St. Patrick’s Day is a fun day to celebrate with your family. Add some kid friendly food to the day and enjoy it even more!
Green Food
Add green food coloring to almost anything and watch your kids eat it up. Some suggestions – vanilla pudding, ice cream shakes, white cake or cupcakes and of course plain old milk.
Share all sorts of naturally green foods such as green apples, kiwis, grapes, celery (add some peanut butter), green pistachios and a platter of green peppers, raw broccoli and cucumbers with dip.
Candy
You should be able to find all sorts of green candy and other St. Patrick’s related candy on sale for this special day. Think green M&M’s, lollipops, sour candies, and green apple flavored candies. Gold coins and shamrock shaped candies are popular too.
Lucky Charms Cereal
Serve it for breakfast, as a snack or add as a topping to iced cupcakes, cakes, pudding, etc.
photo credit - http://www.flickr.com/photos/laffy4k/403048731/
Corned Beef and Cabbage
The great thing about corned beef and cabbage is that children can pick out what they want to eat from this famous meal. If they don’t like the cabbage, then give them some carrots and potatoes with a slice of meat.
This is the recipe I’ve used for years:
Ingredients
1 Corned Beef Brisket with spice mixture (size depends on your family and if you want leftovers), rinse under water
1-2 heads of green cabbage – take off outer leaves, rinse and cut in fours
6-8 carrots, peeled, rinsed and cut in half (you may need to add more if corned beef is larger than 4 pounds)
6 large white potatoes, peeled and rinsed (you may need to add more again)
1 Loaf of Rye Bread
Various Types of Mustard
Preparation
Use a large pot to fit all ingredients. Add corned beef and cover with water. Do not add seasoning mix. (I find that children are more likely to eat this meal without the strong flavor of the seasonings. The meat has been brined so it holds a lot of flavor.)
Bring to a boil and then simmer for about 2 hours. Add cabbage and carrots. Cook for another 30 – 40 minutes. Add potatoes (keep them whole) and cook for another 20 minutes. Make sure all vegetables are cooked thoroughly. You may need to add more water when you add the vegetables. Keep another pot of boiling water going on the side.
When done, carve meat. Serve on a large platter with vegetable. Offer rye bread to eat with meal. Mustard is often used as a condiment too. My family likes to mash up the potatoes and carrots on our own dishes.
For leftovers, add some of the liquid to your containers to keep meat moist. Eat as a meal or have sandwiches.
Whatever foods you choose to eat with your kids on St. Patrick’s Day, remember to spend time together, share stories about the history of the day and about Leprechauns. Go see a parade or make a craft.
