Hellobee

March 17th is just around the corner, and I bet you’re wondering what to make for dinner and treats to celebrate with your little leprechauns. And I should know because I am 25% Irish with a maiden name of O’Neill. I have red hair, too (although not entirely natural). I’ve also been to Ireland. Does this qualify me for Irish food recommendations? Maybe. I’m 100% sure there are some folks out there that are way qualified to suggest Irish meals, but I did find some good looking recipes that might interest you. Let’s jump, or should I say Irish dance into, the recipes:

Dinner: In the USA, we tend to immediately think of corned beef and cabbage. While they probably do eat this in Ireland, it’s more of an American Irish dish. But, who’s says American Irish isn’t exactly what we should be making on St. Patrick’s Day?

I think something with potatoes would definitely make Irish eyes smiles. Check out the Dublin Coddle. I made it a few years ago and it was so warm and homey. My husband still asks for it!

But heck, make anything with Guinness and I think you’re covered.

• Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup
• Dublin Coddle
• Corned Beef & Cabbage
• Beef Guinness Stew
• Steak Ale Pie
• Shepherd’s Pie (here’s a slow cooker version)
• Irish Beer Cheese Soup
• Colannon: as a side, as mac n cheese, or as soup

Breads: Soda bread is a classic, but honestly when I visited Ireland there seemed to be brown bread everywhere. We even got brown bread in our bread basket at an Italian restaurant. Either way, I don’t think you can go wrong with any sort of bread.

• Irish Soda Bread
• Honey Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread
• Irish Brown Bread (another option)
• Soda Bread with Milk Chocolate and Salted Honey Butter (could be dessert!)

Treats: How about Lucky Charms! Ha. Kidding, but not. I mean, check out these Whiskey Chocolate Fudge Cake with lucky charm marshmallows.

I think incorporating green into dessert is always fun to celebrate. Want to hear something funny? My grandma once put wintergreen Tic Tacs on her brownies for St. Patrick’s Day to ensure something green was on the treat. I wouldn’t recommend this, though.

• Stout Brownies
• Dark Chocolate Guinness Brownies
• Bailey’s Irish Cream Coffee Bars
• One Bowl Whiskey Chocolate Fudge Cake
• Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce
• Petticoat Tails or Shortbread
• Bailey’s Chocolate Cookies
• Chocolate Mint Oreo Cookies
• Shamrock Cupcakes
• Guinness Bailey’s Cupcakes
• Peppermint Patty Cupcakes

Just for the Parents: After the kids are tucked into bed, maybe you can sneak in something for mom and dad. You can pop on an Irish-y movie like The MatchMaker, Far and Away, Waking Ned Devine, and relax (here’s a list of fun movies!).

• Irish Cream Liqueur
• Irish Coffee
• Bailey’s Irish Cream Jello Shots

Oh gosh, I may have listed too many…I don’t even know what I’m going to make. I am the worst at decision making. Right now, I’m leaning towards the Colcannon potato soup, Irish Apple Cake, and Honey Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread (time permitting).