St. Patrick's Day Food and Fun for Kids

Celebration with food for St. Patrick's Day

(PRWEB) February 25, 2004 --On March 17, St. Patricks Day, everybody claims to be a wee bit Irish. Along with the wearing of the green, there are many traditions and activities that help to celebrate the life of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. You can help your child experience some Irish lore by preparing foods associated with this feast day.

In her book, Cooking Around the Calendar With Kids - Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun, Amy Houts includes many foods that are traditionally served to honor the spirit of the Irish. Here is an easy bread recipe that you can make with your child as you talk about the significance of the shamrock* in Irish culture and the meaning behind this well-known Irish phrase, may the wind always be at your back"*.

Irish Soda Bread

4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet.

Children can measure and stir together flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and stir in buttermilk. Dough should form a ball.

On a floured board or cloth, children can knead and shape dough into a round loaf, about 8 inches across. Place dough in the center of the cookie sheet. Score bread dough with a sharp knife; make an X about 1/2-inch deep. Bake for about 40 minutes, until brown. Serve hot.

Yield: 1 loaf

This and other food and fun suggestions can be found in Cooking Around the Calendar With Kids - Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun. This is a fun book you can read and use with your child all year long.

*Shamrock -- three leaf clover used to illustrate the Christian trinity of God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit but one God.

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