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St. Patrick’s Day Ideas and Recipes

St. Patrick’s Day is coming! Here are a few ideas for you and your kids to do to celebrate this fun holiday!

Teach about St. Patrick and his desire to spread the news about Jesus.

What do we really know of St. Patrick, in who’s honor patrons don green? To look around at the way modern day folk celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you’d think it all had to do with shamrocks, leprechauns, rainbows and the ever-famous pot of gold at the end of them. Well, that and the traditional “wearing of the green” to prevent any pinching that might occur on March 17th each year. But there is actually some wonderful truth that we can celebrate at this holiday and can pass along to the children in our lives.

For as far as history can tell, the story goes like this: At about the age of 16, Patrick, a Scottish young man born into wealth sometime in the late fourth century, most likely around 385, was violently captured by Irish raiders and forced into a life of slavery. Patrick later escaped and was reunited with his family, but in a dream, felt called by God back to Ireland to spread Christianity to the people of that isle. So, this godly young man set about to make this dream come true. He prayed for God’s strength and then studied scripture to ready himself. Then He was prepared to return to the land of his captivity. He preached the Gospel and built churches throughout the country until his death on March 17, 461. For the modern-day Irish, St. Patrick’s Day is considered a time for spiritual renewal as they fondly remember the slave-turned-evangelist who spread Christianity to the Emerald Isle. For our family today, we feel we can use him as an example of what a young person, sold out for God can do in their generation.

Invite a visit from a Leprechaun.

For fun at our house, when the family wakes up on St Patrick’s Day, there is evidence that a leprechaun visited in the night. How do we know?  Because the milk mysteriously turned green! Then, there is a trail of Lucky Charms leading front the fridge out an open window. However, there is also a “pot of gold” left on the table for the kids. {a black plastic pot from the garden section of the department store filled with gold chocolate coins} And beside the pot is a hand-written note with this verse on it:

Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.  Proverbs 8:10

Make some Irish-themed foods.

Here are three recipes to help your family celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. SaveSave

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Oven Beef Stew

The Irish are well-known for potatoes and a good, hearty stew. Try this slow cooking recipe. It will make the house smell wonderful.
Print Recipe
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:5 hours
Total Time:5 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds eye of round, cut into chunks
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 pound baby carrots
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced (canned and drained or fresh)
  • 6 cups red potatoes, cut into chunks, with or without skins
  • 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes (petite diced is best)
  • 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup tapioca
  • 1 teaspoon garlic
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
  • In a Dutch oven or large roaster, place all the veggies and meat.
  • Pour the diced tomatoes and sauce over the top of the meat and sprinkle with the tapioca and spices. Mix well.
  • Cover tightly with lid and bake at 275 degrees for 5 hours. Stir and serve. Yum!!

Notes

This recipe is also great to do in a crock pot. Just set on high for six hours or low for 10 hours.
You can also substitute a cup of frozen peas or corn in place of the mushrooms. 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Irish
Keyword: Dinner, Irish, Meat, Recipe, St. Patrick’s Day, Stew
Servings: 6

Irish Potato Meat Roll

Print Recipe
Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook Time:50 minutes
Total Time:1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup bread crumbs
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef chuck
  • ½ clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons grated Romano cheese,
  • 2 cups mashed potatoes, thick consistency and still hot
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a shallow baking pan.
  • In a large bowl, soak 1/2 cup bread crumbs in the milk until the milk is absorbed and the bread crumbs are soft, about 5 minutes. Stir with a fork to break up any large clumps.
  • Combine the soaked bread crumbs with the meat, garlic, eggs, parsley, salt, pepper, and Romano cheese.
  • Sprinkle the remaining bread crumbs on a sheet of waxed paper. Pour the meat mixture on top of the bread crumbs and pat into an 8″ by 12″ rectangle. Spread the mashed potatoes and then the shredded cheddar cheese on top of the meat mixture. Lift the edge of the waxed paper and carefully roll up mixture like a jelly roll. Press the ends to seal.
  • Place the roll in the shallow greased baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees. After the roll has been baking about 30 minutes, pour the tomato sauce over meat and continue to bake until the meat is fully cooked, about 20 more minutes.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Irish
Keyword: Dinner, Irish, Meat, Potato, Recipe, St. Patrick’s Day
Servings: 6

Irish Creme Cupcakes

Starting with boxed cake mix and prepared frosting, you can whip up a batch of these easy cupcakes in no time. It will bring out the leprechaun in you!
Print Recipe
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:20 minutes
Cooling and Frosting Time:15 minutes
Total Time:45 minutes

Ingredients

  • One white or yellow cake mix
  • 1/3 cup Irish Creme powdered cappuccino mix
  • Eggs, Oil and Water as directed on cake mix box
  • White frosting
  • Green sprinkles, green sugar or other St. Patrick’s themed cupcake toppers

Instructions

  • Make batter according to the box’s instructions adding in the powdered cappuccino mix.
  • Bake according to directions. Cool and top with frosting and decorative sprinkles. Enjoy!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Celebrations, Cupcakes, Dessert, easy, St. Patrick’s Day
Servings: 22

If you like these recipes, you can find more like them in my cookbook “Come and Get It!” Available on Amazon.

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