The Luck of the Irish, Flashback and Foodie Friday ♣ Party

Gollum's hosting a Pot Luck on her fun blog, Designs by Gollum...She said we could bring whatever we want!



Since there will be a party here on St.Patrick's Day, and you are all invited to participate of course,
I didn't want to make Corned Beef tonight.

Corned Beef isn't Irish anyway, it is American. In Ireland they didn't have it..but I always make it for the 17th, and hash with the leftovers..
But you don't want a history lesson, you want food...

So come sit down, for a simple weekday night dinner..







Made in Ireland...





The little cabbage leaf bowls were a gift from my friend, Susan..the first ones I have in green,,I think I feel a collection coming on..:)

First we'll have some baked clams...Ireland is surrounded by water, just like where I live..



Then some Irish Flag Soup...because it has the colors of the flag..there's parsley in there for the green..and potatoes of course!



And this is Irish Rice Pudding...:)
I don't think there is any such thing, but this is my mom's recipe and she was Irish American , so close enough...I can't give the recipe till Mother's Day, when Foley will host a special tribute on her blog..you'll all be invited..start looking for some recipes passed down from your mom or grandmother...it will be lovely!



Thanks for coming! See you Tuesday...sign up on Mr Linky the 16th...the blog crawl starts here...and everyone is





Oh, see if you can learn this song by Tuesday, and we'll have a great sing along!:)

Chicken Kerry and Tablescape Thursday

This the last TT before the 17th..and I am doing another Irish theme...



I used a black cloth to pick up the colors of the black and green napkins..

White chargers...

Black plates...

Shamrock bowls..

Alabaster napkin rings...

Clear and black goblets...

I made a centerpiece with some mums, green ribbon and a few little hats...


The prayer of St. Patrick..













What's for dinner??

Chicken Kerry..what's that?
My version of Chicken Kiev..
chicken cutlet stuffed with Kerry swiss,
butter, scallions and parsley rolled and dipped in egg wash then a mixture of flavored bread crumbs and flour...



Served with a shamrock of wild rice, cauliflower and carrots..



Here's the inside..



Thanks so much for coming..

Please visit Susan's blog, Between Naps on the Porch to see all the other blogs participating in Tablescape Thursday...

And see you for Foodie Friday..

Please join me for the party here on the 17th,,decorations or food to celebrate St. Patrick's Day...Mr. Linky will be up the night before..

Did you ever have Thumbits?

No, it is not a malady of the thumbs...

I remember ordering it when I was growing up. My dad owned a waterfront restaurant on Long Island. He built it..it is now called Paddy McGees, and looks nothing like I remember!
Every Sunday we would go for a drive and go out to eat. He liked to visit different restaurants to see what they were serving.
I was the youngest of 4 girls, and one by one the others got out of going..
I mean it was the whole day, and a 90 min ride was nothing! And you know, once you are a teenager you have much better things to do with your Sundays!

One of the things that I liked to order was steak thumbits...I googled it and couldn't find too much on it..
It is simply a grilled steak, sliced, and served on grilled garlic bread, and garlic butter on top...So a little retro snack..

I marinated a small sirloin steak and cooked it on the panini grill...made some garlic toast, and voila..a memory created..







I know they are too well done for you, so I'll eat these..

What's in the box??????????????

I mentioned I found a bargain the other day at the WSonoma Outlet.
It was nothing I needed..
Not particularly my style, but I know I could use them on a buffet table, decorated according to the holiday...



They are tagged..












They are heavy, brass, and almost 14 in high..
The price...
A mere $2.40 ..I got 2, one for each end of the buffet table..

And there's always that garage sale I am supposed to have.:)

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, and thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your visit and comments...

Recession Quiche ♣ Foodie Friday

Most of us are pinching pennies...investments have disappeared, jobs are being lost, hours cut back..etc..

The papers feature ways to cut back, save money....

One famous singer suggested we use only 2 squares of toilet tissue.. :(

Restaurants and public places had better watch out..people will be pilfering toilet
paper to bring home along with the packets of Sweet and Low..:)

So today for Foodie Friday, hosted by Gollum's lovely blog, Designs by Gollum, blog I made Recession Quiche..
Please click on the link to sample some of the other delicious entries..

Had a bit of ham and some cheese left over...
With a salad, it is a lovely meal, and doesn't break the bank...


The mozzarella, ricotta, even the puff pastry were bought on sale...







1 cup of milk,I used low fat, and it was still nice and creamy..
3 eggs
Leftover baked ham, cubed..
Ricotta ..a cup plus
Mozzarella ..
a cup
Handful of grated cheese
3 scallions, chopped
Pepper
1 pastry shell or pie crust

Another Irish treasure to share..
My forum friend Cynthia, introduced me to Peggy Karr plates...I had never heard of them, but they are so beautiful...I had to snatch one up last year when Amazon had a good sale....
Of course, I picked the Shamrocks...
And in case someone who wants to give me a birthday present is reading, I would love the Hydrangea, LOL


Look closely..find the 4 leaf clover and you will have good luck...maybe a pot of money to get us through the recession???

Speaking of sales, yesterday I made one of my frequent trips to WmSonoma outlet. I wish I could have brought you with me, I tried but they stopped me from taking pics...
You will have to take my word for it, I did find a bargain! I have to research what the orig price is so I can get more of a WOW reaction when I post it..
Soon, they are still in the car..you know, have to wait till YKW (you know who) isn't here..:)
Thanks for coming by, and come back soon..and of course for the party on the 17th..OPEN house here!

Tablescape Thursday

Failte (welcome) to Tablescape Thursday!



Please visit Susan's lovely blog, Between Naps on the Porch to see the other tables entered this week...



This week, next and of course on the 17th, the theme will be GREEN!
Tonight I used white dishes, Clermont, the cup and the bowl have a little foot on them that I like...and they are inexpensive..
The glasses are Lenox..
The centerpiece is from Christmas Tree Shops..
Napkin rings and napkins were gifts, I have had them for years...










And for dessert, a little piece of O'Pear Tart....



Warm from the oven, with a dollop of fresh whipped cream...



Recipe..
3 large pears, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
Sprinkle the pears with cinnamon sugar
Press a puff pastry dough into a tart pan..
Arrange the pears,brush with preserves, I used apricot..
Bake..

This plate, a gift from a dear friend...you can bake your soda bread in it..if you'd like..♣



Thank you for coming, and don't forget, you are all invited to the St.Patrick's Day Party on the 17th..
Mr. Linky will be up the night before..anything to celebrate St. Patrick...♣

Irish Soda Bread...and Outdoor Wednesday

We got over 15 in of snow here yesterday, lots of shoveling. My car hasn't made it out yet, but we got enough cleared so DH can get out, and he has 4 wheel drive. We didn't even get a mail delivery yesterday, cleared for him to get to the mailbox...my friend a few blocks away got hers...I guess it was selective delivery...
So much for neither rain, nor snow... blah, blah... but the paper man got through before noon!





Those of you living through this..scroll on by..this pic is for my friends and family in warm climates who ask,.."How's the weather?"

Here's my recipe for Irish Soda Bread...I have tried many a recipe, some dh said it would be cruel to feed to the birds! But we like this one..nice and moist when fresh, and delicious toasted...I hope you'll like it..



Irish Soda Bread....Kathleen


4 C flour
1 t salt
4 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
3/4 C sugar
2 t caraway seed
1 C raisins
1 egg
Splash of OJ
2 C buttermilk
1/4 stick of soft butter

Sift dry ingredients. Mix in the seeds and raisins. Add buttermilk and vanilla and mix.

Add beaten eggs and soft butter, mix..add a splash of OJ

Put into 2 greased loaf pans, or 1 10 in round. Slit the top with a knife.

Bake at 350 about 30 to 35 for loaf pans, 50 for round.
Brush with butter or milk 10 min before removing from oven.
Check center to see if done, do no over bake..



I make mine in a stand mixer, and it can be easily doubled...

You can omit the seeds..

Jayne, you can omit the raisins!

As we inch closer to St. Patrick's Day, I'd like to introduce you to some of my Irish collection, or as DH calls, more cwap we don't need...:(

This is Seamus..he's from Lenox



And you already met Paddy in yesterday's post. I brought him home from TJM..he had a little hole in him, must have been caught in the crossfire of an IRA BB back home...but I patched him up....the manager was happy to be rid of this 16 in Irish man, so he let me have him for 4.00..



I hope you are all coming to the party on the 17th..look for this bonnet I made on the door, and you'll know you are at the right house, I mean blog...





Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by Susan at a Southern Daydreamer is hosting..please go see the other entries...

After the snowstorm, one can't help but think of the warm weather that will eventually come....
A lovely boat ride..



Fresh vegetables...



Blooming window boxes......



And a walk down to the beach to watch the sunset...



But for now, these things are a Northern Daydream..:) months away..

I'll be back Thursday, the Lord willing, for Tablescape Thursday, hope you'll stop by...♣