St.Patrick's Day Fun For Preschoolers

Have an adorable little leprechaun in your house who just loves to have a little mischievous fun now and again? There are so many adorable St. Patricks Day crafts for preschoolers and toddlers to make,  it was challenging to pick just a few for this list. If you love simple and fun, then these 5 St. Paddy's Day kids craft ideas just might make you do a quick jig.

5 Fun St. Patrick's Day Projects To Do With Your Preschooler

Fingerprint Rainbow Craft For Toddlers and Preschoolers

Let your little leprechaun use finger paints to make a colorful fingerprint rainbow pot of gold craft.  Easy, messy fun for preschoolers (and parents too!)

Make St. Patrick's Day Blarney Stones

www.hgtvgardens.com

Turn a regular old rock into a special St. Patrick's Day Blarney Stone. Have your kids collect some cool small rocks.


Then get out some green paint and let the kids paint the rocks green . Get creative and paint cute Leprechaun faces, shamrocks and pots of gold.

Make Mini Music Shakers Craft For Toddlers

www.buggyandbuddy.com

Toddlers and preschoolers will love making mini-music shakers out of plastic bottle caps. They are easy to make and kids will have so much fun shaking them and dancing to the sounds. Find out how to make these cute St. Pat's Day music-makers at Buggy and Buddy.

modernparentsmessykids

Hide Golden Treasures for your little leprechauns to find in this awesome St. Patrick's Day rice treasure box! Get the complete tutorial from Stephanie Morgan over at her eHow Mom Blog (or visit her at Modern Parents Messy Kids for more of her great ideas!)

Rainbow Binocular Craft Made From Toilet Paper Rolls

What preschooler or toddler would not love making a pair of cool rainbow binoculars from toilet paper rolls? These are perfect for kids to take when they go leprechaun hunting! Get the complete step-by-step directions for this fun St. Patrick's Day preschool project from sassydealz on Pinterest.

St. Patrick's Day Treat--- Chocolate Guiness Cheesecake

It's St. Paddy's Day! A day to be Irish ( even if you're really not), and have fun. Indulge in this oh so decadent dessert, and relax...tomorrow you can eat healthy again!

INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup crushed chocolate cookies
* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 2 tablespoons white sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
*
* 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
* 1 cup white sugar
* 3 eggs
* 1/2 pound semisweet chocolate chips
* 2 tablespoons heavy cream
* 1 cup sour cream
* 1 pinch salt
* 3/4 cup Irish stout beer (e.g. Guinness®)
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
*
* 1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate



DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare a 9 inch springform pan with butter.
2. Combine the crushed cookies, butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, and cocoa in a small bowl; mix; press into the bottom of the prepared springform pan.
3. Place the cream cheese in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer set to low speed until smooth. While beating, slowly add 1 cup sugar and then the eggs, one at a time. Continue beating until smooth.
4. Combine the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave until the chocolate is completely melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Beat the chocolate into the cream cheese mixture. Add the sour cream, salt, beer, and vanilla; blend until smooth. Pour the mixture over the crust. Place the pan into a large, deep baking dish. Fill the dish with water to cover the bottom half of the springform pan.
5. Bake the cheesecake in the water bath in the preheated oven for 45 minutes; turn oven off; leave the cheesecake in the oven with oven door slightly ajar another 45 minutes; remove from oven. Run a knife along the edge of the cheesecake to loosen from pan. Chill in refrigerator at least 4 hours.
6. Melt the semisweet chocolate in a small bowl using the microwave. Make chocolate clovers by dropping 3 small drops of melted chocolate close to one another on waxed paper. Drag a toothpick from between two dots outward to make the stem; chill until hardened. Arrange the chocolate clovers on top of the chilled cheesecake for decoration.

A "Lucky" Cheesecake Recipe For St. Patrick's Day!

I am Irish, and love celebrating St. Patrick's Day! This cheesecake recipe comes from Kraft Foods, and I think the best part of it is the Irish cream Liqueur.....the flavor comes out even stronger after a day in the refrigerator...yum!

Ingredients You'll Need:

1-1/2 cups finely chopped PLANTERS Pecans
2 Tbsp. sugar
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, meltedCappuccin
4 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. flour
1 cup Sour Cream
1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur
4 eggs

PREHEAT oven to 325°F if using a silver 9-inch springform pan (or to 300°F if using a dark nonstick 9-inch springform pan). Mix pecans, 2 Tbsp. sugar and the butter; press firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake 10 min.

BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and the flour in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream and liqueur; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.

BAKE 1 hour 5 min. or until center is almost set. Run small knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Baking Tip* To help keep the top from cracking, place a glass pie dish filled with water on the oven rack below the cheesecake while baking.

To make the shamrock decoration, sprinkle green colored sugar over a clover-shaped template placed on top of chilled cheesecake to resemble a shamrock.

Also--if you do not want to use the liquer, try using 1 Tbsp. Instant Coffee and 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon dissolved in 1/4 cup boiling water for a 'Cappuccino Cheesecake".