St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays of the year.  There is nothing better than listening to bagpipes blaring and watching people jig on the streets while donning green, white, and orange.  Celebrate this holiday with one (or all!) of these easy and festive St. Paddy’s Day recipes below!  

DIY Shamrock Shake

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 c. Vanilla Ice Cream
• 1 c. Milk
• 1/4 t. Peppermint Extract
• Green Food Coloring (optional)
• Oreos or Chocolate Chips (optional)
• Whipped Cream
• Rainbow Sprinkles 

Directions

1. Blend vanilla ice cream, milk, and peppermint extract.
2. Blend in three drops of green food coloring (or however many drops until desired color).  At this time, blend in Oreos or stir in chocolate chips.  
3. Pour into two glasses.  Add whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles.  

Guinness Shakes with Jameson Whipped Cream

Ingredients

• 3 c. Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream (Chocolate is preferred)
• 1 c. Guinness
• 1 c. Heavy Whipping Cream
• 2 T. Sugar
• 1 T. of Jameson 

Directions

1. Blend together ice cream and Guinness.  Pour into two pint glasses.  
2. Make Jameson whipped cream by beating heavy whipping cream and sugar.  Once the whipped topping is stiff, stir in 1 T. of Jameson.  
3. Add a generous portion of whipped topping to the Guinness Shake.  Enjoy.

Irish Nachos

Ingredients

• 4 Potatoes 
• 1 c. Corned Beef (cubed)
• 2 c. Cheese
• 1/4 c. Green Onions
• 2 T. Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Sour Cream

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  
2. Thinly slice the four washed potatoes to look like chips.  Next, lightly coat the potatoes in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread a single layer of potatoes on a cooking sheet.
3. Bake the potato slices for 20 minutes.  Take out of the oven and flip the potatoes over.
4. Bake for fifteen more minutes, then take out of the oven to add cheese and corned beef.
5. Put back in the oven to cook for 10 more minutes (or until cheese is melted).
6. Add green onion and serve with sour cream.  Enjoy! 

Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

Ingredients

• One package of Corned Beef
• 1 can of Beef Broth
• Peeled Carrots
• Peeled Potatoes
• One head of Cabbage
• Butter
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

1. Open the package of corned beef and find the small seasoning packet that is on the meat.  Put the seasoning aside.  Place corned beef in crockpot.
2. Season with salt and pepper.  Add seasoning packet if you enjoy that taste (our family usually omits it).  
3. Place vegetables in the crockpot around the beef roast with cabbage on top of the roast.  (Carrots cut up into fourths or peeled baby carrots work well.) 
4. Add beef broth.  Set the slow cooker to “low” or 8-10 hours.
5. After the allotted time, place cooked vegetables in a serving dish.  Place butter over the warm vegetables.
6. Carefully take out the corned beef (it may fall apart) and slice to the thickness you desire.  Then, feast!  

**Leftover corned beef is great to use on the Irish Nachos or to make Reuben sandwiches!

Popeye Muffins

This recipe is titled, “Popeye Muffins” by Laura’s Sweet Spot. (Also known as The Green Forks.) My daughter loves to call them Green Muffins.  They may look mysterious– like a leprechaun played a trick on us all, but they taste like delicious cinnamon banana bread.  

Ingredients

• 1 c. All Purpose Flour
• 1 c. Whole Wheat Flour
• 3/4 c. Sugar
• 2 t. Baking Powder
• 1/2 t. Baking Soda
• 1 1/2 t. Cinnamon
• 1/2 t. Salt
• 1/4 c. Canola Oil
• 3/4 c. Milk
• 1 bag Fresh Baby Spinach (6 oz.)
• Two Mashed Bananas
• 2 t. Vanilla Extract
• Chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare muffin pans (paper liners or spraying with cooking oil).
2. Put dry ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk. Set aside.
3. Blend milk, oil, and spinach in blender or food processor.
4. Fold in mashed bananas and vanilla extract with the blended mixture. 
5. Add the banana and spinach mixture to the mixing bowl of dry ingredients.  Mix until completely combined.  (Optional: fold chocolate chips in at this time.) 
6. Fill the muffin pan until they are 2/3 full.  Bake 18-20 minutes.  

**I have used King Arthur’s Gluten Free Flour instead of both flour options listed above with great results!  

What recipes do you and your family like to enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day?