Time for a St. Patty's Day Party

Seeing as it's about a week before St. Patty's Day, I thought it might be a good time for a little party inspiration.  If you have been wanting to throw a little dinner party for awhile, St. Patrick's is a perfect excuse to go ahead and do it.   Just cook up some corn beef and cabbage and add a little green to your table!

Here are pictures from the party my mum threw last year (granted, she does things a little grandly, but take a couple ideas from it - like green ribbon around the napkins and make it simple and your own)



She used a few yards of burlap for a wide runner, and then went to town layering.  A gold (plastic) charger, under a rattan charger, under a white dinner plate, followed by a napkin tied up with green ribbon from Hobby Lobby.

For a centerpiece she got a little clover plant from the grocery store and used moss rocks and candle votives from Wal-Mart for extra decoration.

For dinner you can serve corned beef of course, just get the slightly more expensive cut of pre-corned beef at your store (can't remember what it's called but there's always two different cuts and the more expensive is generally worth it - the cheaper one is tough and fatty) and boil it up according to package directions with your cabbage or use this recipe from Ms. Martha to make your own.

 

 http://www.marthastewart.com

Then I would roast or steam some vegetables and maybe make some soda bread if I'm feeling ambitious. ; ) It's really pretty easy  - no kneading or rising involved.  Below is a sweetened version from Ms. Martha.  Traditional versions are also on her site.

http://www.marthastewart.com

For dessert, of course you will want to make this Guinness Chocolate Cake.  I made it last year and oh, it was so good.  Recipe {HERE}.

To top it off, you'll want to make a little Irish Coffee.  Very simple, very special, very yummy.  If by some reason you convince yourself to skip the cake, Irish Coffee could certainly suffice as dessert, served with little shortbread cookies or shamrock sugar cookies you made with your left-over dough from Valentines. : )

http://www.marthastewart.com

So, on the Menu for a St. Patty's Day Party:

Corned Beef & Cabbage

Roasted, Broiled or Steamed Vegetables

Soda Bread

Guinness Chocolate Cake

Irish Coffee

Let me know if you go for it, and a happy weekend to you!

love, cailan