Every St. Patrick’s Day, Jason and I cook an Irish feast together and then watch some Patty flick while our bellies grumble about overuse. Both of us look forward to this ritual, despite our stomachs’ mixed feelings.

This year we decided to make some tried-and-true dishes for our shamrocked supper: Shepherd’s Pie and Irish Soda Bread. No need for Irish luck, these recipes turned out perfect on their own. Then, Leap Year provided post-pig-out giggles.

It was a grand night spent laughing and eating, two of my favorite things. If you can’t find a pot of gold, a pot of yummy grub is the next best thing.