Organizing Dinner

St. Patrick's Day Appetizers

Mini Ruebens, Potato Pancakes and more for your St. Pat's Party

From Reuben Pizza to Corned Beef Dip, following are some ways to round out your St. Patrick's Day party with delicious and unique appetizers.

Hooray for St. Patrick's Day. It's a fun national celebration, a great way to welcome the hope of spring, and an opportunity for Irish folks to embrace their heritage and traditions. And a great thing about this holiday is that it's built around -- ok, green beer -- but also great food tradition. For the traditional St. Pat's party main course, corned beef and cabbage with potatoes is a delicious and easy-to-make dinner. If you're having a large party and need some appetizer suggestions, or are just looking for some ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day without the full main course, following are some delicious St. Patrick's Day appetizer recipes.

Rueben Pizza Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 prebaked pizza crust
• ¾ cup sauerkraut
• 1/4 pound thin sliced deli corned beef , broken into pieces
• 4 slices Swiss cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Caraway seeds
• ½ teaspoon Parsley

1. Spread mustard on pizza crust. Top with sauerkraut, beef and then cheese. Sprinkle with caraway seeds and parsley.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 15 minutes.

Mini Ruebens -- aka Rueben Sliders Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb. corned beef
• ½ pound Swiss Cheese
• 2 sleeves mini rye toasts
• One bottle Thousand Island dressing
• 10 oz. sauerkraut
• butter

1. Thinly slice corned beef into 2 inch square pieces or smaller. Split cheese into four equal squares.
2. Load corned beef, one teaspoon sauerkraut, 1 teaspoon dressing and one slice of cheese onto a rye toast. Top with another rye toast to make sandwiches.
3. Either grill sandwiches in lightly buttered pan, or bake in oven on baking sheet for 10 minutes.
4. Serve immediately, or individually wrap sandwiches in foil if transporting or to keep warm. Once in foil, sandwiches can be kept warm in warm oven.

Corned Beef Cream Cheese Dip Recipe

Ingredients

• ½ pound deli corned beef
• 1 - 8 ounce package of cream cheese
• ¼ cup Green onions, diced
• 4 slices Swiss cheese
• Rye toasts or pita or tortilla chips

1. Dice corned beef into ½ inch squares.
2. Mix beef together with cream cheese and onions.
3. Spread in glass baking dish and top with Swiss Cheese.
4. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until cheese is golden.
5. Serve on rye toasts or with pita or tortilla chips for dipping.

Mini Potato Pancake Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 medium potatoes
• ¾ cup bread crumbs
• 3 tablespoons diced green onion
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Vegetable oil for frying

1. Boil potatoes until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Drain, cool, and remove skins.
2. In a large bowl, loosely mash potatoes.
3. Add bread crumbs, onions, lemon juice, and salt and mix well. Taste for seasoning and adjust.
4. Form into 1/2 inch thick patties the size of a sausage patty.
5. Add oil to a deep, medium-sized skillet or Dutch oven, and heat over medium-high heat. Fry pancakes 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Set aside on absorbent paper while frying the remaining pancakes.
6. Serve with sour cream and applesauce for dipping.