Teach Your Family About St. Patrick (and a fun activity and recipes to celebrate the day!)

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. Time to push back the furniture and dance an Irish Jig. Well, maybe not. But you can try these Irish-themed ideas for you and your kids to do to celebrate this fun holiday!

Teach about St. Patrick and his desire to spread the news about Jesus. 

What do we really know of St. Patrick, in who’s honor patrons don green? To look around at the way modern-day folk celebrate St. Patrick’s day, you’d think it all had to do with shamrocks, leprechauns, rainbows, and the ever-famous pot of gold at the end of them. Well, that and the traditional “wearing of the green” to prevent any pinching that might occur on March 17th each year. But there is actually some wonderful truth that we can celebrate at this holiday and can pass along to the children in our lives.

For as far as history can tell, the story goes like this:

At about the age of 16, Patrick, a Scottish young man born into wealth sometime in the late fourth century, most likely around 385, was violently captured by Irish raiders and forced into a life of slavery. Patrick later escaped and was reunited with his family, but in a dream, felt called by God back to Ireland to spread Christianity to the people of that isle. So, this godly young man set about to make this dream come true. 

Patrick prayed for God’s strength and then studied scripture to ready himself. Then He was prepared to return to the land of his captivity. He preached the Gospel and built churches throughout the country until his death on March 17, 461. For the modern-day Irish, St. Patrick’s Day is considered a time for spiritual renewal as they fondly remember the slave-turned-evangelist who spread Christianity to the Emerald Isle.

For our family today, we feel we can use him as an example of what a young person, sold out for God can do in their generation.

Invite a visit from a Leprechaun.

For fun at our house, when the family wakes up on St. Patrick’s Day, there is evidence that a leprechaun visited our house. How do we know?  Because the milk mysteriously turned green! Then, there is a trail of Lucky Charms cereal to the front of the fridge out an open window, evidence of the stranger in the night. However, there is also a “pot of gold” left on the table for the kids. {This is a black plastic pot from the garden section of the department store filled with gold chocolate coins} And beside the pot is a hand-written note with this verse on it:

Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.  Proverbs 8:10. (NLT)

Make some Irish-themed foods.

Here are a few recipes to help your family celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

OVEN BEEF STEW

The Irish are well-known for potatoes and a good, hearty, stick-to-your-ribs stew. Try this slow cooking recipe. It will make the house smell wonderful. Can also be done in a crockpot on high for six hours or low for 10.

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs eye of round, chunked

1 large onion, chopped

1 lb. bag baby carrots

2 cups frozen corn or peas (or one cup of each)

6 cups red potatoes, peeled and chunked 

14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes (petite diced is best) and an 8 ounce can tomato sauce

1/4 cup minute tapioca

1 t. minced garlic, salt & pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a Dutch oven or large roaster, place all the veggies & meat. Pour the tomatoes and sauce over the top and sprinkle with the tapioca and spices. Mix well. Cover tightly with lid and bake in a 275 degree oven for 5 hours. Stir and serve with Irish soda bread muffins. (Recipe below) Yum!! Serves 6

IRISH POTATO MEAT ROLL

A meat and side dish all in one. Add a salad and bread and dinner is served!

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck

1/2 clove garlic, finely chopped

2 eggs, slightly beaten

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3 Tablespoons grated Romano cheese

1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs

2 cups thick hot mashed potatoes

1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 8oz can tomato sauce mixed with 2 tablespoons mustard, 31/4 cup brown sugar, and a dash of ground nutmeg.

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Soak soft crumbs in milk; break up with a fork. Combine with meat, garlic, eggs, parsley, salt, pepper, and Romano cheese. Sprinkle the dry bread crumbs on a sheet of waxed paper. Pat out meat mixture on the paper into a rectangle 8″ by 12″. Spread with a layer of mashed potatoes and a layer of cheddar cheese. Lift edge of waxed paper and carefully roll up mixture like a jelly roll. Press ends to seal. Place in a greased shallow baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes or until meat is fully cooked. {After it has been baking for about 30 minutes pour tomato sauce mixture over meat and continue to bake.} Makes 6 servings.

IRISH SODA BREAD MUFFINS

A new twist on an Irish favorite. So good when served with real butter and a little honey.

INGREDIENTS:

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 cup buttermilk

½ teaspoon pure orange extract

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

1-1/3 cups currants (may use raisins or even our favorite—dried cranberries!)

2 teaspoons grated orange zest

2 tablespoons sugar, for topping

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a 12-count muffin pan generously with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.

In a separate large bowl, beat the egg. Gradually add in buttermilk and melted butter, stirring well to combine.

Gently fold in the dry ingredients and the currants (or raisins or dried cranberries) into the liquid mixture. Do not overmix.

Spoon the batter into the muffin pan, filling the cups 3/4 full. Sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of sugar over the tops of the batter.

Bake the muffins for 16 to 20 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Do not over-bake. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Serve warm, with salted butter and honey. Makes 12 muffins.

IRISH CREME MUFFINS

Whip up a batch of these easy muffins. It will bring out the leprechaun in you.

INGREDIENTS:

One box white cake mix

1 box instant pistachio pudding mix

1/3 cup Irish Creme powdered cappuccino mix

Eggs, oil and water as directed on cake mix box

White frosting

Green sprinkles, green sugar or other St. Patrick’s themed cupcake toppers

INSTRUCTIONS:

Make batter according to the instructions on the box, adding in the powdered cappuccino and pudding mixes. Bake according to the cupcake directions given. Top with frosting and decorative sprinkles. Enjoy!

Hope you have a fun day celebrating with your family!

Many blessings,

Karen Ehman, KarenEhman.com