The Luck O’ The Irish

By Christy Rost, March 2005

St. Patrick’s Day is Thursday March 17th, a festive day of celebration, regardless of where you were born or whether your ancestors ever stepped foot on the Emerald Isle. St. Patrick’s Day, at least in the United States, has become more a state of mind, a day when everyone is a little bit Irish.

Getting in the spirit of the day is as easy as wearing a wee bit o’ green – a green shirt or tie, a pair of outlandish green socks, or a shamrock pin. I’m always looking for excuses to perk up meals, and a holiday, no matter how mainstream or trivial, provides the perfect excuse for transforming an ordinary meal into a special occasion the entire family will enjoy.

Supermarkets, craft and party stores are filled with a large selection of St. Patrick’s Day accessories. Used as décor for your table, they can add an element of fun and excitement to your evening meal. Green placemats make a colorful background for everyday tableware, or use a length of shamrock fabric from a fabric store to brighten up the center of your table. There’s no need to hem raw edges, either. Just turn them under and press with an iron, or for a more permanent solution, iron in the hem with Stitch Witchery®, which you’ll find in fabric stores.

Green candles and shiny shamrock garland can transform the table in a flash, proving you don’t have to have a lot of time to make mealtime more enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a traditional Irish dish to serve on St. Patrick’s Day, you’re in luck. A bowl of hearty Irish Stew, accompanied by a platter of piping hot biscuits or a loaf of Irish soda bread, is an absolutely delicious entrée on this festive holiday. My easy, flavorful recipe starts with lamb chops or meat cut from a leg of lamb – your butcher will be happy to do this for you. Ask the butcher to cut and save the bones for you, since they’ll add a lot of flavor as the stew simmers.