For St. Patrick's Day: Make Stamps, Soda Bread And A Cute Bear

Leprechauns are thought to be fairy-like creatures that have a bit of a wild side. Legend has it that they are shoemakers who keep their profits in pots of gold, which they carry around with them. Sometimes their pots were so full that they spill coins and gold pieces on the ground. If you are very wise on St. Patrick’s Day, you will find them!

Catching a leprechaun is a tricky deed. They are fast and tend to shy away from humans. However, if you can make a real good trap, you can catch a leprechaun, and when you do, he has to tell you his secrets and share his pot of gold with you.

A leprechaun cannot escape as long as you look him in the eye. But look away for a second and he is gone.

Every year, I have told my children and grandchildren this story and even when I taught, I told my class this story, as it is a legend that children find fascinating.

We would begin talking about it a week ahead of time. My kids would round up shoeboxes and sticks to make leprechaun traps. I would buy a cheap can of gold spray paint, grab up a bunch of rocks, and spray paint them gold. I would also purchase chocolate gold coins.

The night before, I would put a dot of green food coloring in the bottom of the kids' cups in the morning, and when they poured in their milk, it would turn green. They always looked in the cup and ran to find gold.

Then the tricks would begin. I would stuff socks in their shoes, and leave the rest of the socks in their drawers turned inside out.

I would unscrew light bulbs so when they went to turn on lights, they didn't work. I'd go in and fix the bulbs, and say it was the leprechaun.  I would hide the cereal in the stove.

Any other trick I could find, I would do.

I would hide gold rocks and chocolate coins in various spots around the house. Even the neighbors were at the bus stop early to find the gold and chocolate coins. One was always hidden in the kid’s backpack or lunch bag for a school surprise.

I really had quite forgotten how excited they get until last week I heard Preston (who is 9) tell Caiden (who is 2) to wait until the leprechauns come and then we can find gold and be rich.

I reminded Preston he was a little old to still believe, but he reminded me that this was more fun than the Easter Bunny was and he would help Caiden make his leprechaun trap but that he did not think Caiden was old enough to stare him in the eyes and not look away so he would do that.

I smiled and went off to the basement to put another coat of gold paint on my rocks.

Shamrock Stamp

Materials

Five foam self-stick hearts left over from Valentines Day or purchased.

The cover to a laundry soap container (washed and dried)

Picture 1 - Stamp

Make sure the cover to the laundry soap container is clean so the hearts will stick. Take one heart and make a curved stem-looking piece. I made mine as a triangle and cut the bottom at an angle. Stick that down first and add the other four hearts to it.

Now use it as an ink stamp. Because I deal with small kids, I let them color on it with a green magic marker that is washable. When the whole thing is green, let them stamp away. We make cards for family and friends. We also leave one out to thank the leprechauns for our gold and coins.

Picture 2 - Cards

This stamp is big enough for small hands not to get messy. When you are done, wash the ink stamp for next time. Mine shown here is over 10 years old so they last. Remember any foam shape can be made into an ink stamp for a young child by using a liquid laundry soap lid.

Irish Soda Bread

7 cups white flour (or 8 if not using whole wheat flour)

1 cup whole wheat flour

3 1/3 cups sugar

1 tablespoon baking soda

2 tablespoon baking powder

2 tablespoons caraway seeds

7 eggs

1 1/3 cup melted shortening

Optional: 1 and 1/3 cup raisins

Picture 3 - Dough

Put the dry ingredients in a bowl and make a well in the center. Add the eggs, two at a time and stir. Then add the shortening and mix it well. When it is mixed, it will be heavy. Take it out of the bowl, place it on a floured surface, and kneed it for about 5 minutes. Kids love doing this and it is not as yeast bread where it requires kneading to activate yeast but this just assures the ingredients are well mixed.

Picture 4 - Bear Tummy

Next, divide dough into thirds. Take 1/3 of the dough and knead it a bit more into a round bell shape. Place it on a greased cookie sheet and put an X on the belly. Next, take the next 1/3 piece and divide it into 4 balls and add it to the belly to make arms and legs.

Picture 5 - Ready to bake

The last 1/3 piece, take off three balls to make the ears and nose. Use the rest to make the head. Add raisins for eyes mouth and buttons.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes to an hour.

Picture 6 - Finished!

There are several theories as to the significance of the cross in Irish soda bread. Some believe that the cross was placed in the bread to ward off evil (the devil) or to let the fairies out of the bread. However, it is probable that the cross is used to help with the cooking of the bread by allowing air circulation so that the bread rises better. The cross also serves as a guideline for even slices.

In some countries, the tradition of soda bread is accompanied by various rules and rituals. A coin is often put into the dough during the kneading; other small objects may also be inserted. At the beginning of Christmas dinner, the česnica is rotated three times counter-clockwise, before being broken among the family members. The person who finds the coin in his piece of the bread will supposedly be exceptionally lucky in the coming year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soda_bread