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 Why do people love St. Patrick's Day? Could it be the funny little leprechaun's in their green tights? Well... I hope not. This celebration occurs every March 17 -- even though many festivities happen on the weekend prior (you might want to check your local paper for any events in your area).
The Irish have observed this as a religious holiday for thousands of years. Traditionally, the divinely devout would attend church in the morning and then celebrate like there is no tomorrow in the afternoon.
If you are planning to stay in with a few friends or family, why not try a few interesting recipes to whet your appetite, coupled with a smooth Irish dew or brew. First, and most importantly, the beverages. If you like a subtle, smooth sipper try Tullamore Dew. It's made in Ireland in oak casks and aged just right for that mellow flavor. The malted barley used in this whiskey is dried in closed kilns over coal fires to maintain its genuine flavor. It isn't overpowering in any sense, but it isn't weak either. Perfect to go with a bunch of party food. If whiskey isn't your thing, you really have to have a generous supply of Guinness on hand. I mean, do I really need to say more than that about Guinness? On to food. Well, rather than try and describe everything, why not just give you a few appetizer-like recipes to try for yourself. All go great with spirits and beer.  Mini-Cheeseburger Pastry Bundles (Pepperidge Farm)
Thaw Time: 40 minutes; Bake Time: 20 minutes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Makes: 12
Ingredients:
1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef
1 tablespoon steak sauce
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup minced green onion
1 package (17.3 ounces) Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets (2 sheets)
12 slices (1-inch square each) Havarti or Cheddar cheese, about 1/4-inch thick
Directions:
Mix thoroughly the beef, steak sauce, seasoned salt, black pepper and green onions in a medium bowl. Shape the beef mixture firmly into 12 (2-inch) patties.
Cook the patties in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat to medium doneness, turning them over once halfway through cooking. Remove the patties from the skillet and let cool to room temperature.
Thaw the pastry sheets at room temperature for 40 minutes or until they're easy to handle. Heat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Unfold 1 pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 10-inch square. Cut the pastry sheet into 6 (about 3 x 5-inch) rectangles. Repeat with the remaining pastry sheet.
Place 1 patty into the center of each pastry rectangle and top each with 1 cheese slice. Fold the corners of the pastries up over the filling and twist to seal. Place the pastries on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until the pastries are golden.
Cook's Note: The assembled burger bundles can be prepared up to 1 day in advance. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. Nacho Cheese Bites - Pepperidge Farm
Thaw Time: 40 minutes; Bake Time: 15 minutes
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cool Time: 10 minutes
Makes: 20
Ingredients:
1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces)
1/4 cup Pace Chunky Salsa
5 pitted ripe olives, cut into quarters (optional)
Chili powder
Directions:
Heat the oven to 400°F. Beat the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork or whisk. Stir the cheese and salsa in a small bowl.
Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 15 x 12-inch rectangle. Cut into 20 (3-inch) squares. Place about 1 tablespoon cheese mixture in the center of each pastry square. Top each with 1 olive piece, if desired. Brush the edges of the pastry squares with the egg mixture. Fold the pastry over the filling to form triangles. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Place the filled pastries onto baking sheets. Brush the pastries with the egg mixture and sprinkle with the chili powder.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Remove the pastries from the baking sheets and let cool on wire racks for 10 minutes.
Oriental Chicken Wings- Sandy Moyer, editor of Home Cooking @ BellaOnline
This easy recipe for chicken wings is cooked in the microwave.
Ingredients:
10 to 12 chicken wings
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 cup fine cracker crumbs
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. pepper
Preparation:
Remove the tips from the chicken wings and discard. Rinse the wings, then pat dry. Pour soy sauce into a shallow dish; set aside. In another shallow dish, combine the remaining ingredients. Dip the chicken wings in the soy sauce, then roll them in the seasoned crumb mixture to coat evenly. Arrange the wings, skin side up in a circular pattern on a 9" round glass baking dish or pie pan, placing the thickest portion toward the outer edge of the dish. Cover with paper towels. Cook in a microwave oven on full power for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken is tender.
Spicy Chicken Drummettes- Sandy Moyer, editor of Home Cooking @ BellaOnline
Ingredients:
1/2 stick of margarine
1/2 cup Texas Pete Hot Sauce (or other comparable hot sauce)
1 package powdered ranch dressing mix
2 pounds chicken drummettes (baby chicken legs)
1 cup blue cheese dressing
Celery stalks to accompany
Directions:
Melt margarine in saucepan. Add 1/2 cup Texas Pete Hot Sauce.
Rinse and dry drummettes. Dip chicken in hot sauce mixture. Roll them in powdered Ranch dressing mix.
Spread onto baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve with celery and blue cheese dressing.
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