Family Friendly ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Home
The weather here is changing, and the extra “spring” in my step is inspiring me to celebrate St. Patricks’s Day. Some simple treats and activities are the perfect way to make the day a little extra special especially when celebrating has been limited in our households. These recipes and activities are inexpensive, quick and easy. So trust me if I can do it so can you!
Shamrock Shake
Shamrock Shake
Add a little green to your vanilla shake, with this quick and easy recipe.
Ingredients
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1.5 cups milk
- green food colouring
- 1/2 tsp mint extract (optional)
- Mini Marshmallows
- Sour Straps candy
Directions
1. Mix ice cream, milk, food colouring and mint extract (if desired) in blender.
2. Pour into cups.
3. Top with mini marshmallows and sour strap “rainbow” and serve immediately.
Pot of Gold
St. Patricks Day wouldn’t be the same without a little GOLD. These cookies are so cute. And super easy to make.
Ingredients:
- Double stuffed Oreos
- 1 package semi sweet chocolate chips
- Yellow or gold sprinkles
- Sour Straps candy
Directions
1. Melt chocolate on double broiler or in microwave, stirring frequently.
2. Dip Oreo’s, one at a time, in melted chocolate. Flip with a fork and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Allow to cool.
3. Using a sharp knife, cut the top and bottom edges of the cookies off (so the bottom edge is flat and the cookie can standing up). Dip bottom edge in melted chocolate; stand up on cookie sheet to cool.
4. Dip top of cookie in melted chocolate and cover with yellow or gold sprinkles. Allow to cool.
5. Cut sour strap candies into 3rds width wise. Dip one end of the sour strap candy in chocolate and press into the back of the Oreo. Allow to cool. (You can place the cookies back to back so the tops of the rainbows are supported as the chocolate cools/hardens.
Minute to Win It Activities
Minute to win it is a fun way to have some laughs and some special family time. We have added a fun St. Patrick’s Day twist to the classic minute to win it games for extra laughs and all the fun! If you are just a little competitive like me you can keep track of point or do it just for fun.
10 challenges.
Points are awarded for each challenge:
4 points: 1st
3 points: 2nd
2 points: 3rd
1 point: participating
Players add up their points at the end to determine the winner!
1. Sift through and pick out all the marshmallows from lucky charms using a spoon. Whoever gets the most marshmallows in 1 minute wins.
2. Fruit Loops Sort: Each person gets 2 measured cups of Fruit Loops to sort by colour. Whoever sorts theirs first, wins.
3. Gold coin balance: See how many gold chocolate coins you can balance on the end of a stick. Whoever can balance the most by 60 seconds wins.
4. 3 Leaf Clover: Give each person a sheet of printed 3-leaf clovers. Whoever cuts out the most in 1 minute wins!
5. Junk in the Trunk: Each player places 10 yellow ping pong balls inside of a tissue box. Boxes are tied around each players' waist with a panty hose. Players have 1 minute to shake out as many ping pong balls as possible.
6. Go Fish! Or….go marshmallow? Use a straw to transfer as many marshmallows as possible from one bowl to your cup in a minute using just your straw. Whoever transfers the most in 60 seconds wins.
7. Stack the Peppermint Patty: See how many peppermint patty’s each player can stack in 1 minute.
8. Luck of the Irish game: Game of War that lasts only 1 minute. Player with the most cards at the end of 60 seconds wins!
9. Face Plant: Using only their face, players try and remove 5 green jelly beans from a plate of whipping cream before a minute is up.
10. Blow up a green balloon, using one hand keep the balloon in the air for 1 minute. If this is too easy, blow up additional balloons to add to the challenge!
Download the image to print your list of activities.
