Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My father's side of the family is very Irish.  I grew up having corned beef and cabbage with carrots, potatoes, and irish soda bread every year on March 17.  We would also get together with family and other Irish friends to celebrate.  Unfortunately, I haven't tried to make corned beef on my own yet but I may try it this year or next.  I definitely want my children to grow up with that tradition, especially since my husband has some Irish blood in him.  The one thing I have made is Irish Potato Candies.  They are little coconut candies that look like potatoes.

They are very easy to make.  If you would like to try the recipe, here it is.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/4 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1-1/4 cups flaked coconut
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

In a medium bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Using your hands if necessary, mix in the coconut. Roll into balls or potato shapes, and roll in the cinnamon. Place onto a cookie sheet and chill to set. If desired, roll potatoes in cinnamon again for darker color.

Jewelry Crafts

My daughter made a penne rigate and yarn necklace and bracelet while I made...

a faux pearl bracelet out of beads and stretchy string.

Neither are very difficult to make.  The noodle necklace is made by taking noodles and stringing them on the yarn.  Finally, you just tie the ends together and... Voila, you have a noodle necklace or bracelet.  Any noodles with holes can be used.  The number of noodles and length of string is up to you.

The faux pearl bracelet is similar.  You will need approximately 10 - 11 inches of string (I got mine at Michael's Arts and Crafts store using a 40% off coupon!) and about 25 beads (again, I got them at Michael's using another 40% off coupon), depending on the size of the beads and how loose you want the bracelet to be.  You will need a longer string and more beads to make a necklace but the same steps can be used.  I used the thinnest string I could find so it would fit through the holes in the beads.  

Tie a knot in the string about an inch from one end so the beads don't fall off the string.  Take the beads and string them on the stretchy string.  When you've strung all the beads, tie a knot with the two ends of the string close to the beads.  Place a drop of super glue on the knot.  Tie another knot on top of that knot and place another drop of super glue on this knot.  Let it sit for 24 hours to dry completely.  Cut off the ends of the string and ENJOY!