It's Green, It's Spring, and It's St. Patrick's Day

It's Green, It's Spring, and It's St. Patrick's Day
by: Arleen M. Kaptur
The color green is the in-color for maintaining our planet in the best condition we can for future generations. Those who experience winter, snow, and below zero weather can now turn to thoughts of Spring. It is also the feast day of St. Patrick - whether you are Irish really doesn't matter. It is a great day to celebrate, share, and maybe even find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
The traditional foods are corned beef and cabbage, served with potatoes. The colors are green and gold for table decor and for fun - you can serve Blarneystone cakes (cupcakes tinted with green food coloring and covered with tinted coconut and frosting) and wish everyone the joy of finding their own rainbows in life as well as that pot of gold filled with coins and treasures.
Legend has it that if you serve Irish Soda Bread, the "X" that is cut into the bread before it is baked was to ward off evil spirits. More luck and good wishes on this special day.
If you really want to impress family and friends your table linens should be green or gold, mixed or matched or checked if you like and sprinkle some gold foil-covered "coins" on the table. For your menu, serving glazed carrots which can be the "gold" in your meal plan along with spicy so tender corned beef and cabbage. Potatoes are a staple for St. Pat's Day as is Irish Coffee for the adults, and lime punch for the kiddies. Serve hot pastrami dip with bread cut into shamrock shapes to begin the festivities as your guests arrive. Every meal needs bread so cut bread into the shape of a horseshoe, spread with your favorite butter mixture and broil just until golden brown. For dessert, try pistachio pudding topped with chocolate "good luck rainbows". Place melted chocolate into a plastic bag, cut a corner off and pipe the mixture in the shape of a pot with a rainbow onto waxed paper. Chill thoroughly, top your pudding dishes and fill in the rainbow with colored frostings of bright colors.
It's not a lot of work but it does make St. Patrick's Day extra special, reminds everyone of how "green" is the way to go and that friendship and caring for each other is the best "luck" you can find in today's topsy turvy world.
Somethig to think about
©Arleen M. Kaptur February 19, 2009