You don't have to cross the Atlantic for a little Irish fun.

You can plan for a wonderful St. Patrick's Day - without spending too much of the green!

Blimey - you don't have to be Irish to celebrate this holiday - you just have to have fun! Parades, fireworks and food often mark this festive day. To add Irish charm to your celebration, check our Hints and Tips below. 

Don't let a busy day keep you from preparing a traditional feast of Corned Beef and Cabbage and some authentic Irish soda bread. Corned beef brisket is a perfect menu choice for the slow cooker, and the slow cooker is the perfect cooking choice for busy cooks! These recipes and more can be found in our Recipes section!

For dessert, have a little fun with a Leprechaun Cake created by baking three round cake layers, any flavor, and fitting them together to form a shamrock. Shape pieces of cake that you cut from each layer to form the shamrock's stem. Ice the cake with frosting tinted green! Or, why not try some green decorated shamrock cookies from the bakery, green mint pie, green-frosted cupcakes - or let your imagination take over!

For some Irish Smiles, place one scoop of vanilla or chocolate chip ice cream each in stemmed glass. Pour green crème de menthe liqueur over the scoop and serve immediately.

Hints and Tips

• Ask everyone to wear green. Those who don't are at risk of being pinched by everyone present!
   
• When you send out the invitations, be sure to put "O" in front of everyone's name and call them by this Irish moniker at the party - for instance, Mr. O'Zutler and Mrs. O'Steinberg.
   
• Use postcards from Ireland for your invitations, if there's a store near you that specializes in Irish items.
   
• Have a contest for the best St. Patrick's Day limerick.
   
• Hand out temporary shamrock tattoos for your guests to wear.
   
• Decorate your table with tiny shamrock plants. Send each guest home with one as a party favor.
   
• Decorate with the color green - for luck!