Grab your leprechaun hat, fill your pot with gold and kick up a jig. March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day and it’s time for the “Wearin’ o’ the Green”. Your local Strack & Van Til Food Market is “sham-rocking” the holiday with everything you need to celebrate.

Start building your festive spread in the Meat Department, where you’ll find a variety of corned beef options.

“St. Patrick’s Day is an ideal day to enjoy some delicious corned beef,” says Meat Department Director Gary Teachman. “We have several types to tempt your tastebuds.”

Choose from Murphy’s corned beef brisket point cut and Cook’s corned beef brisket flat cut, Vienna corned beef round and flat-cut brisket, Nathan’s corned beef flat-cut brisket and Certified Angus Beef flat-cut brisket.

“We even carry Laura’s brand corned beef made from grass-feed natural beef,” Teachman adds.

Complement your corned beef with Vienna fresh sauerkraut or Frank’s fresh sauerkraut. Then, visit the Produce Department for heads of fresh cabbage, red potatoes and baby peeled carrots and get ready to feast on your traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal.

“Want to make some other traditional Irish dishes?” asks Bob Hylka, Produce Department Director. “We have leeks for potato leek soup, parsnips that mix perfectly with mashed potatoes, and horseradish to give your corned beef a kick.”

While you’re in the Dairy Department, be sure to pick up Kerrygold Irish butters. Rich and creamy, they taste great on Irish soda bread.

The Irish theme continues in the Strack & Van Til Deli Department, with easy heat-and-serve corned beef meals that include corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes for $7, or ready-made hot meals at the hot bars on March 16 and 17.

If you want to build your own sandwich creation, such as corned beef and Swiss on rye or a Reuben, the Deli Department carries freshly sliced local Vienna corned beef and pastrami. For smaller sandwiches, corned beef and Swiss sliders make great party appetizers. And don’t forget the pickles. Fresh Vienna deli pickles are just 99 cents each at the deli.

Finally, you’ll discover authentic Irish cheeses in the deli. The assortment includes Kerrygold imported varieties; Blarney smooth and mild Gouda-style cheese; Dubliner aged cheese with a hint of sweetness; rich and creamy cheddar – aged for 12 months; Reserve cheddar that’s aged for more than two years with a distinctively sharp flavor; sweet and nutty Swiss; and Skellig, a sweet cheddar. All come in a 7-ounce size, are available at most store locations, and partner well with Irish stout, red ale or pale lager.

“Our newest addition is grass-fed Truly Natural cheddar cheese, imported from Ireland,” says Strack & Van Til Deli Department Director Kristin Snow. “This cheese makes a tasty appetizer or try it in the coleslaw recipe below.”

Apple Walnut Slaw with Aged Cheddar Cubes (trulygrassfed.com)

Ingredients
6 cups cabbage, shredded
2 apples, chopped
1 1/2 cup Truly Grass Fed Natural Aged Cheddar Cheese, in cubes
1 1/2 cup carrots, shredded
1 cup walnuts, chopped
3/4 cup raisins
1/3 cup red onion, finely sliced
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and pepper

Directions
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and toss until fully mixed.
Top with a bit more cheddar cheese, raisins and walnuts.