St. Patrick’s Day originally celebrated the arrival of Christianity to Ireland but has since become a cultural phenomenon celebrating all things green.
If your St. Patty’s Day signifies drinks, feasts and donning your favorite green clothing item, this post is for you.
3 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
1. For the 21+ crowd:
While LAist suggests barhopping with the best of them on this glorious Sunday, we prefer creativity and an escape from the crowds.If you have the time and desire, create a special St. Patrick’s Day celebration of your own!
Let’s talk libations:
Greet your guests with an Irish Kiss cocktail served up in a dainty champagne flute.
Recipe:
4 oz. Korbel Champagne
1 oz. melon liqueur
Add two drops of green dye to 1/2 cup of sugar to give the rim that green glittery tint.
Add a lime for garnish and additional flavor.
Recipe and photo from Whattodrink.com
The Emerald Crush
This easy-to-make drink is sweet and to the point.
Recipe:
½ kiwi
½ lime
1 tsp. sugarPeel kiwi and cut lime into quarters. Muddle fruit and sugar in a shaker until well crushed and juicy. Add ice and vodka, and shake vigorously. Pour all contents into a glass and drink with a straw. Source: Blue Ice Organic Wheat Vodka
Time to eat!
The following recipes are both fairly easy to make and don’t require a lot of time to prepare. If all else fails, you can always throw together a tasty salad and order pizza…
Corned Beef & Cabbage
If tradition is your thing, corned beef is your meat. A bonus? One serving is less than 300 calories!
Makes: 6 servings
Prep 10 mins
Cook 52 mins
Ingredients
- 3 pounds corned beef brisket
- 1/2 cup sliced onion (1 small)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 3 cups water
- 1 1/2 pounds cabbage, cut into 6 wedges
Directions
1. Trim any visible fat from the meat. Set aside.
2. Place rack in a 4- to 6-quart pressure cooker. Add the meat, onion, bay leaf, black peppercorns, and water.
3. Lock lid in place. Place pressure regulator on vent pipe (if you have a first-generation cooker). Over high heat, bring cooker up to pressure. Reduce heat just enough to maintain pressure and pressure regulator rocks gently; cook for 50 minutes.
4. Allow pressure to come down naturally. Carefully remove lid. With a slotted spoon remove the meat and onions to a serving platter; set aside.
5. Place the wedges of cabbage in the pressure cooker. Lock lid in place. Place pressure regulator on vent pipe (if you have a first-generation cooker). Over high heat, bring cooker up to pressure. Reduce heat just enough to maintain pressure and pressure regulator rocks gently; cook for 2 minutes.
6. Quick-release the pressure. Carefully remove lid. With a slotted spoon remove the cabbage wedges. Serve with meat and onions. Makes 6 main-dish servings.
Recipe and photo from Better Homes & Gardens
If corned beef isn’t your thing:
Corned beef & cabbage isn’t for everyone. If you’re still in the spirit of the Irish you can always spring for this simple Shepherd’s Pie Recipe.
End the evening with a wee bit of dessert:
Send your guests home with a little goodie back of green macaroons! You can purchase them at a grocery store or make some yourself.
2. Sunday Fun Day with the kidlets:
Momables Leprechaun Grilled Cheese
Start the party off with a nutritious and fun lunch!
Mix broccoli pesto and cheese with whole wheat bread to create this gooey, delicious lunch. Pair it with soup and you have the perfect meal for the holiday.
Housing a Forest’s Shamrock Crystals
This easy-to-make sparkling shamrocks make perfect decor the kids’ rooms, gifts for family members or just a souvenir from a fun day. Thorough directions and how-to photos are available here.
Dinner Time! Start the evening with a warm Creamy Potato Casserole
Makes: 6 servings
Prep 30 mins
Bake 350°F 1 hr 10 mins
Stand 10 mins
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 1/2 8 ounce reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), cut up
- 1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded (4 oz.)
- 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives or green onions
- 1 1/2 pounds Yukon gold or round red potatoes, cut in thin wedges
- 8 ounces sliced cooked Black Forest ham or country ham, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup coarsely crushed bagel chips
-
Thyme and/or Italian parsley leaves
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 2-quart rectangular baking dish; set aside.
2. For sauce, in medium saucepan cook onion in hot butter over medium heat 5 minutes or until tender; stirring occasionally. Stir in flour and mustard. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until slightly thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low. Whisk in Neufchatel cheese until smooth. Gradually add 1/2 cup of the Gruyere cheese until cheese is melted. Stir in chives.
3. In bowl combine potatoes, ham, and sauce; toss gently to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
4. Bake, covered, 1 hour or until potatoes are tender. Uncover; stir carefully. Sprinkle with crushed chips and remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes more or until cheese is melted. Let stand, 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with herbs. Serves 6.
And if you’re the super ambitious type, treat your children to these tasty confections:
Bridget’s Double-Decker Rainbow Shamrock Cookies are sure to delight your kids and provide them with a fun and colorful way to end a full day of St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Click on the photo to for a full tutorial on how to make these little goodies.
3. For those who are just not inclined to cook:
If you are in the area, McKinley’s Grille at Fairplex is offering a special St. Patrick’s Day feast. All weekend Chef David Teig is serving up his special Corned Beef & Cabbage as well as $3 green beer.
On the other side of campus, Finish Line Sports Grill is doling out its own St. Patty’s Day feast. Guests who visit on Sunday will enjoy plenty of drink and food specials all day long. It’s Sunday Funday at its finest.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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