HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
Lucky Charms
Let us be your lucky charm this St. Patrick's Day. We want to help you throw the most Irish of parties this March 17th. Before you know it, you'll be kissing the Blarney Stone for good luck and chasing leprechauns for pots o'gold! Check out all our fun ideas this Green day and celebrate with us. "Here's to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold beer and another one!" A St. Patricks's Day party isn't complete without hardy traditional Irish food and drinks. Make your friends green with envy with your cocktail know-how. Check out my bar guide here. Start your guests off right. A beer in one hand and a tray full of Irish Cheese and Crackers for the other. Some of my favorites are found at iGourmet. They include Cashel Blue, Tipperary Cheddar, Farmhouse Cheddar with Porter and Irish Cream Crackers. Beers like Guinness, Harp, and Smithwick's, a smooth ale with a surprising kick, served up with traditional Irish soda bread promise to keep your cheeks pink and mugs clinking all day long! Lads and lassies alike can revel in the spirit with a delicious menu of Irish Lamb Stew, Irish Mashed Potatoes, Bourbon Pecan Tarts and Bailey's Irish Cream Coffee. For more fully-loaded coffee concoctions, click here.
Tradition Irish Stew. Hearty ingredients like lamb, potatoes, carrots and turnips will fill your family this St. Pat's.
Ingredients
- 2 small onions, cut into rings
- 3 medium carrots, diced
- 2 turnips, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 small cabbage, cut into pieces
- 2 lbs. lamb shoulder,cut into 3" pieces salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 small potatoes, diced
- Marjoram
Steps
- Cut lamb into large stock pot and cover with water.
- Season with salt and pepper, cover and simmer 20 minutes.
- Add the vegetables, garlic and potatoes and simmer another 25-30 minutes covered.
- Season with marjoram and additional salt and pepper and serve.
Potatoes with an Irish twist. Milk, whipping cream and butter make these mashed potatoes mouth-watering.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 Cup milk
- 6 large garlic cloves, peeled, crushed
- 1/4 Cup whipping cream
- 1/4 Cup (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
Steps
- Place potatoes in medium saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover potatoes.
- Add milk and garlic. Bring to boil.
- Reduce heat, cover and simmer until potatoes are very tender, about 25 minutes.
- Drain potatoes and garlic, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid.
- Return potatoes and garlic to same saucepan.
- Add cream and butter and mash until smooth.
- Thin with reserved liquid, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Get festive this fall with these tiny tarts. Get gourmet reviews with the mix of bourban and pecan flavors.
Ingredients
- For cookie crust:
- 4 sticks unsalted butter, diced
- 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 Cup sugar
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
- For filling:
- 3 large eggs
- 1 Cup sugar
- 1/3 Cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 Cup dark corn syrup
- 1/2 Cup light corn syrup
- 3 tablespoons bourbon
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 Teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups pecan halves
Steps
- Equipment:
- A stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment; 9 (4 1/2-inch) fluted tart pans with removable bottoms
- Make crust:
- Put a baking sheet on middle rack of oven and preheat to 375F. Mix crust ingredients in mixer at low speed until a dough forms, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Press 1/3 cup dough onto bottom and up side of each tart pan, making sides slightly thicker. Chill.
- Make filling:
- Whisk together eggs, sugar, butter, corn syrups, bourbon, vanilla, and salt.
- Divide pecans among tarts, then add filling.
- Bake on hot baking sheet in oven until filling is just set and crust is golden-brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Cool on racks completely before removing sides of pans.
Warm up with this creamy coffee.
Ingredients
- This drink can sometimes have a jigger of creme de cacao and 1/2 teaspoon of Frangelico added to the glass One 12- ounce wine glass, preheated
- 10 ounces medium roast brewed coffee
- 1 1/2 jiggers Bailey's Original Irish Cream
- 1/4 Cup heavy cream, whipped until stiff peaks form
- Ground cinnamon
Steps
- Pour hot coffee into the heated glass. Add the Bailey's and mix well. Top with a mound of freshly whipped cream and a few dashes of cinnamon if desired.
Hang Leprechaun Decorations and fun green metallic streamers.
Fill vases with green M&Ms, shamrock cookies and gold-foil-wrapped chocolate coins.
Pass out stickers and buttons to your guests that read, "Kiss me, I'm Irish."
Create your own Blarney Stone. Use either a large rock or purchase a piece of Styrofoam that you can twist into a rock shape.
Affix a sign that says, "Blarney Stone - Kiss for Good Luck." Position it near the door so people can kiss it when they enter. Since legend has it that kissing the actual stone is supposed to give the kisser the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness, you're bound to have more interesting party chatter if guests pucker up as they arrive.
Fill vases with green M&Ms, shamrock cookies and gold-foil-wrapped chocolate coins.
Pass out stickers and buttons to your guests that read, "Kiss me, I'm Irish."
Create your own Blarney Stone. Use either a large rock or purchase a piece of Styrofoam that you can twist into a rock shape.
Affix a sign that says, "Blarney Stone - Kiss for Good Luck." Position it near the door so people can kiss it when they enter. Since legend has it that kissing the actual stone is supposed to give the kisser the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness, you're bound to have more interesting party chatter if guests pucker up as they arrive.
Whether your mug is filled with traditional green beer or a warm Irish coffee, our funny Irish toasts will put everyone in the mood for a party.
Steps
- Hand out paper and pens and give your guests five minutes to write a limerick, then read them aloud in your best Irish accents. Help them along by posting signs with these fun Irish drinking toasts.
- "Here's to me, and here's to you, and here's to love and laughter- I'll be true as long as you, and not one moment after!"
- "May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent."
- "May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead."
Top 5 songs to dance the jig to- or just to enjoy on St. Patrick's Day
- The Irish Rovers by The Pogues
- Mustang Sally by The Commitments soundtrack
- Mandinka or Molly Malone by Sinead O'Connor
- Beautiful Day by U2
- Pretty Eyes or Linger by The Cranberries
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