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Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Yummy Classics and Fresh Desserts

Throw A Shamrockin' St. Patrick's Day Party With Irish Flavor And Color From McCormick

It doesn't take the Luck o' the Irish to throw a great St. Patrick's Day party. McCormick has developed tips and recipes for a festive celebration you'll enjoy as much as your guests – including a make-ahead corned beef and ideas for using food color to tint food and drinks green.

"Irish or not, St. Patrick's Day is a holiday everyone loves to celebrate," said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens. "This year, in addition to green beer and treats, we developed easy recipes to bring the classic flavors of the Emerald Isle to the party table, from adding caraway seeds to store-bought cheese spread to making corned beef and cabbage in a slow cooker."

Make-Ahead Celtic ClassicsServe a one-pot recipe that's made in advance so you can spend more time socializing. Try one of these crowd-pleasing Irish favorites as your main dish:

• Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage – Let your slow cooker do the work. With a prep time of just 10 minutes, this Irish staple simmers in flavor throughout the day, making a delicious and tender party entree.
• Shepherd's Pie with Cumin & Smashed Chickpeas – Serve up this make-ahead one-dish meal bursting with flavor from hearty chickpeas, potatoes, roasted cumin, seasoned beef and lamb. Simply bake before adding to the party fare.

Get Car-Away-ed with Irish FlavorCaraway is a classic ingredient in Irish cuisine. Add caraway to sips and sides for more authentic party fare:

• Caraway Cheese Spread – Add an Irish touch to store-bought cheese spread by stirring in caraway seeds – it's a cinch to prepare.
• Irish Soda Bread – A simple quick bread, try either a Traditional or Irish Cheddar version for a delicious side to your savory dinners.
• Caraway Stout Cocktail – Prepare a caraway-infused simple syrup to flavor this cocktail that uses Irish whiskey and traditional stout beer.

It's Easy Being GreenUse this St. Patrick's Day Color Guide for tinting store-bought frosting and cake mix in seven shades of green. Add green food color to drinks, appetizers or desserts to add even more Irish flair to your table:

• Irish Spuds and Dip – Tint your ranch dip green and pair with potato wedges for a simple appetizer.
• Green Beer – Add a few drops of green food color to your favorite ice-cold brew for an easy St. Patrick's themed beverage.
• Leprechaun Lemonade – Serve this alcohol-free green lemonade, perfect for little Leprechauns and adults alike.
• Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies – Turn a classic into a green-tinted minty chocolate chip cookie perfect for St. Pat's.
• Easy Green Velvet Cupcakes – Surprise your guests with this green velvet treat that takes cake mix to delicious new heights with vanilla extract, sour cream and cocoa.

Visit www.McCormick.com for more St. Pat's party inspiration like Rainbow Bundt Cake and Emerald Mint Milkshakes, and check us out on Pinterest and Facebook.

Whether You're Irish or Not, More People Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at Home

 Omaha Steaks announced today that a recent nationwide St. Patrick's Day survey revealed, regardless of family roots or Irish heritage, the holiday is more about food and family than drinking. More than 30 percent of respondents said they celebrate at home or at friend and family members' houses, while less than 14 percent celebrate at a bar or local pub.

According to the Omaha Steaks survey, nearly 39 percent make it a family event, just over 37 percent celebrate with friends and 17.59 percent make it a "date night," and share it with their significant other. Most celebrate the holiday because it's fun (65.56 percent) while others celebrate because of their Irish heritage (26.85 percent).

 
 

 

Talk about lucky... Omaha Steaks offers everything you need for an authentic St. Patrick's Day feast! Serve up Omaha Steaks Rapid Roast Corned...

One of the top traditions observed on St. Patrick's Day includes enjoying a traditional Irish meal. The survey results showed the top four traditional Irish meals enjoyed on March 17 include:

1) Corned beef, cabbage and potatoes (50.19 percent)
2) Shepard's pie (17.48 percent)
3) Beef stew (13.16 percent)
4) Reuben sandwich (8.08 percent)

In response to the survey results, Omaha Steaks recently released the recipe and story behind the Reuben sandwich that was created in Omaha, Neb., at the Blackstone Hotel in the early 1920s. The Reuben recipe features corned beef, which is considered a St. Patrick's Day staple. "Omaha Steaks makes it easy to prepare and serve Reuben sandwiches," said Todd Simon, Sr. Vice President and Family Owner, "because we offer several types of corned beef, including Deli Style Corned Beef Slices and 1-Step Rapid Roast Corned Beef."

The 1-Step Rapid Roast products, which are exclusive to Omaha Steaks, cook in the package and make it easy for home cooks to prepare and serve gourmet foods. The company also offers additional products that are easy to prepare including Beef Sirloin Stew or Irish Soda Bread Rolls that pair well with any of these main dishes.

Simon added that, "We are not surprised by the recent survey results because food has brought people together for centuries. Omaha Steaks makes it easy to prepare a St. Patrick's Day feast with gourmet products that are convenient and easy to make at home."

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Irish Butter and Cheeses

What’s true Irish fare? Americans may think of potatoes or corned beef, but the answer may surprise you: it’s Irish butter and cheeses.

Evanston, Ill., — While potatoes were introduced to Ireland in the late 16th century, cattle have been in the Emerald Isle since 3,500 BC. And corned beef and cabbage, so beloved in the U.S. for St. Patrick’s Day, is believed to be an American invention.

Dairying enjoys a proud history in Ireland, where there is no industrial farming. Cows still roam free on small family farms and graze in lush Irish pastures. From this extraordinary grass-fed diet comes milk so rich in beta-carotene, it turns butter and cheeses a natural gold.

Small family farms are sustained through cooperatives made up of a vast number of small local farmers. Creameries collect the milk to turn into butter and cheeses renowned the world over, sold under the Kerrygold brand.

In the U.S., Kerrygold butter and cheeses are widely available in supermarkets and specialty stores. To get you ready for St. Patrick’s Day, try any of the following:

• Serve a cheese board of Irish cheeses, such as Dubliner, with elements of a fine Cheddar, nuttiness of a Swiss and the piquant bite of aged Parmesan; Skellig, a rich and tangy cheese with a hint of butterscotch sweetness; or Cashel Blue, a semi-soft, creamy Irish farmhouse cheese. Accompany Irish style, with chutney, toasted nuts and fruit.
• Make quick and easy Irish soda bread and slather it with silky Kerrygold Irish Butter. To learn how, check out a short video from Ireland’s most famous chef and cooking teacher, Darina Allen.
• Enda’s Ploughman’s Sandwich is inspired by the classic Irish ploughman’s lunch, a meat-and-cheese salad. In this version, the ingredients are piled onto rustic bread.
• Deirdre’s Colcannon, the classic mashed potatoes and cabbage dish, is dressed up with shredded Dubliner cheese and a pool of melted Kerrygold Irish Butter.
• Mrs. O’Sullivan’s Market Plate features an assortment of cold meats, smoked fish and Irish cheeses served with mustard, chutney and hearty brown bread.
• Peter Foyne’s Buttery Irish Potato and Apple Bake is made by sautéing potatoes and apples in Kerrygold Butter and baking with bacon.
• Clodagh’s Potato Cakes, a recipe from the popular Irish TV cooking star Clodagh McKenna, is made by frying mashed potato cakes in Kerrygold Irish Butter until golden brown. Learn how from this short video.