It's March 17th!!

I posted this last St. Patrick's Day saying that I would want to wear this if I was going out. I looked at it again, and I would still want to wear this, LOL!

Unfortunately, I don't have any of these items - and I am going out this year. I shall attempt to make do with something from my closet - and drink lots of green beer to make myself feel better! Sláinte!!

St. Patrick's Day fun!

 If I was going to go out for St. Patrick's Day, this is what I'd want to wear:

But I'm staying in, so I'll probably just be wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. And I don't have a green sweatshirt, darn it. I'll think of something. I do have a bright green trench coat, but my kids say I look like a green M&M in it. I need to get a sweatshirt that says "Ireland" on the front.

Remember that cupcake recipe I posted from Annie's Eats? The one for Chocolate Guinness Stout cupcakes? Well, I used that recipe again (substituting Young's Double Chocolate Stout for the Guinness) - this time to make St. Paddy's Day cupcakes. The recipe says it makes 24 cupcakes, but I was able to make 24 full-size cupcakes and 40 mini cupcakes from one batch. I modified this recipe for buttercream frosting.

My modifications:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
• 2 tsp. gourmet vanilla extract

Here's the result:

Hey, I know those little green candies aren't shamrocks, but they're green & I'm just going to go with it! LOL!

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day cupcakes!

Cupcakes made with Guinness Chocolate Stout & Bailey's Irish Cream? Can I get a "hell yeah"???   **raises both hands**

The whole thing started when I saw this luscious-looking cupcake on Cakespy's blog a couple of days ago:

 

Chocolate Guinness Stout Cupcake with Bailey's Irish Cream Buttercream frosting

For those of you lucky enough to be near Seattle, these cupcakes can be found at Trophy Cupcakes. Well, bully for everyone who can go to Trophy Cupcakes & pig out on the yumminess. **pouts**

Where does that leave the rest of us? I don't know about you, but I refuse to be denied!!! I, too, shall have delicious St. Patrick's Day cupcakes, even if I have to make them myself...WOW! What an idea!!!

I found this recipe for Chocolate Guinness Stout cupcackes with Bailey's Cream Cheese frosting on the Nook and Pantry blog- it sounds yummy!! 

  

Nook & Pantry's Chocolate Guinness Stout cupcakes with Bailey's Cream Cheese frosting

But then I couldn't decide if I would like buttercream or cream cheese frosting best, so I searched a little more and found Annie's Eats. She has a recipe for Guinness & Bailey's Irish Cream cupcakes. These are filled with a Bailey's Irish Cream ganache! Double score!! These babies are making my mouth water...

Annie's Eats' Guinness & Bailey's Irish Cream cupcakes

But you know... *whispers* I actually prefer Young's Double Chocolate Stout to Guinness. So what if I used Young's instead of Guinness? I found this recipe for YDCS cupcakes on 944.com (it's an article on beer, so scroll down to the bottom for the recipe). But really, I think either chocolate stout would work in any of the recipes.

And don't forget to use Springpad to save your recipes! (Remember? I told you about it awhile back.) I've been saving my recipes there & it's so handy. You can save recipes from any site into your Springpad account. You can just enter the URL of the recipe & it will capture it for you. No need to print them all out (and lose them) or bookmark 100's of recipes - you can keep them all in one place!

Beannachtai na Feile Padraig oraibh!

I know it's not St. Patrick's Day yet, but I want you to have time to watch the video (and plan accordingly) and download the music so that you're ready when March 17 rolls around!

I saw this video, and it is hilarious. Everyone definitely needs to see it so that they will know "How to celebrate St. Patrick's Day like an Irishman".

Every party needs music! I've made three St. Patrick's Day playlists for you - and I hope that at least one will suit your party needs.

Remember - on St. Paddy's Day, a party can be a party of one with the right music & drink! Sláinte! This first playlist is all about good Irish drinking songs. *disclaimer* And because they are Irish drinking songs, they may contain lyrics not suitable for young or sensitive ears.

And just a few important Gaelic words/phrases to know when drinking on St. Patrick's Day:

• "Pionta Guinness, le do thoil." - "A pint of Guiness, please."
• "An bhfuil tú ar meisce fós?" - "Are you drunk yet?"
• uisce beatha - whiskey
• sláinte - cheers

Irish Drinking Songs

1. Whiskey in the Jar - The Pogues
2. Kiss Me, I'm S**tfaced - Dropkick Murphys
3. Irish Drinking Song - Buck-O-Nine
4. The Seven Deadly Sins - Flogging Molly
5. The Night That Paddy Murphy Died - 4 Irish Whiskey
6. Whiskey You're the Devil - Stoney Road
7. Drunken Sailor - Blaggards
8. The Beer Song - Seamus Kennedy
9. Beer, Beer, Beer - The Clancy Brothers
10. Old Dun Cow (MacIntyre!) - Brobdingnagian Bards

This next playlist is more for the traditionalist. It contains a lot of classics - and I think most (if not all) are safe for ears of all ages & sensitivity.

And here are some more "traditional" Gaelic words/phrases (ones you can teach the kids):

• Lá Fhéile Pádraig - St. Patrick's Day
• Éirinn go Brách! - Ireland forever
• "Tabhair póg dom, táim Éireannach!" - "Kiss me, I'm Irish!"
• "Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!" - "St. Patrick's Day blessing upon you!"
• seamróg - shamrock

Traditional St. Paddy's Day Songs

1. Molly Malone - The Dubliners
2. The Unicorn - The Irish Rovers
3. Wearing of the Green - Tony Malone
4. When Irish Eyes are Smiling - Tommy Maken
5. St. Patrick's Day Parade - Bing Crosby
6. My Wild Irish Rose - Aaron Celtic Company
7. Galway Bay - Dolores Keane
8. MacNamara's Band - Dennis Day
9. Dear Old Donegal - Leo McCaffrey
10. It's the Same Old Shillelagh - Bing Crosby

And lastly, music that moves your heart & soul, even if you're not a Celt. And I have plenty of Celtic blood, so I could listen to this playlist all day long. Well, I could listen to the drinking songs all day long, too - but this is a bit more relaxing.

The Celtic Playlist

1. Song for Ireland - Mary Black
2. Ireland's Call - Celtic Thunder
3. Danny Boy - Michael Londra
4. Lord of the Dance - Ronan Hardiman
5. Níl Sé'n Lá - Celtic Woman
6. The Fairy Ring - David Arkenstone
7. The Mummer's Dance - Loreena McKennitt
8. Erin Grá Ma Chroí (Ireland of My Heart) - Cherish The Ladies
9. Irish Blessing - Pat Gaughan & Joe Wadz
10. Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral - Dennis Day

And for those of you who love karaoke, amazon.com is offering a free St. Patrick's Day sampler download - 10 well-known songs (2 versions of each song). I'm not sure how long this offer is in effect, so if you're interested, download it now!

If you'd like to hear the proper pronunciation of the Gaelic phrases in this post, you can listen to them at Irish-Sayings.com.

Enjoy! Éirinn go Brách! Lá Fhéile Pádraig!