As parents, we like to find little ways to bring joy into the house. Holidays make for an easy theme to change up the daily routine. Whether you’ve recently discovered 1% Irish heritage in a DNA test, you grew up in Dublin, or you have zero Irish heritage, St. Patrick’s Day is a fun celebration for all. Try these fun ways to celebrate the holiday with your family.
FOOD : Create some fun St. Patrick’s Day themed meals.
Traditional Irish Meal: Corned beef, potatoes, Irish soda bread (Recipe below!)
Green: Use this as an opportunity to try green foods! Create a taste test of lots of different green foods (apples, grapes, celery, jello, spinach – be creative!) with a chart for your kids to describe the texture, look, and rate the tastes.
Or, simply pack their lunch full of green items like a quesadilla made with a spinach tortilla, green peppers, salad, or a smoothie. Free lunch printables can be found HERE.
Or, just add some green food coloring! Our house often serves green pancakes, green mashed potatoes, and even green milk!
Rainbow: Try creating rainbows with food, fruit, skittles, Lucky Charms – be creative!
The Produce Station, Conor O’Neills, and YORK will all be offering St. Patrick’s Day food if you’d prefer takeout.
CRAFTS: Find fun ways to keep your kids active with a St. Patrick’s Day theme!
Grab some Fruit Loops to make some rainbow jewelry or a rainbow art project.
ACTIVITIES:
Scavenger Hunt around your home – free printable can be found HERE along with a free
Travel to Ireland…virtually! This site offers several free virtual tours of famous Irish
museums landmarks like the Cliffs of Moher.
MUSIC / ART / DANCE:
Search online videos to learn about Irish music, dancing, and even have everyone write
their own limericks!
LEPRECHAUNS:
Have your kids write a note and leave it for a leprechaun and create a leprechaun trap.
Then, on St. Patrick’s Day morning, let them be surprised with a visit from the
mischievous leprechaun. Ours often turns furniture over or make a mess leaving trails of
pennies.
Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
4 cups flour
1 ¼ cups buttermilk
4Tbsp. sugar
1tsp. baking soda
1Tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ cup softened butter (1 stick)
1 egg
Glaze:
¼ cup butter
¼ cup buttermilk
-Preheat the oven to 375.
-Mix together The dry ingredients. Use a whisk to make sure it is well combined.
-Add in the wedding gradients use a hand mixer to help combine everything.
-Put the dough on a floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes – dusting with flour as needed. It’s done when it feels like Play-Doh.
-Form dough into a loaf and put it on a cookie sheet with parchment paper- the parchment paper is important to keep the bottom from overcooking.
-Cut a large “X” into the top of the dough. This is important to help the dough cook through.
-Cook the dough in the oven for 15 minutes.
-While the bread is cooking, make the glaze by melting butter and letting it cool for a few minutes. Then, add the buttermilk and mix well.
-When the 15 minutes are up, Take the bread out of the oven and brush the glaze over the top of it then return it to the oven for another 15 minutes.
-When that 15 minutes is done, take the bread out of the oven and glaze it again. Then put it back in the oven for another 15 minutes.
-When that 15 minutes is up, use a toothpick and check the middle of the bread- if it comes out clean it is done. If it doesn’t, glaze it again and put it back in for a final 10 minutes. (Will cool for a total of 45-60 minutes).
-When done, let the bed rest for 20 minutes then serve with butter, jam, honey, or a soup.
