A SPRINKLE OF GREEN

Awh, yes. St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner. While I don’t party starting at 10:00 AM anymore, I do still like to be festive each year. Why not entertain the kids and the inner child in you? Here are some fun things to add a bit of swizzle to your week.

IRISH NACHOS

Are these even really an Irish creation? According to my masterful Google searches, the answer is, no. The dish is mostly unknown in Ireland but has become associated with the nation, thanks to our American creativities. No sweat, though – glorified potato skins make for fabulous eats in everyone’s book, culturally authentic or not!

I even have a little twist for you with this dish. It’s just as delicious but quicker and cuter. We’re going to use crispy potato coins (crowns) instead of potato wedges. I love to unapologetically play with my food! Let’s get to it!

For this version of “Irish Nachos”, you’ll want a package of Ore-Ida Golden Crispy Crowns from the grocery store freezer section, Kirkland Bacon Crumbles (or freshly cooked), Nacho Cheese Sauce, and green onions. You’ll also want to get the air fryer in gear because crispy potato crowns in an air fryer are fast and SO delicious!

Getting antsy? Click here to be taken straight to the recipe.

As with everything the air fryer makes, it can masterfully produce the best and most crisped pile of potato perfection you’ve ever had. I use an 8qt. Instant Pot/Air fryer unit and it hasn’t let me down yet. Mind you, I have found a few tricks to help enhance it’s capabilities to near perfection but I’ll go into that in another article.

READY, SET, AIR FRY!

[Jump To Recipe]–https://chaoscoordinatoroc.com/irish-ish-nachos/

Throw 1/4 – 1/2 the bag of potato crowns into the air fryer at 400° for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. No additional oil is needed as they are flash frozen with oil before distribution.

While air fryer is doing it’s thing, throw your nacho cheese sauce in a pan, on medium heat, until heated through. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and exploding air pockets.

Chop up two sprigs of green onions (greens and whites if you prefer) and set aside.

Once the crowns are done, plate them while hot. Cover with heated, drippy cheese and sprinkle with bacon bits and green onions.

There’s so much flavor packed into this simple creation that you’ll enjoy it to the fullest and just keep eating.

RAINBOWS OF FUN

Think back to your childhood crafting days. Do you remember paper chains? Of course you do!! Create modern day rainbow paper chains for a splash of colorful rainbow decor this season. Grab a few sheets of primary color construction paper or card stock–red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Your goal is to end up with strips of colored paper that are 1.5″ wide by 4.25″ long. A quick tip for cutting is to slice an 8.5″ x 11″ sheet in half, vertically; then turn horizontally and cut 1.5″ strips from left to right.

Create a circle, starting with RED. Match the ends of the strip together and tape them. Move to Orange next, loop the ends through the red circle and tape it. Next, do yellow, then green, followed by blue, and finally purple. Repeat the colors, in order, until you’ve reached your desired length. Keeping the colors in order will mimic the rainbow and generate an aesthetically pleasing visual.

Multiple chains can be created and strung/taped/hooked to any surface. They will be light-weight enough to stay well-positioned in most areas. I’ve hung then in single strands from doorways, scalloped above picture frames and along walls and have even simply laid them out on a table top.

WIN A FISH! … WITHOUT THE FISH

Yesss…we’re bringing back more epic childhood games that you won’t be able to resist playing! This one requires 8oz clear plastic cups, water, food dye, and ping pong balls.

What’s more enticing than a line-up of cups in the colors of the rainbow? Nothing. Everyone’s going to want to play this game! Toss ping pong balls toward the cups to score a prize. You can create your own rules for this (example: each row is a specific prize level, any ball in any cup wins a prize, tickets or tokens earned for getting balls to land in cup water and exchanged at the prize table after playing is complete [if you have other carnival games set up]).