Many Americans have a set New Year’s Day menu. It often consists of fare such as ham, black-eyed peas (particularly for superstitious Southerners), and greens. The Irish, too, have a traditional feast to welcome the new year. You’ll most likely find them dining on a tried-and-true favorite—corned beef and cabbage with a side of potatoes and carrots.
If you need a recipe, try our Traditional Corned Beef with Cabbage. You can cook the cabbage, carrots, and new potatoes along with the corned beef in a Dutch oven to make for an easy one-pot meal that will warm your bones on a cold winter’s day.
Soda bread is a natural pairing with this meal. Centuries ago, New Year’s Day was known as the Day of the Buttered Bread in Ireland. While this is no longer widely celebrated on the Emerald Isle, there’s no harm in cooking a loaf of your favorite soda bread, buttering a piece, and enjoying the idea of the custom in your own home. If you don’t have a recipe you love, try a box of Hogan’s Brown Irish Soda Bread Mix. It’s a quick way to get the taste of this traditional staple.
Finally, don’t let the day get away without a dessert. We believe celebrating the arrival of 2019 should involve your favorite things, like beer and chocolate. That’s why we love this recipe for a Chocolate Guinness Cake with Classic Cream Cheese Icing. If you haven’t tried this delectable dessert, it’s sure to become a staple for special occasions. Of course, if you don’t want to spend time in the kitchen you can always pick up a package of Oh Ryan’s Irish Potatoes to pass around the table.
Whatever you choose, remember to invite loved ones to your table to share in the joy of a new year together. Happy New Year!