With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, you’ll want to recall the lush green color of the Emerald Isle and all things Irish. So pin a shamrock on your lapel and pay tribute to St. Patrick with these easy green treats. 

Creative Green Food Ideas

   Magic Green Milk: Pour 2 or 3 drops of green food coloring in clear milk glasses. When children come in to eat, pour milk in the glasses. The milk will swirl green-like magic! 

   Shamrock Pancakes: Add green food coloring to your pancake batter and cook in the shape of shamrocks. 

   Green Potatoes: Blend green food coloring with the milk for mashed potatoes. 

   Here are a few more ideas that are perhaps not Irish in origin but certainly Irish in spirit. 

   Gala Green Fruits and Veggies: There are lots of green fruits and vegetables you can add to your green dinner table. Look around the market for green fruits, including apples, kiwi, green grapes, honeydew melon, Bartlett pears and limes. Green veggies are plentiful too —asparagus, avocados, green beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, parsley, peas, spinach, Swiss chard, zucchini, okra, green peppers and green onions. You could also serve spinach dip or spinach pasta with green pesto.

PESTO PASTA 

   1 pound spinach pasta (angel hair is a good choice)
   1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon light olive oil
   1 teaspoon salt (optional)
   1 or 2 cloves garlic
   2 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves
   3 tablespoons slivered almonds
   1 cup (about 5 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese
   2 tablespoons dried tomatoes, chopped (or fresh tomatoes) 

Cook pasta according to package directions, adding salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the water.
When cooked, rinse in cold water and set aside.
Chop garlic in a blender or food processor; add basil and rest of olive oil and process until basil leaves are finely chopped.
Add almonds and pulse.
Add cheese and pulse.
In a large bowl, toss pasta, pesto and tomatoes.
Serve cold or heat in microwave on low.
Serves 4 to 6.