St Patrick's Day - All things green & easy to make party treats, food & decorations + crafts for kids
IRELAND FOREVER!
St Patrick's Day to our family
Since my father was full Irish on his side of the family, they always celebrated St. Patrick's Day here in the United States. He had relatives all over the country, and most of them had very similar celebration foods and activities on Saint Patrick's Day, only some with green beer though. They made Irish Potatoes for the kids and had lamb stew or boiled Irish bacon and cabbage for dinner, things like that.
There are a lot of different things you can do on Saint Patrick's Day to celebrate, and it is not required that you be of Irish decent, it has evolved into a fun holiday for all. Here is a list of some of the common things you will see on Saint Patrick's Day.
- People wearing green clothing, vests, bowler hats, shamrock sunglasses
- Parades to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day
- Green colored beer, green colored food items, traditional foods as well
- Irish Potatoes (a candy treat)
- Kiss me I am Irish shirts and buttons, and shamrocks everywhere!
EASY CRAFTS & KIDS TREATS
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeYour St. Patrick's Day Festivities
It is great to get your children involved because it is a very popular holiday and one that is still celebrated in most schools. It is also a great holiday to get friends together for because everyone thinks of it as a festive party like day.
You can make decorations or purchase them, you can wear anything green and people think you did it to celebrate the day. You can even make construction paper hats and shamrock sunglasses. The kids go nuts for these. We had some very traditional foods we ate when I was growing up. I have gotten away from making these foods over the years because I married into a German-Italian family and we lived very closely with them for years. We still celebrated Saint Patrick's Day with school friends and co-workers, but it is time for me to make the Boiled Bacon Supper again! That happens to be one of the meals my husband loves. Our last child reached 18 this year and wants to know why I haven't made the boiled supper in at least four years now. (update! Our youngest is 25 now and still wants this stuff!)
I have included a lot of links in this hub, some for recipes, some for free and cheap craft and party ideas, and a few amazon.com links to give you an idea of the range of items available for this holiday. You will be amazed at how popular this holiday really is!
MAKING A GREEN CAKE
You can use any white or butter recipe cake mix. I prefer white because you get a vibrant green from it. Use either green food coloring or both yellow and blue. You will need about 20 drops to get a vibrant green. Do not be afraid to use more if needed.
First make batter to the package directions, then put in the food coloring. It will be slightly lighter when baked so do not be afraid to get it GREEN! The same goes for the icing. Stir till well incorporated and bake as directed.
ANOTHER GREAT IDEA IS RAINBOW CUPCAKES
First make the batter to the package directions and put paper baking cups into a cupcake pan. Then divide the batter into six equal portions. Make each portion a different VIBRANT color, RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, VIOLET. Drop a spoonful of each into each baking cup so that each has all six colors. When baked they will be a swirled rainbow cupcake. You can top with bright green icing and even put a foil wrapped coin inserted in the top of each after you have frosted them.
IRISH POTATO CANDY
I found the recipe with picture on allrecipe.com so I added it to the recipe links below.
RECIPES
Since I don't have pictures of all the foods I want to tell you about I researched on the internet and found places that have pictures and recipes exactly like the ones I know. I have placed links in the next block to the following:
- Irish Lamb Stew
- Irish Soda Bread
- Colcannon (potatoes and cabbage)
- Traditional Boiled Bacon and Cabbage (not american bacon) If you cannot find Irish bacon, it is like Canadian bacon, or you can use a pork shoulder butt instead, they are held together with string mesh.
- Irish Potato (candy)
I did not include a recipe for Corned Beef and Cabbage because I never make it and we never cooked it. Lots of families celebrate with that and I am sure you can find a recipe at food.com or allrecipes.com.
RECIPE LINKS
- Irish Potato Candy Recipe - Allrecipes.com
A cute little confection that looks just like little potatoes. This kind does not contain potatoes; they are made using cream cheese and coconut. - Traditional Lamb Stew Recipe - Allrecipes.com
Very traditional. - Real Irish Soda Bread Recipe - Food.com - 103643
This one is very much like my grandmother made. - Colcannon Recipe - Food.com - 285431
Growing up in an Irish household, this is how my father liked to eat his mashed potatoes. This is true comfort food to him! - Bacon and Cabbage Recipe
A very traditional recipe that also describes Irish meats and sauces to go with the dish.