Go mbeannai Dia duit!

St. Patricks Cathedral, Dublin 1996.

I have a bit'o the Irish in me somewhere, I think, because....

I LOVE IRELAND!

I love Guinness beer, and Irish music, and the stomping, clomping dance.

Michael Flatley you ROCK!


The statue of Molly Malone in Dublin...they call her "the dish with the fish".

In 1996 Kenny and I were "lucky" enough to go to Ireland. I was six months pregnant and we booked ourselves a two week bus tour through England, Scotland, and Ireland. Why? Well, because I figured after this papoose was born we were most likely not going to be jetting off to the Emerald Isle(or anywhere over seas for that matter). We never gave a 2nd thought to who else might be on our bus tour...until we got on the bus...last of course. As we walked to the back of the bus there was much mumbling and side mouth talking. As we sat down I heard the lady behind us say, "I think they must be on the wrong bus." NO, we were not, BUT we WERE the youngest couple on the bus by 25 years! And needless to say no one else was pregnant!

We had a blast! These folks were from all over the globe, but the majority of them were from Australia. I can't believe I didn't have Noah early from all the laughing we did.



If I remember the story of "The Doors of Dublin" correctly...the owners of the houses had to paint their doors different bright colors so when they stumbled home from the pub after a pint or two they would hopefully be able to remember the color of their door and make it the right house....only in Ireland!

After I spent the morning pining over memories of the care free days...days of travel and adventure, and old people bus tours. I got to work on my St. Patty's Day dinner. I got the grand idea from Bakerella to use green food coloring in P-dubs Red Velvet cake instead of...well, instead of red. Then I used green sprinkles for the top and there you have it St Patricks Day dessert!


Yes PLEASE comment now to win The Pioneer Women cooks cookbook!

I spent a good chunk o' time pouring over Irish sayings and blessings. Them Irish sure have a way with words let me tell ya. Mostly it's about the drink, the devil, the drink, and God, and the drink some more. They have a thing about cats too....strange, I never really liked cats. I must be Irish!

"Oh he occasionally takes an alcoholiday!"

"Daylight comes to the drunkards roof the fastest."

"He'd step over 10 naked women to get at a pint!"

See what I mean....

My family will be happy that I put the green hats, sparkly shamrock necklaces, and glitter back on the shelve at the grocery store. I opted for making my own St. Patty's Day decorations.


I cut out shamrocks from green paper...obviously, sorry, then I gave us each Irish names. Then on the back I put an Irish saying or blessing.



My daughter came home from school today....complaining of a lump in her throat and a bad taste in her mouth....

Oh my Garshk!!! I think she must have swallowed Lucky the Leprechaun and he did his duty on her tongue! I fed her an authentic Irish meal and she made a quick recovery.


Baked Corned Beef, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Mashed Taters, and Soda Bread

Were you worried that I was going to put green sprinkles on the brussel sprouts?

Roasted Brussel Sprouts
1 medium onion sliced
1 granny smith apple peeled, cored, and sliced
4 tablespoons butter
1 pound brussel sprouts washed, trimmed, and cut in 1/2
1 teaspoon salt
fresh ground pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 425
Melt butter in iron skillet, saute' onions and apples until they start to get tender and brown. Layer the prepared brussel sprouts on top of onions and apples, salt and pepper, put pan in oven for 30-40 minutes. After 15 minutes move the BS and onions mixture around, just give it all a little toss. Brussel sprouts should be fork tender and slightly browned when done.
Aaaaah life is good! These are so yummy, if you like Brussely sort of things.

When I was a kid we used to look for four leaf clovers for hours....because what else was there to do, as we picked our way through the lawn we would sing this song.... and I would sing, of course, painfully off key!
I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I overlooked before
One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain,
Third is the roses that grow in the lane.
No need explaining the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.

Tell me you picked clover and sang this song too, when you were a child...those were the good ol'days!

Thanks for reading all my random shmandom St. Patty's Day stuff, I felt a little ADD today. I would like to give you all an Irish blessing...

I-rish you a very nice place to live,
I-rish God's greatest gifts he'll give.
I-rish you health, and wealth, and more--
I-rish your smilin' face were at my door!

May God Bless You!