St Patricks Day Lunch

Even though I'm hosting my St. Patrick's Day get-together at a local Irish pub, I still plan on decorating. Green and white are the colors that will bring the leprechauns to life.

The food will be served on white and green recyclable paper platters. Instead of using regular toothpicks, slices of frittata will be stabbed with shamrock flag picks. Balloons allow guests to know where I've set up the party. Paper napkins and paper plates ensure a quick and easy clean up.

Beaded necklaces with clover pendants make a fun party gift. I won't forget to fill a flask with Irish whiskey — we'll enjoy this later at the parade! How are you celebrating St. Patrick's Day?

On Saturday a big group of friends and I are going to the St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown San Francisco. This is our fourth year in a row, and it should be a blast. Before the parade, we're meeting at an Irish pub in lower Haight. I'm making some snacks and one sweet treat.

Since it has to be portable and something I can put together the night before, I've decided on these festive and cute clover cookies. The cookies that aren't eaten at the bar can be packed in my purse and reserved for the beer garden later. To look at the recipe I'll be using, read more

I'm of Irish descent, and St. Patrick's Day is one of my favorite holidays. Every March I do something different: last year I hosted a cocktail party with green appetizers; in 2008, I helped cook Irish-inspired snacks; and in 2007 I threw a special dinner with blarney stone cottage pie. This weekend, I'm putting together an early lunch with friends and family.

We'll be going to the parade in downtown San Francisco, but before, we'll meet at Danny Coyle's, an Irish pub on Haight Street that lets patrons bring in their own food. I'm serving a simple, festive, and portable menu of mustard green and sweet onion frittata bites and smoked salmon sandwiches.

The sandwiches are served on homemade biscuits, and although the recipe calls for parmesan cheese, I'll substitute a good Irish cheddar. Interested in the recipes? Read more.