Greensboro, North Carolina USA.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 head of cabbage
1 1/4 to 2-pounds Smithfield bacon (a dry salt-cured, hickory smoked bacon)
Salt and pepper to taste
2 teaspoons of butter

Cooking Directions:

1. lace unwrapped bacon in 5-quart pot of cold water; bring to a boil and drain.
2. Cover bacon with fresh cold water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 25 minutes per pound of bacon.
3. Remove outer leaves of cabbage, cut in half, core, and add to bacon and water for last 20 minutes of simmering time.
4. Remove bacon and chop into small pieces.
5. Drain cabbage, chop and season with salt and pepper.
6. Mix cabbage, bacon and butter together, and serve with a side of boiled potatoes for true Irish fare. Enjoy!

Makes 4 to 6 servings.