As we are preparing for St. Patrick’s Day festivities, they can often center around parties, alcohol consumption, and nights out with your friends. Between 2009-2013, we lost 276 lives to drunk driving accidents and that number has only increased over the years. Let’s do what it takes to make sure we don’t lose lives this year because of drinking on this holiday. Want some ideas of what to do on St. Patrick’s Day that don’t involve drinking? We’ve got you covered!
- Watch movies involving the Irish: PS, I Love You, Leap Year and Luck of the Irish are some of my favorites!
- Get a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s.
- Learn how to Irish Step Dance.
- Make a Fun Mocktail
If you are looking for a mocktail recipe, here’s two of my favorites!
Pear & Thyme Spritzer
Ingredients:
2 tbsp pear puree
1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp orange dry
1 tsp thyme simple syrup (see instructions below)
Crushed ice
Sparkling mineral water
To make the thyme syrup, combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 6 sprigs of thyme in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, or until sugar is completely dissolved, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and let infuse for 10 minutes. Strain out thyme and transfer liquid into a jar and let it cool completely.
Combine pear puree, lemon juice, orange dry, and thyme syrup in glass and stir them together. Fill the glass 3/4 full with crushed ice and top off with sparkling mineral water. Garnish with thyme sprig and pear wedge.
*You can get a greener drink based on the color of the skin on the pear.
Mint Juleps (Nonalcoholic)
Ingredients:
2 tbsp mint simple syrup (see below for instructions)
Juice of 2 large lemons (can substitute with lemon-lime soda)
Ice
Sparkling mineral water
To make the mint syrup, combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 4-6 sprigs of mint in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, or until sugar is completely dissolved, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and let infuse for 10 minutes. Strain out mint and transfer liquid into a jar and let it cool completely.
Combine mint syrup and lemon juice in glass, fill the glass 3/4 full with ice and top off with sparkling mineral water. Garnish with mint leaves and sugar rim.
Ideas from The MerryThought: https://themerrythought.com/recipes/3-saint-patricks-day-mocktails/
