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St. Patrick’s Day Feast

Dia dhuit (Hello). It is now March, which means that everyone’s favorite holiday to deck themselves out in green is quickly approaching. Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Lá Fhéile Pádraig), honors the life of Saint Patrick, while also celebrating Irish culture in North America as a whole. We love shamrocks, the wearing of the green, and attending the parades, but we must confess our favorite part of the holiday is the delicious meal served. That’s why for over 50 years we’ve been making in-house the traditional New England grey corned beef, and have the full corned beef and cabbage dinner ready for pick up in the kitchen.

We also carry red corned beef, corned ribs, along with cut-and-peeled carrots and potatoes, ready to be cooked at home. Here are some great recipes to try:

1) Corned Beef and Cabbage

Corned Beef in Crockpot — via Food Fanatic

Slow-cooking your corned beef leaves it tender and juicy. This recipe from Food Fanatic lets you deck out your table in green while the vegetables, meat, and pickling spices cook up in the pot. Save the cabbage until the very end, cooking it on high for one hour. Your vegetables will be fork-tender, meat delicious, and guests tempted to throw a parade in your honor.

2) Horseradish-Mustard Sauce

A zesty horseradish sauce is the perfect companion to your St. Patrick’s Day meal. Taste of Home makes it simple to prepare this three-ingredient creamy topping. Careful to not drown your meal, as the Irish say, “better be sparing at first than at last.”

3) Irish Soda Bread

A delicious treat with a pop of raisins, traditional Irish soda bread is a must for your meal. Gimme Some Oven‘s recipe is easy-to-follow and bakes up beautifully. Serve warm topped with butter to see those Irish eye’s smiling.

4) Homemade Corned Beef Hash

If you’re enough lucky to have leftovers, then you’re lucky enough. Cook up your leftover corned beef in this scrumptious breakfast dish from Happy Money Saver. Toss boiled russet potatoes, onions, and Worcestershire sauce together in a skillet and in twenty minutes you’ll have a meal that makes your family say “Sláinte!”

Erin go Bragh!

Want more St. Patrick’s Day ideas?

Stop by our store in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

Romantic Valentine’s Day Menu

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and we want yours to go smoothly. So here at Butcher Boy we have chocolate dipped strawberries for something sweet, flowers for something beautiful, and meats for you to make the perfect romantic meal for someone special.

A deliciously cooked dinner is a great way to show your love, so try out one of these recipes as part of your tender loving care.

1) Prosciutto Crostini with Burrata and Lemon Honey Drizzle

The Charming Detroiter’s prosciutto crostini has everything we look for in an appetizer. It’s loaded with flavor, easy to make, and elegant. Salty prosciutto is offset by the addition of honey, and the cheese provides a luscious creaminess that ties everything together.

2) Pan Seared Filet Mignon with Garlic Herb Butter

Filet mignon is is the ideal cut of beef for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day. This main course, courtesy of Kitchen Swagger, is cooked in a hot cast iron skillet and just calls for a few additional ingredients: butter, rosemary, and tarragon. Best of all, it takes just 20 minutes to prepare from start to finish. Check out this wine pairing guide to find the perfect spirit to complement your steak.

3) Rack of Lamb with Spicy Fennel Rub

rack-of-lamb-recipe — via Fearless Fresh

Is your sweetheart not a steak-lover? Spice it up with this fiery fennel rub on rack of lamb from Fearless Fresh. Re-ignite your passions with just the right amount of heat from chili and black pepper. The prep time says 15 minutes, but we promise this recipe will taste like it took hours to make.

4) Parmesan-Herb Roasted Potatoes

No dinner would be complete without a starch, such as potatoes. Cooking Classy’s version uses Parmesan, rosemary, and parsley. These ingredients are tossed with the spuds and olive oil before roasting in the oven. You know they are ready to be taken out when the skin is crispy and a deep golden color sets in.

5) Killer Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

spinach-salad-I-howsweeteats — via How Sweet It Is

Bacon makes everything better, especially salads. This side was created by How Sweet It Is and is the embodiment of comfort food kicked up a notch. Prep everything the night before, such as cutting the onions and hard boiling the eggs, and dress the salad right before serving.

6) Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze

At the end of a fabulous meal, there’s nothing more satisfying than topping it off with an incredible dessert. This flourless chocolate cake comes to us from Fine Cooking and is the epitome of indulgence. The key here is to use high-quality bittersweet chocolate. The better the chocolate, the richer the flavor.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Butcher Boy!

Want more romantic menu ideas?

Visit us in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

5 Easy Sides to Take Your Thanksgiving to the Next Level

When it comes to Thanksgiving, the turkey is the star, but side dishes are what complete the meal. Sides don’t have to be fancy or complicated. In fact, some of the most delicious originate from the simplest of recipes. We’ve listed some of our favorites below:

1) Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Who said vegetables have to be boring? This delectable side comes from Kelly at Just a Taste and combines crispy pancetta, Brussels sprouts and a homemade balsamic vinegar reduction. The savoriness of the pancetta is balanced out by the sweetness of the reduction, creating a winning combination.

2) Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing

This recipe, courtesy of Savory Simple, calls for two ingredients that that make every dish better: sweet Italian sausage and cornbread. If you’re looking for a spicier kick, feel free to use hot Italian sausage instead. This stuffing can even be whipped up in advance and reheated just before serving. And if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, it tastes just as good the next day.

3) Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Caramelized Onions

Mashed potatoes on their own can be pretty flavorless. But, not Cookin’ Canuck’s version. The caramelized onions are cooked in fat rendered from the bacon and added to the spuds at the end, along with earthy, fried sage. The result is velvety mashed potatoes that are anything but ordinary.

4) Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce

Gimme Some Oven’s cranberry sauce is easy to make and mouth-watering, so you can stay away from the canned stuff. It’s prepared in a slow cooker so you can set it and forget it. With a few ingredients like fresh cranberries, orange juice and sugar, you’ll have a delicious accompaniment to your turkey that will taste like you spent hours over the stove.

5) Turkey Gravy

Gravy is a Thanksgiving necessity, but getting the taste and consistency just right can be tricky. Life Tastes Good’s recipe is simple and is made while the turkey is resting. It uses the turkey giblets and pan drippings, both of which provide loads of flavor.

Want more side dish ideas?

Visit us in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

5 Surprising Foods That Are Amazing on the Grill

As butchers, we love a good burger, steak, or sausage. But once
you’ve nailed these grilling staples, we encourage you to get experimental.

Grills bring intense, smoky flavors to everything they cook. You’d be surprised by how many dishes you can make on them. It’s summer. Wouldn’t you rather cook outside?

1) Watermelon

Cilantro Lime Grilled Watermelon — Via The Stay At Home Chef

Grilling watermelon brings out surprising, versatile flavors that can be used in both savory side dishes and desserts. This recipe for cilantro-lime grilled watermelon by The Stay At Home Chef is simple, innovative, and pretty enough to post on your Facebook page.

2) Meatloaf

People think of meatloaf as a winter food, but this grilled recipe by The Meatwave begs to differ. You do need a wooden grilling plank to make it, but the rich, smoky flavors will be well worth the investment.

3) Avocado

Grilled-Avocados-with-Herbs — Via Chimera Obsura

When it comes to avocados, you know you’re always in to have a good time. This grilled avocado and lemon combo from Chimera Obsura puts an interesting twist on this superfood favorite. Top with herbs, nuts, and tomatoes and you are ready to feast.

4) Bacon

bonappetit_the-ba-summer-grilling-manual-grilled-bacon — Via Bon Appetit

Bacon is delicious in any context, and the grill is no exception. Just be sure to thread your slabs onto skewers so they don’t fall into the fire. Bon Appetit’s video on grilling bacon is a great tutorial for first timers. Give their ginger-scallion topping a try, too.

5) Caesar Salad

Grilled-Caesar-landscape — Via A Whole New Twist

Gently charred romaine develops complex, earthy flavors you won’t find in a raw salad. Check out A Whole New Twist’s grilled caesar salad. The recipe is great on its own — but for a little protein, throw some chicken or salmon on the grill, too. We’re butchers. We had to say it.

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5 Patriotic Dishes For Your 4th of July Barbecue

With the 4th of July just around the corner, we’ve compiled a few savory dishes that put a little red, white, and blue on your plate.

1) Patriotic Chicken Kabobs

This recipe by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife makes for a fast, delicious, and simple main course. Blue potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and chunks of tender chicken. Put them on a skewer and cook. Angie sticks them in the oven, but they’d be great on the grill, too. Just be sure to partially cook your potatoes before grilling.

2) Blueberry Caprese Salad

We love this merican twist on a summer dinner classic by Love & Olive Oil. Blueberries, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. It takes just a few minutes to prepare and adds great color to your table.

3) Red, White, and Bleu Sliders

There aren’t too many naturally occurring blue foods in the world, and even fewer that you’d want to put on a burger. If your guests are willing to get a little creative with the definition, these bleu cheese sliders by Lauren’s Latest are fantastic.

4) Bacon Flag Pizza

Here’s a pizza by Tablespoon that would make Betsy Ross jealous. The recipe instructs you to bake it in the oven, but for a slightly smokier flavor, try throwing it on the grill.

5) Star-Spangled Potato Salad

A mix of red-skinned, white, and blue potatoes gives this barbecue staple a patriotic update. Bon Appetit’s recipe is quick and easy. Make it a few hours ahead of your party. The flavors need a few hours to sit, and it’s one less dish to worry about while you’re grilling.

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