I have some Irish heritage on my mom’s side— the “O” in my byline stands for O’Niell, her maiden name—and I have a soft spot for St. Patrick’s Day and Irish culture in general. The holiday is a great excuse to have a pint of Irish stout and eat some of my favorite Irish foods, including colcannon and soda bread, and it’s also a fun excuse to make some Ireland–inspired creations, such as Shamrock shakes and Guinness-chocolate cake. This year, I’ll be following my usual tradition for the holiday and cooking my St. Patrick’s Day feast at home—because no way in hell am I going out into the drunken hoards packing the pubs in NYC, where I live. If you’re planning to stay home to celebrate as well, check out the 11 ideas for the holiday below.
