Leap’n Leprechauns! Let’s Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!
BY PAT BURNS
Everyone can be Irish for a day. By setting a table with the traditional St. Patrick’s Day hoopla of shamrocks, gold coins and plenty of green, you’ll be bringing out the luck and delight of this day that’s celebrated around the world. 
If you have your grandchildren nearby, a fun thing to do with your grandkids is to take them to a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Hopefully your town has one or you’ll find one not too far from home. Thirty five years ago, while living in 
Tucson, AZ, I was one of the founding committee members that started the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Tucson. I still have the commemorative mug! Parades are such fun and St. Patrick’s Day parades are some of the best.
To find a parade in your state, you can search this Irish Central website.
For my Irish tablescape, I used black and green shamrock plates that I found years ago at Rite Aid…yes, that’s right. At the drug store. I was able to incorporate a black sequined runner which added a wee little bit of bling. Scattered on top of the runner are gold foil covered chocolate coins from See’s® candy which my grandkids sneak and eat each time they come over. The pillar candles that are set in square glass vases and are partially filled with dry split peas. The small Belleek shamrock round-bottomed jug is one of my favorite treasures and I love bringing it out for this table.
Getting into the Irish spirit, I request that my guests wear something green as I will do before they arrive. I traditionally prepare corned beef and cabbage with a creamy horseradish sauce which adds just enough kick to this otherwise bland, boiled meal. Other times I like to make Irish stew. Either one of these dishes fits the bill for this St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Chef John, from All Recipes, has a very easy corned beef and cabbage recipe.
If you’re planning to serve Guinness beer with your meal, you’d better watch out for those pesky little leprechauns. I hear they are well known for drinking beer. And, since the founding of Guinness in 1759, it’s been their preferred beer of choice.
As my ancestors used to say, “Sláinte and Erin Go Bragh!” Tell your grandkids, Slainte means Good Health, Cheers! And Erin Go Braugh translates to Ireland Forever.
RECIPE FOR THE CREAMY HORSERADISH SAUCE:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 2 tablespoons raw horseradish
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
See more of Pat’s beautiful tablescaping here & here
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pat Burns is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Orange County Children’s Book Festival; a Celebrity Journalist, Film Reporter, the author of Grandparents Rock®. Also, a happy grandmother of four.
Read more from Pat here