Crock Pot Corned Beef

I can't be in Scranton for St. Pat's Parade Day this year. And there are many things I am going to miss. The great friends, the beer, the overpacked bars, the beer, and corned beef at Andy Gavin's near the end of the night.
So today I'm making corned beef in the crock pot at home.

Some people recommend getting 1 pound of corned beef per person because it does shrink when cooking. I usually buy a larger (originally spelled that 'lager' - guess you know where my mind is today!) one because today's left over corned beef is tomorrow morning's homemade corned beef hash!

Here's the ingredients and how much I paid for each.
4.35lb of corned beef. Regularly $2.99/lb. So it would have been $13.01. Paid $1.88/lb ($8.18 total)at Shop Rite. Savings of $4.38.

1lb carrots - $1 at Produce Junction.

Celery - $1.25 for 2 celery hearts at Produce Junction.

2 lbs red & fingerling potatoes - Under $1/lb at Produce Junction.

2 heads cabbage - Under $1 head at Produce Junction.

1 dark beer (optional). I omitted out of respect for the up coming baby.

Water to cover.

Crock pot bag for easy clean up.

Step 1 - Cut up veggies.

Step 2 - Trim fat from corned beef. Save the seasoning packet that comes with the corned beef.

Step 3 - Put crock pot liner in crock pot and add veggies to bottom of crock pot. Crock pot liner will make clean up much easier and it does not hurt the flavor.

Step 4 - Then place corned beef on top of veggies and sprinkle seasoning packet over the entire thing.

Step 5 - Add 12oz dark beer (optional) and then cover with water.

Step 6 - Turn on low for 8 - 9 hours while you go about your business. (Or high for 4 hours - but cooking on low will result in a more tender piece of meat). Try not to take top off crock pot while cooking. Each time you take it off, it releases heat and could add up to 30 minutes of cooking time. Crock potting is not exact. So anywhere from 8 - 9 hours on low is good. I've even left it in for 10 and it was still great. 

Step 7 -  When corned beef is done, remove beef and veggies. DO NOT discard the water! Keep the crock pot covered as much as possible to keep water hot. Cover the veggies and corned beef with foil to rest.

Step 8 - Cut up cabbage into 6 pieces or so and add to water. Cover and let cook for 30 minutes while corned beef rests.

Step 9 - Enjoy your corned beef! I like mine with a few splashes of vinegar and some Irish Soda bread.