Your St. Patrick’s Day Table

Tis the time of year for shamrocks in windows, preparations for the St. Patrick’s Day parade (or in Boston, boycott of the parade), and corned beef everything everywhere. This year I’ll be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Connemara in the West of Ireland for part of the day and in Galway for the other half of the day, but I will be DVRing the Boston St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, a tradition I do enjoy.

If you’re planning a St. Patrick’s Day feast, either over the weekend or on the day itself, here are a few Irish ingredient/Irish-inspired recipes for your St. Patrick’s Day Feast. Not all are traditional, but they all contain a little piece of the Emerald Isle. A vase of Irish daffodils (available at Trader Joe’s) adds a little Irish Spring to the festivities. Whatever you do for St. Patrick’s Day, I hope it fills your day with luck and love!

Irish Brown Bread – This bread is not too difficult, even for a baking novice like myself. It’s perfect with some Kerrygold butter and/or some nice Irish smoked salmon, and it pairs well with Guinness Beef Stew or a nice Seafood Chowder.

Irish Whiskey Chocolate Cake – chocolate, whiskey, fresh cream. . . what’s not to love?

Chocolate Biscuit Cake – This is a favorite of my husband and often found in bakeries in Ireland. Green Hills in Dorchester sometimes sells it by the slice, but it’s as easy to make it yourself (says the girl who hates making dessert).

Guinness Ice Cream Floats – These grown-up ice cream floats are as easy as can be and perfect for when you have company, as you don’t have to spend a ton of time prepping dessert.

Guinness Beef Stew – With the forecast still stuck in winter, this hearty stew is a must-make. It’s ideal for warming up your guests when they arrive, and the leftovers are even better!

Irish Whiskey and Brown Sugar Salmon – This dish is a regular on our menu rotation. It’s incredibly easy and a flavorful way to prepare a healthy piece of salmon. I continually struggle to get enough fish in our diets, and this recipe is definitely a winner.