Green Pancakes, Corned Beef Pizza and Rainbow Treats: A Family-Friendly St. Paddy's Day Feast

From a vibrant-green pancake breakfast to hearty dinners with the requisite corned beef, we’ve got green-colored dishes to keep you feeling festive on St. Patrick's Day.
By: Foodlets
Spinach Pancakes and Corned Beef Hash

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

From a vibrant-green pancake breakfast to hearty dinners with the requisite corned beef, we’ve got kid-friendly fare to keep St. Patrick's Day festive. Check out all of our ideas below.

Breakfast

Get things off to a delicious and satisfying start with these surprisingly velvety pancakes, plus all the fixings.

Your New Favorite Simple Green Smoothie

Photo by: Picasa

Picasa

I’ve tried a lot of smoothies — some good, some I could barely gulp down, let alone convince the kids to try. But this one’s a winner. It’s the simple green smoothie I make almost every day, and you can bet I’ll whip one up on St. Patrick’s Day.

Lunch

Irish Grilled Cheese

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A fourth of a sandwich on a green napkin

©Food Stylist: Anne Disrude Props: Victoria Petro Conroy

Food Stylist: Anne Disrude Props: Victoria Petro Conroy

What’s the secret to the splash of green on these sandwiches? Fresh herbs! Find out how it works.

Spinach Wraps 2 Ways

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Picasa

The simplest way to make a lunchbox festive starts with spinach wraps. Just load them up with turkey and cheese, then roll them like sushi. And if you want to take your wraps to the next level, read here to learn how you can have home-made tortilla chips in minutes.

Mini Broccoli & Cheese Patties

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Picasa

They may be a decidedly untraditional way to celebrate, but these little green patties have plenty of magic. Plus, they’ll make broccoli lovers out of nearly anyone.

Shamrock Pesto Bites

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Food Stylist: Brett Kurzweil

Photo by: Ralph Smith

Ralph Smith

With only three ingredients, these cute, crispy St. Paddy's Day snacks can be whipped up in a hurry.

Dinner

Very Green Broccoli Mac & Cheese

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Picasa

If you want to give your kids a surprise twist on a favorite, this mac and cheese is the place to start. Not only does the spinach add color without any artificial ingredients, but there's a little nutritious kick to boot.

Cheddar-and-Herb Boxty

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Photo by: Con Poulos

Con Poulos

Have you ever had an Irish potato pancake? Try these doughy biscuits for St. Patrick’s Day brunch or dinner, and definitely pair them with corned beef.

Corned-Beef-and-Cabbage Pizza

With a 5-star rating, this fan-favorite recipe pizza boasts a tender-crisp crust. This beauty has earned spot on my family's St. Patrick’s Day menu.

Mini Reuben Sandwiches

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Picasa

When I’m introducing a new food to my kids, I always keep the servings small, like these open-faced sandwiches. But I allow for seconds when the kids discover how much they like it.

Dessert

Rainbow Cake with Gold Hombre Layers

This may just be the ultimate in St. Paddy's Day indulgence. Learn the trick to pulling off this impressive six-color icing with step-by-step photos.

Lemon-Lime Pound Cake Parfaits with Rainbow Fruit

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Picasa

How do you make a rainbow dessert without any food coloring? Just add fruit. Get our healthier pound cake recipe, and find out just how many lemons it takes to make this sweet and tangy treat.

Charity Curley Mathews is the mom of four small kids and lives in North Carolina on a mini farm in the making. She’s a contributor to InStyle, The Huffington Post and eHow Food and the founder of Foodlets.com, a food and parenting blog where every recipe is full of fresh ingredients, simple to make and kid-tested x4. You can follow her on Facebook.

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