Kiss Me I'm Irish St. Patrick's Day Party

By Mindy Kobrin
Lucky CharmsLucky 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!”

Show Me the Green: Decorations and Atmosphere

St. Patty's Day TreatsSt. Patty's Day Treats
  • 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.

Dance the Irish Jig: Music and Activities

Tap your toes and perform your best jig to these fun tunes from our favorite Irish artists:

1. The Irish Rovers by The Pogues
2. Mustang Sally by The Commitments soundtrack
3. Mandinka or Molly Malone by Sinead O’Connor
4. Beautiful Day by U2
5. Pretty Eyes or Linger by The Cranberries

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.

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.”

Eat Your Greens: Menu

Bailey's Irish Cream CoffeeBailey's Irish Cream Coffee

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.

May the luck of the Irish be yours this St. Patrick’s Day!


Irish Lamb Stew

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

Preparation

  • 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.


Irish Mashed Potatoes

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

Preparation

  • 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.

Bourbon Pecan Tarts

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

Equipment: a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment; 9 (4 1/2-inch) fluted tart pans with removable bottoms

Preparation

Make crust:

  • Put a baking sheet on middle rack of oven and preheat to 375°F. 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.

 

Bailey's Irish Cream Coffee
This drink can sometimes have a jigger of creme de cacao and 1/2 teaspoon of Frangelico added to the glass.

Ingredients

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

Preparation

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. Serves one

 

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