Well, it’s that time of year when green food coloring sells out of stores. After all, how can we celebrate a holiday in honor of a patron saint without gallons of unnaturally colored beer? You see in most of America, it just isn’t St. Patty’s day if someone’s not imbibing until they sing off-key at the top of their lungs, sob on a stranger’s shoulder, make embarrassing phone calls, dance on a table and throw up green beer.

Of course, the kids can’t (and I prefer not to) partake of that hallowed tradition, so we whip up a McDonald’s-like Shamrock Shake, the ubiquitous St. Patrick’s Day tradition of my youth. I remember going to see “The Goodbye Girl” in 1977 and having one of these at McDonald’s after. I don’t remember who my double date was, but I remember this shake. That’s how old I am it is. If you were born after 1970, you might not know McDonald’s Uncle O’Grimacey. Let me enlighten you young ones. See, back in the old days, this kind of creepy, garish, child-nightmare-inducing commercial was considered good advertising.

What? You don’t think a corporate fast food chain’s marketing ploy is Irish? Well, just shows what you know. Shamrock Shakes are still regularly sold by McDonald’s in one country….Ireland. See? See? If ya can’t trust the Irish for St. Patty’s traditions, well, who can ya trust?

Here’s my version…a treat, yes, but with more recognizable ingredients than MickeyD’s green-goo. The kids will love you for this. If you’d like, you can add a bit of creme de menthe for the adults.

Slainte.

MINT-CHOCOLATE SHAMROCK SHAKE

2 c. mint chocolate chip ice cream
1/2-3/4 c. milk (depending how thick you like your shakes)
Whipped cream

Do you really need instructions? Pour it into a blender and press “Blend.” Stick a bendy straw in and watch your kids’ faces light up.

More traditional Irish recipes:

Corned Beef @ The Grass is Green on Our Side
St. Patrick’s Day Soup @ Former Fat Guy
Irish Soda Bread @ Closet Cooking
Lamb Stew with Dill, Sweet Peas and Root Vegetables @ Culinary Types
Salmon Cakes @ The Blooming Chef