Simple Entertaining…St. Patrick’s Day (Part III)

By Original Diva, on March 9th, 2012

Green shamrocks and flower arrangements create striking and meaningful St Patricks Day and Easter table centerpieces. Green leaves and flower arrangements are symbols of colorful spring decorating. Native to South Africa, oxalis plants are very attractive, easy to care for and fast growing house plants with small flowers. Shamrocks, bought for St Patricks Day party or Easter table centerpieces, can be enjoyed for years. Shamrocks are impressive and cheap ideas for table decoration. With seasonal, winter or spring, flower arrangements, candles, ribbons or floral table cloth and napkins, these small house plants create elegant and cheerful table centerpieces. Shamrocks can attractively decorate porches, decks and patios in late spring, summer and early fall, surprising you with delicate small flowers. Oxalis plants have spicy taste. Shamrocks can be used for cooking, table decoration and food presentation. Unique green leaves of shamrocks and flower arrangements bring beautiful spring decorating colors into homes, creating festive, bright and fresh St Patricks Day party.

For those of you who consider yourself less “gimmicky”, embrace the moss green of the holiday instead of aiming for lucky charms scattered throughout your house.

Table Décor: The dining room table runner and napkins can be a Moss Green paisley pattern. To add a little Irish fun,use beer mugs instead of wine glasses on the table and stock the fridge with Irish stout.

Centerpiece: These centerpiece was fairly simple and straight-forward. I bought a large Shamrock plant, put it in a white flower pot and placed votive candles down the runner.

Party Favors

Here’s an easy little cookie for St. Patrick’s Day…

Pipe the outline of a shamrock in white icing, using a #2 tip.
In the center of the cookie, pipe an outline of a heart in red, using a #2 tip. (AmeriColor Super Red)
Thin red and green icing to the consistency of syrup and let sit covered with a damp dishtowel for several minutes. Run a rubber spatula through the icing to pop any air bubbles that have formed on top.
Fill in outlined shamrock in green using a toothpick to guide into corners. Use a squeeze bottle for easy filling. (Spectrum Leaf Green)
Fill in heart with thinned red icing following method above.

***a note on green icing: a deep green like these shamrocks is susceptible to humidity. Sometimes, the icing will get a blotchy look and turn slightly darker. Not to worry, eventually the entire cookie will darken to an even shade. Although red and blue will do this as well. Just try to keep the cookies in a non-humid environment and never put in the refrigerator.***

Lastly, to ensure the Hors D’oeuvres table had a touch of Irish fun, buy some green and white stripped paper napkins and put a cluster of green poms in a small bud vase.

Here is another great idea for decor courtesy of The Thrifty Crafter!

I was inspired to create a new table setting for St. Patrick’s Day this year by the looks of a leprechaun hat. Notions normally used to create belts were fashioned into napkin rings and linen napkins in the perfect kelly green were sewn up in a jiffy.

Here’s what you need:

1 yard of Dritz black woven belt material
six Dritz gold fashion buckles
black thread and needle
1 2/3 yards kelly green linen fabric (Joann’s)
kelly green thread
sewing machine and pins
ruler and scissors

For the napkin rings:

Cut belt material into 5.25 inch pieces.
Thread a gold buckle onto each piece of belt material.
Overlap ends of belt material by 1/4 inch and use needle and black thread to sew together.
Cost: $11 for 6 napkin rings

For the napkins:

Iron material, then cut fabric into 19×19 inch squares.
Fold over 1/2 inch of material at edge, tucking free edge underneath for a clean seam. Pin and sew two opposite edges, then repeat for the remaining two.
Cost: $7 for 6 napkins

Thanks for visiting Diva (in Demand). My blog escapades have followed me across 4 states, 3 jobs, a business venture, and a new husband. There are no mini divas yet but I have loads of nieces and nephews to slobber and wipe their dirty hands on me. I am an amateur pastry chef, certified cake decorator, and seasoned home cook who knows how to pair French cuiseine with fine wine, collard greens and cornbread. You'll find a little bit of everything around here.....where I take talking to myself to a whole new level.