Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with recipes, music, movies and more

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations might look a little more subdued again this year, but Northeast Pennsylvania still has ample opportunities to embrace the Irish spirit.

From virtual events to recipes to at-home party ideas, here’s how you can celebrate the Emerald Isle and its rich legacy. And don’t forget to wear your green.

 

Recipes

These treats might just be the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow this year. Indulge in these Irish classics, tasty combinations of mint and sweet chocolate, and cookies as green as four-leaf clovers. They’re the perfect addition to any St. Patrick’s Day party or virtual gathering.

Find more seasonal recipes, visit Culinary.net, and check out the Local Flavor: Recipes We Love archives at thetimes-tribune.com.

Irish Potato Bread

Ingredients:

• 2 medium or large russet potatoes
• 1 egg
• 1 egg white
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons green onion, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting and kneading
• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375 F.
2. Peel potatoes. Slice one potato and boil in saucepan 15 minutes, or until tender. Remove potato from saucepan into large bowl. Mash potato then set aside.
3. Grate second potato onto cloth. Wring potato in cloth to remove excess water. Add grated potato to mashed potato in large bowl. Add egg, egg white, oil, milk, onion, caraway seeds, 3 1/4 cups flour, baking powder and salt. Stir with wooden spoon until mixture is soft and sticky.
4. Turn dough onto floured surface. Adding flour as needed, knead dough to form 8-inch round shape with slight dome. Place dough onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut large “X” on top of dough about 1/2 inch deep.
5. Bake 55 minutes until golden brown. Cool on wire rack 1 hour before serving.

— Family Features

 

Lucky Mint Brownie Perfection

Servings: 9 to 12

Ingredients:

For the brownies:

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 box supreme brownie mix with chocolate syrup pouch
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg

For the filling:

• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 5 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 5 drops green food color

For the topping:

• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 bag (12 ounces) chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butter

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 F.
2. Spray 8-inch-by-8-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
3. In large bowl, mix brownie mix, water, oil and egg until combined. Pour into prepared baking pan. Bake 35 minutes. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
4. To make filling: In large bowl, beat powdered sugar, butter, whipping cream, cream cheese, peppermint extract and food coloring. Spread over cooled brownies. Refrigerate 1 hour or until set.
5. To make topping: In saucepan, melt whipping cream, chocolate chips and butter until smooth. Cool until lukewarm, about 10 minutes. Pour over filling; spread to cover. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until set.
6. Before serving, let brownies set 10 minutes at room temperature.

Tips: Cut brownies with wet knife for cleaner cuts. Store covered in refrigerator.

— Family Features

 

Lucky Shamrock Cookies

Servings: 24 to 32

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 30 drops green food coloring
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 package (12 ounces) chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375 F.
2. In large bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt until blended. Set aside.
3. In medium bowl, beat butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs, food coloring and peppermint extract; beat until combined.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients; beat until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto baking sheet.
5. Bake 11 to 14 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.
6. Cool on wire racks.

— Family Features

 

Warm Corned Beef Sandwich with Black Pepper Mayo

Yield: 2 sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
• 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 4 slices hearty rye bread (toast if desired)
• 6 to 8 ounces very thinly sliced corned beef
• Red onion, well rinsed and very thinly sliced, optional

Directions:

1. Mix mayonnaise, horseradish and fresh black pepper in small bowl. Spread mixture over 1 side of 4 rye bread slices.
2. Fold the 6 to 8 ounces corned beef slices in half and pile them onto a microwave-safe plate. Cover with plastic and microwave on high (100% power) just long enough to make the meat steamy hot, about 45 to 60 seconds.
3. Arrange half of corned beef on 2 slices bread. Top with a few red onion slices if desired. Top with a second bread slice. Serve warm.

— The Daily Meal via Tribune News Service

 

Irish Brown Bread

Yield: 1- to 2-pound loaf

Ingredients:

• 10 ounces stone-ground whole wheat flour
• 6 ounces all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 ounce butter, cold
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Add all dry ingredients in a mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until combined.
3. Chop cold butter into small pieces. Add cut butter to dry ingredients and continue mixing on low speed until the butter is pea size.
4. Mix liquid ingredients together and slowly add to the dry ingredients. Mix until combined.
5. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Serve with a salted butter, honey or jam

— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via Tribune News Service

 

Local celebrations

Organizers of the Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade has pushed back this year’s event to Saturday, Sept. 18, at 11:45 a.m. As usual, a Parade Day Mass will take place at St. Peter’s Cathedral, 315 Wyoming Ave., at 10 a.m. followed by the Brian P Kelly Memorial 2-Mile Foot Race at 11.

So while you’ll have to wait for the parade, several other local events are happening this week.

Virtual Pittston City St. Patrick’s Parade

• Ongoing; facebook.com/pittstonstpatsparade.
• While organizers canceled this year’s parade because of the coronavirus, they continued the celebration online, compiling images from previous years into a virtual parade now streaming.

St. Patrick’s Day Story Time

• Wednesday, March 17, 11 a.m. to noon; wyomingfreelibrary.com, wyomingfreelibrary@gmail.com or 570-693-1364; free.
• This online reading, also hosted by Wyoming Free Library, will present ”I’m a Leprechaun” by Mallory C. Loehr.

”Riverdance”

• Wednesday, March 17, 1 and 7 p.m., Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock; $14 general/$12 members and seniors/$10 students; 570-836-1022, ext. 3, or DietrichTheater.com.
• The theater will screen the 25th Anniversary Gala Performance of the classic Irish dance and music extravaganza that was filmed live at 3Arena Dublin. Masks must be worn while entering and moving around the venue. Guests can remove their masks to eat and drink once seated.

Takeout Ham and Cabbage Dinner

• Wednesday, March 17, 4 to 7 p.m.; Veterans of Foreign Wars, 402 Winola Road, Clarks Summit; $10 adults/$4.50 children; 570-587-5663 or vfw.org.
• Reservations are encouraged for this traditional Irish dinner.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

• Wednesday, March 17, 6 to 9 p.m., the Settlers Inn, 4 Main Ave., Hawley; reservations suggested; 570-226-2993 or thesettlersinn.com.
• The restaurant will offer Irish specials including MomMom Ellicott’s Irish Stew, Drunken Mussels in Guinness broth, Irish Whiskey-Marinated Pan Roasted Salmon with boxty potatoes, and Classic Corned Beef and Cabbage with roasted potatoes. The Blarney Boys also will perform.

St. Patrick’s Day Yoga

• Wednesday, March 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Balance Yoga, 900 Rutter Ave., Forty Fort; 570-714-2777 or balancenepa.com.
• This special vinyasa class good for all levels of experience will use an Irish-inspired playlist

The Irish Tarot Experience

• Friday, March 19, 5 to 10 p.m., the Angry Irishman, 1259 Bryn Mawr St., Scranton; $40, cash only; registration required; 570-762-2126 or tarotforliving@gmail.com.
• Tarot for Living’s Jonathan Coyle will give approximately 30-minute tarot readings, and participants also will receive an energy stone/crystal.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

• Glass — Wine Bar Kitchen at Ledges Hotel, 119 Falls Ave., Hawley; Friday, March 19, through Sunday, March 21, 5 to 9 p.m.; 570-226-1337 or LedgesHotel.com.
• The restaurant will celebrate the holiday over three days with Irish-style specials and music by Kevin Campion (6 to 9 p.m.) on March 19 only. The event will include an a la carte menu. Glass accepts reservations.

Donnybrook

• Friday, March 19, 7 to 9 p.m., Susquehanna Brewing Co., 635 S. Main St., Pittston; free admission.
• Have a drink while listening to Irish music from this local band.

St. Paddy’s Cornhole Tournament

• Saturday, March 20; registration, noon; tournament, 1 p.m.; Center City Wine Cellar in the Marketplace at Steamtown; $20 per person at door.
• NEPA Cornhole’s next double-elimination tournament has social and competitive divisions with each team guaranteed at least two games. There will be an 80% payout for the competitive side and a 50% payout for the social side along with cash prizes and drink specials. $10 blind draws will take place as players are eliminated. Masks are required during play and when social distancing is impossible.

 

Party ideas

If you’re hosting family and friends for a St. Patrick’s Day get-together, there’s still time to spice things up and impress your visitors through lights, music and food. To stay stylish and keep your party going, consider these tips from Family Features for fun and festive home entertaining. Find more suggestions at eLivingToday.com.

Think about theme

Placing St. Patrick’s Day decorations throughout your home to give the party some life and help guests get into the mood. Choose table accessories that pop. That can include anything ranging from patterned table runners to flowers in full-bloom placed in simple, elegant vases. Choose green, white and orange flowers for a nod to the Irish flag.

Make safety convenient

Providing masks, gloves and sanitizer can all go a long way to help make guests feel more secure. Have everything available for when guests arrive so they can stay safe from the get-go.

Light up the party

Transforming your home can be made simpler by changing the lighting. Dim the lights to set a more relaxed mood, or use candles, lamps or even hanging lanterns, especially if you move the party outdoors. Stoke the fire pit, if you have one, for some extra warmth and light.

Set the mood with music

Pick music that matches the St. Patrick’s Day theme and inspires that same feel throughout the house. Make a playlist ahead of time so you’re ready to go.

Outdoor fun

If you’d rather spread out your gathering, set up lawn chairs on your driveway or in your garage and let everyone place a delivery order. Add some background music and individual desserts. Keep the kids entertained by turning the driveway into a canvas. Provide trays of supplies like chalk or washable paint and encourage kids to interact with sing-a-long songs and games.

Streaming

Music: If you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at home, you can do it with some of the world’s biggest Irish rock, pop and folk bands.

• The free ”Dropkick Murphys St. Patrick’s Day Stream 2021 … Still Locked Down” online concert will be simulcast worldwide on March 17 at 7 p.m. via DKMstream.com. For details, visit dropkickmurphys.com.
• Fellow rowdy punks Flogging Molly will stream a performance from Whelan’s Irish Pub in Dublin, Ireland, on March 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets start at $15 and are available at FloggingMollyLive.com. Various exclusive streaming bundles include goodies, a virtual meet-and-greet with the band and more. Fans will have full access to stream the entire show whenever they like through midnight Sunday, March 21.
• Bob Weir and Wolf Bros, led by the former Grateful Dead singer-guitarist, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a livestream performance on March 17 at 9 p.m. The Wolf Bros will be joined by Jeff Chimenti on keys and Greg Leisz on pedal steel, along with special guests the Wolf Pack. Tickets cost $19.99. Visit stream.fans.live/collections/20210317-bob-weir-and-wolf-bros.
• Gaelic Storm performs its “One for the Road” streaming concert on March 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $22, but there are all sorts of ticket/merch deals. Visit goaff.pro/OneForTheRoad317.
• Bastard Bearded Irishmen will offer a St. Patrick’s Day Viral Variety Hour that will feature live clips, bloopers and some remote jams on March 17 at 8 p.m. Part of the $15 general admission will go to a Pittsburgh theater’s COVID relief fund. Go to eventbrite.com.

Films

Kanopy has a selection of narrative films from Irish creators and documentaries about Irish history that will get you more acquainted with the roots and culture of Irish-Americans. Visit Kanopy.com to watch for free with your local library card.

• ”The Secret of Kells”: This Irish-French-Belgian animated film tells the story of the making of the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript from the 9th century which contains the four Christian Gospels of the New Testament and is known for its contribution to Christian and Celctic symbolism. (76 minutes)
• ”Borstal Boy”: The film is based on Brendan Behan’s memoir about his troubled youth. Caught with the makings of a bomb when sailing to Liverpool, he’s thrown into a British youth detention center, where he befriends a warden. (91 minutes)
• ”Beloved Enemy”: Irish rebels launch an uprising to create an Irish republic independent of the United Kingdom. One of the rebellion’s leaders falls in love with an English aristocrat. (87 minutes)
• ”Brand Irish”: Learn about the history of St. Patrick’s Day and how Irish culture came to be celebrated around the world. (60 minutes)
• ”The Irish Brigade — In the American Civil War”: Learn about the contribution of Irish immigrants in the American Civil War and their fight to find acceptance and make a new home in the United States. (27 minutes)