Incite the “luck o’ the Irish” with a lighthearted St. Patrick’s Day celebration incorporating green and gold colors, leprechauns, shamrocks, rainbows, and gold coins into your decorating, eating & drinking scheme. 

St Patrick's Day Decorating

Party Area & Bar

Create a celebratory mood by hanging Green and/or Gold Ceiling Swirls in the foyer, party area or over your dinner/serving table.  Or take a more elegant approach with Kiwi Green Round Paper Lanterns. Switch out throw pillows, rugs and table coverings with a variety of contrasting greens.

Turn your guests green with envy with tastefully understated bar decorations with a splash of fun to enhance the St. Patrick's Day theme. Add green party beads or colored water to a clear vase holding dark and light Green Mirror Circles Sprays on the bar or mantel. 

Fill adorable Green Mini Lantern Green Candle Holders with shamrocks (real or fake), along with candles in Shamrock Votive Candle Holders. Beckon your thirsty guests with Green Shamrock Refracting Vinyl String Lights along the front of the bar or serving area.

Surround a Pot of Gold with Shamrock Sign Holder, perhaps bearing a festive Irish message such as "Happy St Patty's Day" or “Erin go Bragh!” (meaning: Ireland Forever), with a smattering of gold coins. Then, position a Leprechaun Holding A Pot Of Shamrocks nearby.

Illuminate floral arrangement vases with green submersible LED accent lights for a subtle effect. Or, be more dramatic and flood areas in emerald light with Green Light Bulbs in key fixtures.

Scatter the bar top with shimmering Shamrock Confetti for another unobtrusive detail. Hang a border of Shamrock or Rainbow party tape on the wall behind the bar or in the party area. 

Use Shamrock or Irish Flag Toothpicks to skewer garnishes for cocktails and serve with Festive Green Beverage Napkins.

Dinner or Banquet Table

For a cheery dinner table display with a touch of elegance, follow the rainbow to a leprechaun and his pot of gold. Start with a length of Rainbow Party Tape across a white tablecloth. 

Build a centerpiece featuring a Leprechaun Holding A Pot Of Gold on a riser in a large martini glass, decorative bowl or vase. Fill the glass with Plastic Gold Coins so it appears the leprechaun is standing on his pile of gold.

Position the leprechaun and gold display on a piece of Green Tissue Grass cut into the shape of your table. Use Green Shamrock Votive Candle Holders around your centerpiece for lighting. Scatter gold pieces in the grass and on the table, then add Shamrock Green Authentic Fiestaware Salt & Pepper shakers.

At each place setting, use a round Gold Charger with a Festive Green Beverage Napkin and Plastic Gold Coin in the center. Ring rolled white dinner napkins with a strand of Shamrock/Clover Party Bead Necklaces to resemble Irish lace.

Guest Bath

Coordinating the hand towels in the guest bath with the theme will show off your impeccable taste while delighting your guests. St. Patrick’s Day hand towels from PartySwizzle.com are available with rainbow embroidery or green border to accentuate the theme. 

Place Shamrock Votive Candle Holders on the counter top or tank scattered with confetti and a couple of gold coins the leprechaun left behind on his last visit. Use "Happy St Patty's Day" window gel on the bathroom mirror or your front door window.


St Patrick's Day Hors d’oeuvres   

Mini Spinach Quiches 

Knock their socks off with fun bite-sized mini quiches that will pack a toothsome punch as well as get in some green veggies. We recommend this selection because it is easy to serve, virtually mess-free to eat and tastes great at room temperature.   

Prep time: 30 min 
Cook Time: 1 hr 5 min 
Makes 24 bites 
Preheat oven: 375 degrees   

Ingredients
  • 1 box mini refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
  • 2 slices bacon
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 9 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain
Directions
  1. Remove 1 pie crust from pouch; place flat on work surface. With 2 1/2-inch round cutter, cut 12 rounds. Press each round in bottom and up sides of ungreased mini muffin cup. Repeat with second pie crust.
  2. In 8-inch skillet, cook bacon until brown and crisp; drain on paper towels. Add onions to same skillet with bacon drippings; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until tender. Drain.
  3. In medium bowl, place onions. Crumble bacon; add to onion. Add eggs; beat well with fork. Stir in half-and-half, cheese, salt and nutmeg. Stir in spinach. Divide mixture evenly into crust-lined cups.
  4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. With tip of knife, loosen and remove quiches from cups. Serve warm or cool. Store in refrigerator.
Source: www.pillsbury.com   

Raisin Soda Bread 

Long a classic of Irish cooking, this quick-bread recipe can be thrown together in a hurry without needing to wait for it to leaven. The sweetness of the raisins add a little twist to an otherwise wholesome accompaniment for heartier fare, and a smear of salted whipped butter is all that is needed for the perfect topping. 

If desired, you can sprinkle a little cinnamon and nutmeg on top to spice up the old Irish tradition.   

Prep Time: 25 minutes 
Cook Time: 40-50 minutes 
Preheat Oven: 375 degrees 
Makes one 7-inch round loaf   

Ingredients
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (substitute: 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour and 1-1/2 cups all purpose flour)
  • 3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut in small pieces
  • 3/4 cup dark raisins
  • 1-1/2 cups buttermilk (substitute: one tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice + the rest of a cup of regular milk)
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and place the rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
  3. Cut the cold butter pieces into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
  4. Stir in the raisins.
  5. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add most of the buttermilk. Mix until you have a soft moist dough, adding more buttermilk as needed.
  6. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead the dough gently into a 7 inch (18 cm) round. Place the round on your prepared baking sheet and cut a 1/4 inch deep "X" across the top of the bread with a sharp knife.
  7. Bake until browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Tip: You can also test whether the bread is fully baked by a hollow sound if you tap the bottom of the bread.
Source: www.joyofbaking.com   

Mini Reuben Sandwiches 

We love the classic Irish dish of stewed corned beef often featured at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, but it only suits for dinner entertaining. This quick and easy Mini Rueben recipe combines the Irish-inspired goodness with the ease of hors d’oeuvres, much to everyone’s delight. 

Mini gherkin skewers hold the whole thing together and add a bit of crunchy sweetness to set off the wonderful rye flavor that will have your guests begging for more.   

Prep Time: 10 minutes 
Cook Time: 8 minutes 
Preheat oven: 375 degrees   

Ingredients
  • Rye Bread 
  • Corned Beef from the deli or cook your own
  • 1 package cole slaw mix
  • 2 tablespoons Rice Wine Vinegar
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • Thousand Island Dressing
  • Sweet Pickles for garnish
Directions
  1. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  3. Place bread on cookie sheet
  4. Top with a slice or two of corned beef
  5. Add Swiss Cheese
  6. Place in oven to heat through and melt the cheese, about 6-8 minutes
  7. While the sandwiches are in the oven, prepare the cole slaw
  8. In a small bowl, add the cole slaw mix, vinegar, salt & pepper, stir to combine
  9. After the sandwiches are out of the oven, add a spoonful of cole slaw
  10. Top with a spoonful of dressing and add a pickle for garnish
  Source: pocketchangegourmet.com   

Irish Cheese Fondue 

Beer is good, and not only straight out of the bottle. Using it for cooking imparts a richness of flavor beyond the alcohol. Traditional fondue uses white wine, but in honor of the holiday we have substituted Guinness in this delicious recipe. 

If you have any left over, drizzle over French fries, baked potatoes, broccoli, or nachos.  
Prep Time: 15 minutes 
Cook Time: 10 minutes 
Makes 8 servings   

Ingredients
  • 1 1/8 cups shredded extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese
  • 1 1/8 cups shredded Swiss cheese
  • 2 tablespoons freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle Irish stout beer (such as Guinness®)
  • 1 tablespoon steak sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Cholula®)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground dry mustard
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
  1. Combine white Cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, Parmesan cheese, and cornstarch together in a bowl; set aside.
  2. Stir Irish stout beer, steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, hot pepper sauce, and mustard powder together in a fondue pot; set heat under fondue pot to medium.
  3. Stir cheese mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, into stout beer mixture in fondue pot until cheese is completely melted and the fondue is thick and smooth. Do not let the fondue boil.
  4. Season with black pepper to taste.
  5. Serve in a crock pot set on low with sweet and sour apples, broccoli, cauliflower, bread cubes, and boiled potatoes.
Source: allrecipes.com   

Grasshopper Parfaits 

Decadent dessert cups will have guests of all ages jumping for joy at the cool creamy texture of whipped cream and pudding topped Oreos, a perennial favorite. It may not be the fanciest ingredients, but it is a fool-proof recipe that can be dressed up or down by the serving glass and garnishes (we suggest a sprig of fresh mint and elegant white chocolate shaving curls).   

Ingredients
  • 15 Oreos, finely chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
  • 10 chocolate-covered mint patties, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
  • 2 pkg.  (3.9 oz. each) instant chocolate pudding
  • 1 qt.  (4 cups) cold milk
  • 2 to 4 drops green food coloring
  • 2 cups thawed cold whipped topping
Directions
  1. Mix chopped cookies and mint patties.
  2. Whisk pudding mixes and milk with whisk 2 min. Let stand 5 min. Meanwhile, stir food coloring into whipped topping until blended.
  3. Make the first layer of each ingredient using half of the pudding, whipped topping and cookie mixture evenly in 12 parfait glasses. Repeat layers, reserving the second cookie layer until just before serving.
  4. Refrigerate 30 min, then top with final cookie layer and garnishes.
  Source: www.kraftrecipes.com   

St Patrick's Day Drinks

Midori Sour 

If you are looking to go GREEN for the occasion, here is a sweet solution with a tangy little kick that will get night party going strong. This party classic is an easy drink to mix up in a hurry for thirsty guests and has wide appeal.  
 
Garnish: Maraschino cherry 
Glass: Rocks or Tulip

Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 ounces Midori melon liqueur 
  • 1 ounce premium vodka (optional) 
  • 2 ounces sour mix 
  • 1 1/2 ounces lime juice 
  • 1 dash Sprite or 1 dash other carbonated lemon-lime beverage 
  • 1 maraschino cherry, garnish 
Directions
  1. Fill glass with ice cubes.
  2. Add Midori liqueur, vodka, sour mix and Sprite. 
  3. Stir or shake quickly.
  4. Add cherry as garnish.
Green Jello Shots 

There is a jello shot for every occasion, and we’d like to share our St. Patty’s Day go-to with you. Dress it up nice by rimming each shot with different colored granulated sugar crystals for a sweet splash of color. 

Ingredients
  • 1 cup sour apple schnapps
  • 1 package green apple jello
  • 1 cup boiling water
Instructions
  1. Boil water and stir in jello until dissolved.
  2. Add chilled schnapps and continue stirring.
  3. Pour mixture into shot glasses and place them in the refrigerator until set.
  4. Rim with granulated sugar crystals just before serving, using a lime slice to wet the rim.
Irish Coffee   

If you’ve been shivering through the unusually frigid temps this winter, here’s a recipe to warm you up. Using brown sugar instead of white for the simple syrup sets this recipe apart by accenting the rich flavors in the Irish whiskey. Floating lightly whipped the cream atop the hot and sweet brew beneath ensures smooth perfection.   

Glass: Irish Coffee 

Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 oz Jameson Irish whiskey
  • 1 oz Brown sugar syrup (one part brown sugar, one part water)
  • Hot brewed coffee
  • Unsweetened cream, lightly whipped
  • 1/2 oz green Creme de Menthe
Instructions
  1. Add the whiskey and syrup to an Irish Coffee glass.
  2. Fill two-thirds of the way with coffee.
  3. Top with one inch of whipped cream.
  4. Drizzle the Creme de Menthe over the whipped cream.
Source: liquor.com   

Irish Buck

The Irish Buck cocktail is sugar and spice and everything nice, as the bubbly ginger ale complements the whiskey smoothness. A splash of lime adds just the right bite for a St. Patty’s Day delight.
   
Garnish: Lime wheel 
Glass: Collins 

Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 oz Bushmills Irish whiskey
  • 1/4 oz Fresh lime juice
  • 2 oz Ginger ale
Instructions
  1. Add the whiskey and lime juice to a Collins glass filled with ice.
  2. Top with the ginger ale.
  3. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Find these and more decorations in our new St Patrick's Day section.

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