The day I’ve been looking forward to all month is here! It’s finally St. Patrick’s Day! Did silly leprechauns visit your house? Did the kids wake to find pennies hidden for them to find? Is your milk green? Maybe there is rainbow colored gelatin awaiting eager fingers to grab and devour it? Or maybe today is the day you’re going to learn all about gold, or shamrocks, or the historical account of the real St. Patrick? Whatever you’re up to today, add in a bit of luck and a few shenanigans for a day no one will soon forget! Speaking of shenanigans, here are a few fun Irish words and phrases to try out with the kids…
- blarney (flattery)
- shenanigans (mischief)
- sure and begorra (by gosh/by golly)
- wee gillies (little shoes)
- spuds (potatoes)
- Emerald Isle (Ireland)
If you forgot to prepare something fun for today, never fear! I’ve got you, mama! Follow the rainbow over to my post “Leaping Leprechauns! It’s St. Patrick’s Day!” to see a long list of easy and fun activities to make today lots of golden fun! It’s never too late to get out the green food coloring (I prefer this natural one, but any will do in a pinch) and turn your milk, scrambled eggs, pancakes, mashed potatoes, muffins, apple juice, apple sauce, or yogurt a nice emerald green. And if you have fresh spinach, check out my recipe below for Lucky Shamrock Muffins that taste like apples and cinnamon, and have the nutrition and color of bright green spinach! The kids love them! Don’t worry…they don’t taste like spinach at all, so even picky eaters will eat them.
Another wonderful thing to do tonight around the dinner table is to share these Irish Proverbs and Blessings. We have read them aloud, memorized them, written them on paper and then decorated the outside border…there are all kinds of things you can do! And the best part is that they are all joy and hope giving! Love it! So whether you’re doing corned beef and cabbage, colcannon, blood sausage and spuds, potato soup, or anything else for your meal…I pray you and your family will be blessed with faith, fun, and maybe a few magical moments.
Lucky Shamrock Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 eggs (can substitute 2 T ground flaxseed soaked in 5 T water)
- 2T oil
- 2/3 C applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 C almond milk (or any milk)
- 3/4 C pureed spinach
- 2 C flour (I use gluten free all-purpose 1-1 flour)
- 1 T cinnamon
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- pinch ground nutmeg
- pinch ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Use blender or food processor to puree the spinach.
- Add all other wet ingredients to blender and blend well.
- Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl, then add in the wet mixture.
- Mix well, then fill pre-greased muffin tins (or use paper liners) about 2/3 full.
- Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center. comes out clean.
- Allow to cool, then enjoy!