Hibiscus Syrup

Toast 5 pods of cardamom.
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Then add 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers, 2 sticks of cinnamon, 1 tsp whole cloves, and the cardamom pods.
Boil gently for 1 minute; then allow mixture to steep and cool.
Strain out solids, and return the liquid to the pot.
Wisk in 2 cups of sugar. Boil for 4 minutes. Cool and pour into a sterile jar. Refrigerate and serve.

Corned Beef

Every year, my family celebrates our Irish heritage on St. Patrick’s Day by donning green cothing with Celtic prints, or in recent years, Armstrong tartan kilts. We gather for a family feast of Corned beef, cabbage, and piles of mashed potatoes; listen to The Fenians and other Celtic music; and toast with glasses of Guiness….