I know, I know – we’re all a wee bit Irish on the Seventeenth o’ March. But really, we are. I on my maternal side, DadChef on his paternal side. Whatever the reason to enjoy fun, green food, though, sign me up! Green is my favourite colour after all 😉 We had fun celebrating a bit early last weekend because why not! We made 3 easy St. Patrick’s Day appetizers we think you and your fam will enjoy making and nibbling on in the spirit of green, shamrock-shaped things – Creamy Cucumber Crostini, Shamrock Dip Veggie Platter & no-fuss Shamrock-shaped Sugar Cookies! All easy enough for your little leprechauns to partake in!
Updated 2022 – this year Canada will commemorate the first official Irish Heritage Month to recognize the important contributions of Irish-Canadians have made to our country – even more reason to celebrate with a St. Paddy’s Day Family Feast!
1. Creamy Cucumber Crostini
Creamy Cucumber Shamrock Crostini | La Cucina di Kerrs
Ingredients
- 1 loaf baguette cut on an angle into 3/4 inch slices; we cut 9 slices to make 3 shamrocks
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil *enough to brush on each bread slice*
- 1 clove Fresh Garlic *cut in half*
- 150-250 g garlic herb spreadable cheese *we used Boursin {gifted}*
- 1 medium English cucumber sliced thin on an angle
- Fresh Parsley *for garnish*
- ¼ Green Bell Pepper *sliced length-wise for your shamrock stems - cut enough to match how many shamrocks you build*
Instructions
How to Make Crostini
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice your baguette of choice up by cutting the bread into 3/4 inch slices. Lay them out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Brush olive oil on the tops of each bread slice & rub with the fresh-cut end of the garlic glove (if you don't have fresh garlic, sprinkling a bit of garlic powder will do). Sprinkle a bit of flake or coarse sea salt (or similar) & ground black pepper over the tops of each slice. Bake on middle oven rack approximately 8 mins (oven strength will vary so keep an eye on them so they don't burn). Remove when edges of crostini are golden & let cool about 5 mins.
How to Make Creamy Cucumber Shamrock Crostini
- Spread a generous amount of your garlic herb (or similar) cheese on top of each crostini. Arrange into shamrock shapes on your serving platter, then add a slice of cumber to the tops of each one. Add your shamrock "stem" (green pepper slice) to each arrangement then garnish with fresh parsley. That's it! Buon appetito & tag us on @House_of_Kerrs if you try!
Notes
©House of Kerrs - All Rights Reserved
2. Shamrock Dip Veggie Platter
Simply cut off the tops of your green bell peppers, remove the “guts” & add your family’s favourite veggie dip! We filled ours with Heluva Good! French Onion Dip & arranged on a platter with our favourite veggies surrounding 2 “shamrocks”. For extra St. Paddy’s Day charm, use veggies in the colours of the flag of Ireland – green, white & orange! Sprinkle the tops with chopped chives & voila – the easiest St. Patrick’s Day grazing table appetizer eva!
©House of Kerrs – All Rights Reserved
3. Shamrock Sugar Cookies
I know, cookies for appetizers?! Yup – around here our family grazey table always has something sweet 🙂 Dessert as a starter? Why not! These Shamrock Sugar Cookies were inspired by the ready-to-bake Heart cookies we forgot to make for Valentine’s Day I found in the back of my fridge last week. Heart’s Day whoopsie turned St. Patrick’s Day dessert – BOOM-Shamrock-laka! 😉 Guys, there’s no recipe here – you’ve got this! Simple bake those ready-to-rise babies, slather them with your green-tinged icing of choice & arrange into shamrocks. Green string licorice or a sprig of chive for the “stem” – that’s it!
3 heart-shaped cookies turn into shamrocks!
If you’re looking for more green foods or St. Patrick’s Day-appropriate eats, here are some other recipes we hope inspire some food-making in your Cucinas:
Simple Potato Leek Soup – Lightened Up
Antipasto Misto Salad
Smashed Potato Shepherd’s Pie
A smashed potato twist on a classic Shepherd’s Pie dish!
Roasted Beet, Goat Cheese & Toasted Almond Salad
Italian Beef Stew
Green Smoothie Breakfast Board
No-dye green smoothie breakfast boards – a simple way to energize your brood packed with green goodness!
“For each petal on the shamrock, this brings a wish your way: Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day.”
~ Irish Blessing
Keep well, eat well,
What fun and delicious St. Patrick’s Day food!