Family Style St Patrick's Day

How do you celebrate St Patrick's Day? Irish or not, parades and parties are celebrating the holiday, and everyone is invited to take part. While it can be easy to focus on all the fun for adults you can make the holiday fun for the family as well.

In our house, I like to borrow a trick from my kindergarten teacher. In the day's leading up to the 17th, I tell stories to my kiddos about mischievous leprechauns. These leprechauns may make small messes in their rooms, or kitchen while looking for their pot of gold. When they find the pot of gold, they leave a little treat behind to apologize for the mess they've made.

As you may have guessed, on the morning of St Patrick's Day my kids will come downstairs to find the kitchen and a few of their toys amiss. They also find waiting for them a treat (chocolate coins if I remember to get them) and excitedly jabber about the silly leprechaun all morning.

Then for dinner, I make the same thing that I grew up eating on this holiday each year, Corned Beef and Cabbage. I am still working on getting the little ones on board with this meal but calling it leprechaun food seems to help a little. To help get in the spirit of St Patrick's Day and the greenery coming with spring, I set out my Green Urban Knife Block too!