When I was a little girl, I distinctly remember St. Patrick’s Day being loads of fun. My dad would take me to the local parade where I would be clad in green from head to toe and perched on top of my head was a “Erin go Bragh” ( Long Live Ireland) knit cap. Dinner that evening was corned beef and cabbage and there was always a huge loaf of Irish Soda Bread to soak up the juices of the beef stock. Yes, it’s true. I am a convert to Judaism. The blood in my veins doesn’t come from the far Eastern parts of Russia nor the most Western Sephardic areas either. I am proudly Irish and Italian.
My great grandmother immigrated to the United States from Ireland and her fiery red hair and quick, temper was passed down through the generations. Fair skinned with natural red highlights, I now live to pass on these stories to my own child. So today is St. Patrick’s Day and that meant, Jewish or not, it was a day to celebrate!
But beyond a great pint of Guinness and some bangers and mash, how should a family celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? In our house we played a “hunting for gold coins” game and then we made…. Shamrock Shakes! Ever popular this time of year at the local McDonalds, there is no need to spend money and waste calories when you can make this tasty dessert in a pinch with your children. The recipe is as follows:
“Homemade Shamrock Milkshakes”
– Mint Chocolate chip Ice Cream
– Regular Milk
– Ice Cream
– Ice cubes
– Whipped Cream
– Green Sprinkles
Steps:
1. Grab your blender and spoon 2-3 large tablespoons of ice cream into the blender.
2. Pour 1 cup of milk on top and stir slightly to mix through.
3. Place 5-6 Ice cubes on top. Cover and begin to blend through. You probably will need to pause and mix the shake several times until it is fully processed.
4. Pour into a tall glass. Top with whipped cream and green sprinkles and enjoy!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Long live Ireland!!
Raising a Mensch 