What Is Corned Beef?

So asked Jess.

I'm supposed to be studying for my upcoming exams, so naturally I have loads of time to spend answering her question.

No. No. Answering her on the shoutbox or through MSN isn't good enough.

So here's a post dedicated to corned beef, courtesy of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. :D



Corned beef is beef that is first pickled in brine and then cooked by simmering. Usually, cuts of meat are used that feature long muscle grain, such as the brisket.

The name corned beef is due to a coarse salt used in the pickling process. Corn originally meant grain, as in a small particle of something, and referred to the corns of salt.

In the United States, corned beef is often purchased at delicatessens. Perhaps the most famous sandwich made with it is the Reuben sandwich, consisting of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on rye bread and then grilled on a flat griddle or cast iron pan. It is served hot. The Reuben was first developed in Omaha, Nebraska at the Blackstone Hotel. In certain regions, such as in Philadelphia, the Corned Beef Special is a popular offering. It is served cold. It is made by first steaming the corned beef and topping it with coleslaw, and then placing both between rye bread that is coated with Russian dressing. The Corned Beef Special was first developed by Charles Weber at R&W Deli in Philadelphia in 1957.



Katz's Deli in New York City serves large corned beef sandwiches.

It is also associated with Saint Patrick's Day when Irish Americans eat a traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage. According to the History Channel, while cabbage has long been a traditional food item for the Irish, corned beef serving as a substitute for Irish bacon first became traditional in the late 1800s. Irish immigrants living in New York City's Lower East Side sought an equivalent in taste and texture to their traditional Irish bacon (similar to Canadian bacon), and learned about this cheaper alternative to bacon from their Jewish neighbors. It is worth noting that this is slightly inaccurate as it suggests a universal change of tradition; to be more specific, this applies only to the tradition of Irish Americans. Most native Irish people would be surprised and amused (or possibly appalled) at the suggestion that corned beef and cabbage is a traditional Irish meal.

The Saint Patrick's Day tradition has been cause of some controversy among American Catholic dioceses in 2000 and 2006, when the holiday fell on a Friday during Lent. Lenten custom dictates that no meat be consumed on Fridays during Lent. Controversy has arisen because some bishops have granted dispensations to their dioceses for eating corned beef on St Patrick's Day.

Corned beef hash is commonly served as a breakfast food with eggs and hash browns.

Smoking corned beef, usually with the addition of extra spices such as black pepper, produces a cold cut known as pastrami, or, in Canada, smoked meat.

Hope that answered your question, Jess. Heh.

***

It was an extremely drama weekend (although Sarah accuses me of overdramatizing everything). Thanks la, for your love and support. Don't know what I'd do without you. Ho ho ho.

Got my first (and hopefully last - touch wood touch wood touch the Hongkie) needlestick injury.

Was in Casualty over the weekend. Some Indian macha came in with an allergic reaction to a centipede bite. My colleague administered the injections, while I stood behind him watching. He needed a bandage once it was done, so I offered him one. It was the end of our shift, and we were both pretty tired. Before I knew what was going on, I felt a prick in my palm.

The needle stuck me. Broke skin. It had the macha's blood on it.

Yippee. Panicked like hell. Asked him profusely. Ada main pompuan ah? Ada suntik dadah ah? Ada apa penyakit ah? Ha? Ha? Ha? Pasti ha?

Puki.

Blood results (the macha's) came back just today. The doctor called me while I was in the lecture theatre. Ran out.

No HIV, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B. Apparently, he was telling the truth.

Touch wood touch wood touch the Hongkie.

Will not know for sure for another 6 months, as HIV sometimes takes that long to appear in a blood picture. Will need to check my blood in 6 weeks', 3 months' and 6 months' time.

But the risks are very very very low.

Touch wood touch wood touch the Hongkie.

Decided against taking HIV antiviral prophylaxis, as I don't think I can live with them side-effects.

Well. Touch wood touch wood touch the Hongkie.

She was there, holding my hand through it all. Even when she wasn't physically, she was.

So sweet hor?

***

Exams are in a week or so. Am running out of time.

So what else is new?

This entry was posted by tsh, on Monday, September 11, 2006. You can bitch back.