Our mom would make corned beef and cabbage. We would come home from school and sports and I always thought the house smelled like a leftover fart. One year she learned she could make corned beef in the Pressure Cooker. That thing always scared the shit out of me and I was no where to be found when she opened it. She once asked if I wanted one and I said "hell no". She did buy me a Crock Pot the St. Patrick's day after I was married when she happened to be visiting us in Louisiana. I used that Crock Pot today and can't believe it's lasted almost 20 years and several moves. It makes me think of my mom and her helpful tools and suggestions. She was, after all the first person we knew with a microwave back in the 70s. When she started making meat loaf and cupcakes in the huge box on the counter -- we were so OVER it and begged her to stop.
I always thought it was funny when St. Patrick's day fell on a Friday during Lent which meant we had "dispensation" from the Pope and we were allowed to eat meat on Friday. I looked forward to this like I looked forward to a Christmas Eve falling on a Saturday or Sunday. But during Lent it meant a reprieve from tuna casserole, soggy fish (in the microwave) or a Filet-of-Fish if we were on the run. However, there's nothing more disappointing as a kid in the days before fast food was common then to end up at a McDonalds on a Friday during Lent with my parents.
When I was in college I discovered that the Filet-o-Fish was a fantastic cure for a hangover, often on the morning of March 18th. Oh, my parents would be so proud.
