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Leprechaun Treats for St. Patrick's Day

© Mary M. Alward

St. Patrick's Day will soon be here. Yes, it is the Wearing O' the Green, as the wee folk say. Have you ever tried to catch a leprechaun? Well, it's said we can be found in hedgerows all over Ireland. If you're smart enough to catch one of us, we have to give you our pot o' gold.

I thought I'd drop by Kids in the Kitchen, and give you a few recipes for the special day. We leprechauns have to eat too, you know. I hope you will make a few of these wee treats and have lots of fun doing so. Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Leprechaun Bread What you will need:

2 cups white all purpose flour

1 level teaspoon salt

1 level teaspoon baking soda

1 level teaspoon cream of tartar

1/4 cup of buttermilk (if you find your dough is dry, add a bit more)

1/8 cup of white sugar

1/8 cup butter or margarine

½ cup raisins

2 tablespoons green food coloring

What to do:

Put flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar in a large mixing bowl.

Mix in butter with your fingers.

Add the sugar, raisins and green food coloring.

Mix well.

Add buttermilk until dough forms a wet ball.

Dust a pastry sheet with a bit of flour.

Place dough on sheet and knead it a little.

Form the dough into a rectangle.

Dust with a little flour

Place in a non-stick loaf pan.

Flatten bread with your hand to make it fit the pan.

Place in an oven that's been preheated to 350 F.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick insert into the center of the loaf comes out clean. When that happens, the bread is thoroughly cooked.

Roll bread out of the pan onto a wire cooling rack.

Be sure to have a slice while it is still warm. That's when bannock (bread made without yeast) is best. Spread it with a little butter, honey or jam for a delicious treat.

Leprechaun Pie

What you will need:

1 package of lime Jello ®

½ cup boiling water

4 ounces of cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup of sour cream

1 package of Dream Whip®

½ cup crushed pineapple, drained

1 ready-made graham crust pie shell

What to do

Put Jello® into a small mixing bowl.

Pour in the boiling water. (be sure to ask an adult to help with this task.)

Set Jello® aside to cool.

Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl.

Add sour cream.

Blend well with an electric mixer. (ask an adult to help with this task.)

Slowly add the Jello® to the mixture, constantly stirring gently.