Apple Barley Pudding

Your child can learn more about traditional Irish cooking this St. Patrick’s Day by making some apple barley pudding – a real tasty treat! Traditional Irish foods are full of flavor and basic ingredients. Along with learning more about Ireland and traditional foods, your child will hone her cooking skills!

What You Need:

4 tablespoons barley
2 cups water
3 large apples
2 tablespoons cream
Small saucepan
Paring knife
Wooden spoon
Blender

What You Do:

Invite your child to measure the water for boiling the barley. She can put the water in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium heat.
Once the water is boiling, she can measure and add the barley slowly. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 10 minutes.
Now your child can carefully peel and core the apples. Then she can cut them into one-inch cubes, add them to the boiling barley and give a stir with the wooden spoon.
Invite your child to set the kitchen timer for 10 minutes and let everything simmer, giving things a gentle stir every couple of minutes.
Once the water has been absorbed and the barley is soft, your child can turn off the heat and let the barley mixture cool for about 5 minutes.
Now your child can place the warm barley and apples in blender and securely cover. Invite her to pulse the mixture on low until it forms a thick pudding mixture. She can add a couple of drops of water if things are too thick!
Invite your child to scoop the mixture into a serving bowl and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of cream. She can spice up the pudding with her favorite flavor, such as a sprinkle of cinnamon, drizzle of honey, or splash of vanilla!

Did you know: There are over 150 types of barley cultivated in the United States? Over half of the barley grown is used for grain feed for animals!

Kate is the founder of Learn and Grow Books, which is a website for parents and teachers of pre-K children.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

A St. Patrick’s Day staple, corned beef and cabbage is a delicious way to celebrate the holiday and introduce your little one to the kitchen. All of the ingredients can be prepared the night before, making for a painless cooking experience on March 17. He’ll help you put everything into the slow cooker just before heading off to school in the morning, and the entire family will come home to a hot, hearty Irish-inspired meal at dinner time.

What You Need:

4 lb. corned beef
6-quart or larger slow cooker
Slow cooker liner (optional but highly recommended)
12 boiling onions, trimmed and peeled
2 cups baby carrots
8-10 baby potatoes, quartered
1 small head green cabbage
2 bay leaves
2 allspice berries
2 whole cloves
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1 teaspoon dill seeds
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons apple juice

What You Do:

Have your child place the corned beef into the slow cooker. Using a slow cooker liner makes cleanup a breeze; if using one, insert it into the cooker ahead of time.
Add the baby carrots, potatoes, and onions to the slow cooker.
If you prefer to use the seasoning packet that comes with the corned beef, that’s fine. But if you want to use your own seasonings, have him toss in the bay leaves, allspice berries, whole cloves, mustard seeds, dill seeds, and cinnamon.
Fill the slow cooker with just enough cold water to cover the corned beef.
Ask him to add the apple juice, and cover the slow cooker. Cook on low for approximately 10 hours.
When there is an hour and 15 minutes of cooking left, have him help you shred the cabbage and add it to the slow cooker. Continue cooking until the meat is tender when a fork is inserted into it.
Remove the bay leaves, cloves, and allspice berries before serving.
Serve piping hot. It’s delicious over rice, or served alongside potatoes.

Note: If your family finds corned beef too salty, rinse it and put it into a pot covered with water and bring to a boil. Discard the water, and then continue with the above corned beef recipe.

Kate from learnandgrowbooks.com

Kate is the founder of Learn and Grow Books, which is a website for parents and teachers of pre-K children.