Help - I need ideas for a St. Patrick's Dinner

[clh2]

DH and I are hosting some people from church on St. Patrick's night.

We do not know these people hardly at all, SO I DON'T WANT TO SCREW THIS UP!!!! There will be a total of 6 adults, 4 girls (4th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades) and 1 boy who is about 7 years old.

I think I can handle some corned beef and cabbage - as that appears to be fairly easy, there are some crockpot recipes on line.

One family is bringing an appetizer, one family is bringing dessert. I'll be supplying the beer and wine (And yes, all adults in this group have agreed it will be acceptable!)

So - I just need to know what else should I make along with the corned beef? 2 of the kids (including mine) will not eat this, so there will be a chicken nuggets or mac'n cheese available too.

In advance, thanks for the help!

 

[Pixie Tales]

Corn Beed ?? or Beef ??

Potatoes

My grandmother always made small white skinless potatoes with butter and seasonings..

 

[Honu]

My grandmother used to serve ham, for those of us that couldn't stomach the corned beef & cabbage, and she'd make a big baked pan of au gratin potatoes, which went well with both.

 

[jonestavern]

Irish soda bread w/currants--very easy to make or buy at store
apple bread, or walnut & brown sugar breakfast style rolls
brown bread, the molasses type baked in a can
apple sauce--goes well w/corned beef
carrot, cole or broccoli slaw are good sides
carrot salad
ambrosia salad
Hawaiian salad
baked beans
stewed fruits
a variety of mustards, for instance: brown, Dijon, yellow or grainy
we put parsnips into our corned beef, too or turnip
fresh (best) or canned pineapple, most all fruits go nicely
sherbet
fruit ices

Jean

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I made Corned Beef & Cabbage 2 night ago Our usual is Corned Beef, Cabbage, Carrots, and I will usually do some kind of rolls - bulkies, heat & serve, crescents. Some people will add onions & turnip to this traditional boiled Irish Dinner. I boil the corned beef in a large pot -

Rinse the beef brisket under cold water, and place in a large pot. Add enough water to cover the roast by 6 inches. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 30 minutes at a rolling boil. Reduce heat to medium-low so that the water is at a gentle boil, cover, and cook for 3 1/2 hours. About 45 minutes before serving I put in peeled potatoes halved or quartered depending on size, peeled carrots, and cabbage which I just quarter and remove core after cooking. Plenty of Butter, Salt & Pepper on the table and like someone else posted - Mustards for those that might like it. The nice thing with this meal is it can be contained in 1 pot (or 2 with the amount you are cooking) No need to messy up alot of cooking casserole dishes, pans, etc.

Enjoy your evening! This is one of the meals I look forward to every St. Patty's Day!

 

[shortbun]

I agree with the boiled potatoes-or for the kids, mashed might be better. Yummmm, big old pot of mashed potatoes! I know what I'm fixing for dinner tonight!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I was in the grocery store and they had one of those little books above the gum at the check out dedicated to St.Patty's. It had lots of great recipies and really cute ideas...I think it cost like 1.99 or 2.99. Look in your grocery store and see if they had it. I think it would be a great help. It is like the ones you see each month that use brand name products.

 

[Disney-For-Life]

If you are serving coffee, buy suger cubes and some green food colouring. One drip per cube will give you lovely green St. Pat's Day suger cubes (and they look great if you display them in a lovely clear glass dish).

Good Luck

 

[MareQ]

Since your oven will be free and corned beef is an easy meal - why not just do a small baked ham and a pan of homemade mac and cheese? When the ham and mac and cheese come out - throw in a pan of chicken nuggets(Get the non-frozen ones - they'll heat up faster)

Round out with a salad and you're done.

Dessert can be a nice Irish Pound Cake!!! I have a recipe from my great- grandmother - Catherine O'Grady - let me know if you want it.

 

[Poohbear123]

Since your oven will be free and corned beef is an easy meal - why not just do a small baked ham and a pan of homemade mac and cheese? When the ham and mac and cheese come out - throw in a pan of chicken nuggets(Get the non-frozen ones - they'll heat up faster)

Round out with a salad and you're done.

Dessert can be a nice Irish Pound Cake!!! I have a recipe from my great- grandmother - Catherine O'Grady - let me know if you want it.

YUM! I can hardly wait till St. Patty's Day, can I have that Irish Pound Cake recipe please?

 

[clh2]

Dessert can be a nice Irish Pound Cake!!! I have a recipe from my great- grandmother - Catherine O'Grady - let me know if you want it.

I do not need to worry about dessert - one of the families is bringing that.

 

[MAKmom]

Make HAM not Corned Beef. Salmon & Lamb are also traditional Irish main courses.

I would do a spiral Ham. Boil potatoes & put in crock pot to keep warm. Then separately cook cabbage or serve coleslaw. This is food most will eat or at least some of it. Serve roll & sandwiches can be made for those who chose.

Big Lots has some cute decorations. I had a party last year.

I used puffy Stickers & put them on my wine glasses.

I used a plastic table cloth as a table runner I do this with plastic table cloths because they are sometimes just white inside

Buy a box of Irish Potatoes for your desert table.

 

[Kimberle]

fyi, corned beef is not really a traditional Irish dish. I have a friend who was born and raised in Ireland. She came over here to marry her husband. He family is still there and she goes back often.

She doesn't eat corned beef. It was never served in her house. She said when the meat was starting to "turn", the butcher would soak it to turn it into corned beef. People really didn't buy it or eat it much.

 

[s&k'smom]

I second what Kimberle said, my dad is from Ireland and St. patrick's day was never celebrated with us, except it was another holy day and we had to go to church. Corn beef is a sandwich meet in Ireland. But I do love my cornbeef and cabbage.

 

[Erin1700]

My family always has a big st. patricks day dinner. One thing my mom always does is make rice for the kids and put green food coloring in the water to turn the rice green!

 

[clh2]

I second what Kimberle said, my dad is from Ireland and St. patrick's day was never celebrated with us, except it was another holy day and we had to go to church. Corn beef is a sandwich meet in Ireland. But I do love my cornbeef and cabbage.

I "get" what you said.

When the 3 families were comparing schedules, 3/17 was the only date for months that all 3 of us were not busy. I originally said I would do lasagna, garlic bread and a salad BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE TO COOK. And, I know exactly how much the lasagna will feed, etc. etc. (There is a great take out place for it near my work) All I would need to do is heat it until the cheese would melt.

Now, I am getting "pressure" to do an Irish meal from the other 2 families, and I am not comfortable with using 2 families as giunie pigs (bad spelling, sorry) so I am trying to find the easy things to do, i.e. things that can be done in the crock pot, early in the day. Unfortunately, I stress out way too easily because I do not like to entertain. That's why I like to do the lasagna.

Now, as a previous poster suggested, I can do a spiral ham and I know it will turn out, we did one for about 15 people at Christmas, along with some garlic mashed potatoes - that can be made the day before, and heat up in a crock pot before serving. I can whip up a salad. I love coleslaw too. Will that be enough "Irish" in the meal? Luckily, DH will keep my wine glass full It just helps keep the stress level low for me.

 

[MareQ]

YUM! I can hardly wait till St. Patty's Day, can I have that Irish Pound Cake recipe please?

Here you go

IRISH POUND CAKE 350º

Greased and floured bunt pan

8 oz package cream cheese-room temperature
8 oz butter (2 sticks) -room temperature
1 LB sugar (2 cups)
1 LB self raising flour (2 cups + 2Tbls)
1 Tsp. vanilla
1 jigger Irish whiskey
1/8 Tsp. ground mace
6 Extra large eggs - room temperature

===================================================

Preheat oven to 350º. Grease and flour bunt pan or angel food pan. Beat together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar and beat well. Add eggs one at a time with 2 TBS of flour beating well. Add rest of flour with the last egg. Mix thoroughly. Blend in mace, vanilla and whiskey. Pour in cake pan and bake for 1 hour 10 minutes till done. Cool. Best when made a day ahead.

 

[Liberty Belle]

When we did a Saint Patrick's day dinner (we made ham, potatoes, green beans, and a salad) we set out one St. Patty's scratch off lottery ticket and two gold foil covered chocolate coins at each person's place. One of our guests won a hundred bucks! It was fun, and I thought I'd throw it out there as an idea (if it's acceptable in your church).

 

[clh2]

When we did a Saint Patrick's day dinner (we made ham, potatoes, green beans, and a salad) we set out one St. Patty's scratch off lottery ticket and two gold foil covered chocolate coins at each person's place. One of our guests won a hundred bucks! It was fun, and I thought I'd throw it out there as an idea (if it's acceptable in your church).

I love this idea, and no, I don't think anyone in our group would be offended!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

My family always has a big st. patricks day dinner. One thing my mom always does is make rice for the kids and put green food coloring in the water to turn the rice green!

I am going to have to steal this idea for that week for us! My DS5 LOVES rice so he will get a big kick out of it!