St. Patrick's Day Dinner Ideas

One of the traditions at our house growing up was that during particular holidays we would have a "color" dinner. For example: on Valentine's Day Mom would make our RED dinner meaning anything she could serve that was red she would: i.e. red Jell-O, some sort of red punch, spaghetti, etc. At my house we've made lasagna, or chili. For St. Patrick's Day the same applies, only anything green. This one is a little more difficult, trying to find a green main dish, but we aren't above adding food coloring to mashed potatoes, or to homemade bread in order to maintain the green theme. You can also make a little Shamrock Cake (white cake mix tinted green with white or green frosting and some sprinkles) for dessert--that would make the kids happy. Or a Key Lime Cheesecake--which would make hubby happy.

However, when it comes to St. Patrick's Day Shindigs we just had to spotlight our cousin, Annette, and her family. Traditional dinner, green attire, custom family board game, Irish Jigging, Pot 'o gold, green Jelly Bellies! They go ALL out and enjoy the season!


Click HERE to learn what their day usually includes and HERE to see their last year's St. Patty's Celebration. It makes me want to be at her house just for this occasion alone.

Annette's goal: To have fun together as a family. Each year she says they also learn fun facts about St. Patrick's Day. Those you can get online by doing a search for "St. Patrick's Day trivia". There are TONS of sites and info out there. You might even want to make your own St. Patrick's Day Trivial Pursuit game.


Here are Annette's recipes for their St. Patty's dinner as shown in her post.

Kerry Cottage Soup
1-1/2 c. chopped cabbage
4 T. chopped onions
4 T. margarine
2 can condensed beef soup
2 soup can water
1-2 cans corned beef
dash of pepper

Sauté half the cabbage and onions in the butter until tender.
Add soup and water.
Simmer.
About 15 minutes before serving add the rest of the cabbage.
About 10 minutes before serving add the corned beef.

HINTS:

Annette says: We usually vary the amounts of cabbage and corned beef. We all like more cabbage than the recipe says and I usually do 1 1/2 cans of beef. This recipe made enough for 5 of us but 2 of us ate cold cereal last year! It is not good as leftovers because the cabbage and beef get a little gross!


Irish Soda Bread
4 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
4 T. butter
1 1/2 c. buttermilk
1 egg

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt.
Cut butter into the mix.
Combine buttermilk and egg and add to mixture.
Knead on floured board until smooth.
Divide in two pieces and place in greased round cake tins and press down to fit.
Cut cross in top with scissors.
Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.

Serve with honey.


Blarney Stone-Kissed Cookies
1 c. margarine
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 c. cocoa
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Beat margarine, sugar, egg and vanilla until well blended.
Mix remaining ingredients together and add.
Divide dough in half and place on waxed paper.
Roll a log about 7" long and 2 1/2" wide.
Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate 8 hours.

To bake, cut into 3/8" slices.
Bake 15 minutes at 325 degrees.
Cool slightly then remove from pan.
Cool thoroughly.
Drizzle glaze (recipe below) over top and immediately put an unwrapped Hershey kiss on top.

Glaze:
3/4 c. powdered sugar
3-4 tsp. milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla
3 drops green food coloring

Thanks, Annette, for letting us borrow you

and your fun family tradition!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!!