Corned beef hash stew and bread are displayed on a table at Marsha and Jim Salter’s home.CORNED BEEF HASH STEW2 cans corned beef4 or 5 medium potatoesHalf head of cabbageSalt and pepperPeel and dice potatoes. Place in a Dutch oven or stock pot. Add two cans of corned beef to the pot, breaking apart meat. Chop cabbage and add to pot. Fill pot to top with water. Add salt and pepper to taste.Cover with lid and cook on stove top. Let mixture come to boil, then turn down heat to medium for the remainder of 30 minutes. Stick fork in potatoes to determine whether done. If not, continue cooking until tender. Serves four.- Marsha SalterMANDARIN ORANGE SLAWHalf head of cabbage or one package slaw from grocery deli1 pound white grapes1 can mandarin orangesCashewsMayonnaise1/2 teaspoon lemon juiceChop remaining half head of cabbage not used for stew. Place it, or the packaged slaw, in bowl. Slice white grapes and add to bowl. Add drained mandarin oranges, handful of cashews, mayonnaise to taste and lemon juice.Mix and serve. May be refrigerated first, but not necessary.- Marsha Salter
Part of the fifth generation in a family that can trace its roots back to Ireland, Marsha Conway Salter says St. Patrick’s Day was a grand holiday throughout her childhood.
“We always celebrated it. My Dad’s the only 200-pound leprechaun I’ve ever known. He wore a green jacket, green tie and always had on a green boutonniere every St. Patrick’s Day,” she recalls.
Once grown and married to Jim Salter, she started her own St. Pat’s tradition. For 43 consecutive years, the couple has hosted a St. Patrick’s Day party that draws an average of 50 people and sometimes as many as 70. Salter says her 44th party on Saturday night promises to include the wearin’ o’the green and serving o’the green beer — along with her famous stew that relies on three staples of Irish dishes: corned beef, cabbage and potatoes.
“We have friends come who we’ve known since elementary school at (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) to high school at Notre Dame. Some are new this year, some are work colleagues; there are sorority sisters from UTC and a lot of people from our church, Sts. Peter and Paul Basilica. Even priests come,” Marsha says.