Posted on by Pamela Layton McMurtry

Erin Go Bragh!


It’s said that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, so put on your best green and get ready for a little magic on the Kim Power Stilson show. 

March 17th at @ 3 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Mountain


Find out just how much you know about one of the world’s greatest missionaries and the Emerald Isle. 


Here’s the transcript:
 


Leprechaun Cottage Garden                    Pam McMurtry Designs



For your St. Patrick’s Day dinner, this Leprechaun cottage garden is a nutritious craft that does double-duty as a appetizer and centerpiece 

To make your own leprechaun cottage you will need:


A medium-size unfinished wooden birdhouse ($4.99 @ Michael’s craft store)
White gesso or tempera paint
Burnt umber acrylic paint
Light green acrylic paint
Large and small paintbrushes
A handful of large and small pebbles
Dry green moss
Twigs
A hot glue gun and glue sticks or thick craft glue
Shamrock or decoration if desired

  • Whitewash the birdhouse with 3 – 4 coats of gesso, allow to dry between each coat. 
  • Paint the door and base green and the eaves and doorknobs brown.
  • Hot glue small pebbles around the door and larger ones around base of the house, filling in with the tiniest ones.
  • Glue the twigs along the front and back of the roof edges and over the window. Glue moss to the roof and tops of the pebbles.
  • Add an ornament if desired. Hide a few gold foil-covered coins inside the cottage.
LEPRECHAUN GARDEN

Decorate your St. Patrick’s Day dinner table with a leprechaun garden crudités that does double-duty as an appetizer and a centerpiece. 

It’s easy to create; just set the leprechaun cottage on a tray or in a shallow basket. Trim off the stem ends of a four-pack of washed mini lettuce heads or a bunch of kale and place in a bowl of water to rinse and refresh like you do with a bouquet of cut fresh flowers After you shake off excess water and drain upside down for a few minutes, place around the cottage for the garden base.. Prepare small vegetables as directed and place them in the lettuce heads in rows or bunches. Serve with your favorite garden or ranch dip, tinted green, in a hollowed bell pepper.

TINY VEGETABLES

Bite-size potatoes; wash, lightly coat with canola or olive oil and bake for about 30 minutes at 425 degrees, or until soft. (I bought these at Sprouts in Salt Lake City)
Blanch the following vegetables for the leprechaun garden. Boil 3-4 quarts of water in a large pot. Add vegetables, blanch for the recommended time, remove with a slotted spoon then immerse in cold water, drain on towels until you assemble the crudités.
Asparagus: wash and break off stem ends, boil for 3 – 5 minutes, cool, cut in half
Broccoli: wash and cut into individual branches, blanch for 3 minutes
Brussels sprouts: remove outer leaves, wash and boil for 8 minutes
Snow peas, trim off ends and remove strings, blanch for 30 seconds
  • Wash and cut the following vegetables into bite-size servings:
Mini carrots, mushrooms, cucumbers, celery, bell pepper

IRISH SODA BREAD

This mild-tasting bread is delicious with butter and jam.
      
        Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with          foil, lightly butter and set aside.
        Sift together
3 ½ C all-purpose flour + extra for rolling out the dough
2 TBSP sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
        Make a crater in the center, add
1 C buttermilk
¾ C cream
        Using your fingers or a large fork, stir the dough until it           just holds together. Add
½ C dried cranberries or raisins (optional)
       Flour the work surface and gently mold the dough into a          6 inch round loaf. Dust the bread with flour and cut a              cross into the top, place on the baking pan. Bake for 42          – 45 minutes until hollow-sounding when tapped.                    Remove from pan, serve immediately with butter and              strawberry or blueberry jam.

Glazed Corned Beef                      Pam McMurtry Designs

And here is the recipe I promised for our favorite mustard and brown sugar-glazed corned beef:

GLAZED CORNED BEEF

            Preheat oven to 350.
            Place fat side up in a baking pan
1 corned beef brisket, rinsed.
            Cover with foil, bake for 2 1/2 hours or until fork-                     tender. Drain, score meat with a knife, stud with
whole cloves
            Baste with
ginger ale
            Brush on glaze, return to oven and bake for 30 – 40                 minutes uncovered.
            Let cool for 15 minutes and slice across the grain.

GLAZE          
            
1/2 C prepared mustard

1/2 C + 2 TBSP brown sugar

GREEN FANTASY JELLO

            Pour into a 9″ x 13″ baking dish
2 C boiling water
            Stir in until dissolved
1 large lime jello 
            Add
2 C cold water
            Refrigerate until partially set, then stir in           
1 can crushed pineapple, drained. Refrigerate until firm.
            Fold together and spread over jello
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
7 oz. marshmallow creme
            Refrigerate at least one hour, top with whipped                       cream, sprinkle with green sugar crystals
            Serve on a
curly green lettuce leaf



Welcome Spring!                           Pam McMurtry Designs


To help set the mood for a fun and silly evening here are my favorite Irish-themed movies:

Darby O’Gill and the Little People: When aging Darby O’Gill is facing an unwanted retirement, the king of the leprechauns steps in to help him out of his dilemma. Worth watching to check out Sean Connery in his youthful splendor. This Disney film is great family entertainment but the scary banshee could be a bit intense for your little people. https://www.vidangel.com/

The Secret of Roan Inish: Young Fiona is mourning the loss of her mother, baby brother and island home when she hears rumors that the seals are looking after him until her family returns. Beautifully filmed, especially the scenes on the island of Roan Inish.  https://www.vidangel.com/

Waking Ned Divine: A winning lottery ticket means a change of fortune for one lucky townsperson; if he can get a little help from his friends. Adult themes and a naked tush shot make this a movie for older teens or adults. 

Magical Legend of the Leprechauns: A charming Gaelic interpretation of Romeo and Juliet with Whoopie Goldberg reigning in the little people and 2 love stories. Amazon.com

                  My daughter Heather Touchet’s art!

Here’s a story about St. Patrick – did you know his color was blue?