With the early spring drab weather setting a gray mood, I decided that my family really needed a party to lift our spirits. What better excuse than St. Patrick's Day! This wasn't a big holiday growing up, but when I moved to New Haven, Connecticut, it became one of my favorite holidays. Like many cities, New Haven boasts a great parade. Even cooler was that it doesn't have an open container law (Irish coffee while watching a parade in the cold is awesome!) and the Irish pubs pull out all the stops with corned beef and bagpipes post-parade.

Now that we have kids we won't be part of the parade's party crowd, and the town we live in now is a little more tame anyway. Here are some ideas and recipes I pulled together for our family-friendly get-together.

Drinks

I am not about green beer. Go authentic instead. And please make sure you don't drive yourself or your family while buzzed or drunk.

• Irish beers: Guinness, Harp's & Smithwick's. Get daring and try a Black & Tan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d15lJn1r0Mk

• Whiskey: Jameson, Bailey's Irish Cream (there are also lots of excellent Bailey's recipes)
• I'll also make a non-alcoholic concoction of ginger-ale and limeade with slices of lime floating in the drink dispenser.

How to toast: Sláinte(meaning "health"); click here for the pronunciation.

Dinner

• Corned Beef Sandwiches
• Shepherd's Pie
• Bangers & Mash
• Extras like chips (excuse me, "crisps"), veggies & fruit
• A plate of Kerrygold cheese & crackers

Dessert

• Rainbow Glazed Donuts (to save time I'll buy donuts & then add the colors)
• Chocolate & Guinness Brownies
• Buy a bag of gold foil-covered chocolate coins to scatter around the tables or to display in a bowl

Decorations

• Wear something green
• Potted clover
• Green flowers and tall grass in vases
• Green glass candle votives
• Green table cloths
• A husband with a flaming red leprechaun beard is helpful.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! As the Irish say...

Here's to your coffin....
May it be built of 100 year old oaks which I will plant tomorrow