Green treats at the end of the rainbow

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, we here at Silver Chips Online decided to be experimental with some of our holiday food options. Or rather, more colorful. Besides only wearing green this Saint Patrick's Day, avoid getting pinched by trying some of your favorite Irish dishes- turned green!

Loaf o' the Irish

Irish soda bread is always a great snack to enjoy on St. Patrick's Day. Make this loaf truly special by adding green food coloring to the dough. If the bread turns out to be a moldy green color- don't worry. That's just the work of leprechauns on this magical loaf.

Kitchenware:
- mixer
- spoon
- 2 large bowls
- rubber spatula
- measuring cups
- 9x5 inch loaf pan

Ingredients:

- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- green food coloring

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease the loaf pan.
2. Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda.
3. Blend egg and buttermilk together and add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened.
4. Stir in butter.
5. Add 6 drops of green food coloring.
6. Pour mixture into the loaf pan.

Prep time is about 15 minutes. Cooking times is about 65 minutes. Makes one loaf. For best results wrap the loaf in foil for several hours, or overnight, for best flavor.

Potatoes at the end of the rainbow

Plain white mashed potatoes are so last St. Patrick's Day. Green food coloring gives these potatoes a kick that is sure to send you to the end of the rainbow!

Kitchenware:
- 2 sauce pans
- stove
- large mixing bowl
- vegetable brush
- paper towels

Ingredients:
- 3 medium sized potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 1 or 2 quart sauce pan with lid; small sauce pan
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 teaspoon of white pepper
- 3 cups of water
- pinch of salt
- green food coloring

Preparation
1. Use vegetable brush to scrub potatoes under running cold water. Pat potatoes dry with a paper towel.
2. Pour water into sauce pan and boil. Add the potatoes, cover with lid and boil for about 20 minutes.
3. Add milk to separate small sauce pan and heat over medium heat- don't bring to boil.
4. Remove the sauce pan with the potatoes from heat and drain water into sink. Shake the pan over low heat for several minutes until the potatoes are dry.
5. Add salt and pepper.
6. While beating potatoes, add the milk a little at a time until the potatoes are fluffy.

Prep time is about five minutes. Cooking time is about 10 minutes. Makes about two servings.