Happy St. Patrick's Day... and a Giveaway!

How could you not want to celebrate St. Patricks' Day? It's such a happy occasion that we all can share...no matter what nationality, color, or religion you are, especially here, in the United States, in every state. It is one ethnic holiday, that everyone can agree on. So, let's honor the Irish, their celebration, and join in the fun.

For today, I made a special brunch, just for myself...I owe it to myself to eat healthy, and enjoy this beautiful day, and be grateful for the "little things" in life! I found these adorable cocktail, hand painted glasses for $.99 each, at my local Goodwill store, and I thought it would be cute to use it for the special day, with a light dessert, of vanilla pudding...no, not exactly home made, but not the instant kind...you actually have to cook this; I doctored it up a little, using about a 1/2 cup of heavy cream, to the 2 1/2 cup milk, and added 1 teaspoon vanilla extract at the end. I also melted down some semi-sweet chocolate chips, with about 1Tablespoon heavy cream, to drizzle on some of the most amazing fresh sliced kiwis, and layered some of the melted down chocolate, to layer on some of the others. So, I had a total of 3 glasses of this yummy dessert (the fourth glass broke: sadly, when I brought it home, and dropped the bag)

My family loved this ( I did not have any, just "test tasted"..he, he, really true) This dessert is not only light, but pretty, and really satisfies the "sweet tooth" and if you put it in a pretty glass dish, they will think you slaved away on this...Not!  So, get your best green shirt out, perhaps a "green glitter top hat"...join your local parade, go out, and have some fun!

May your day be touched

by a bit of Irish luck,

brightened by a Song

in your heart,

and warmed by the smiles

of the People you Love.

Wearing Green Around the World

Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore and Russia.
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions and fireworks.

I found a beautiful photo of a Betty Crocker site just clicking on my "Stumbleupon" button on my toolbar, but did not use the recipe, or the presentation, I just thought this would make such a nice dessert with the vanilla pudding, and the chocolate, topped with the fresh sliced kiwis. I'm still stumbling around on the "Stumbleupon" which I have signed up for, and saw some of my blogger friends who are following me on it, but so far have not read any instructions how to "go about" this whole thing, can't even find my own page on it. (I'm so lame!)

This is the magic ingredient, my favorite JELL-O which comes in real handy when you need it. A 4.6 oz, 130g. size, and just follow directions, (I doctored mine up). Melt down about 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, and peel and slice some fresh kiwis. Just look at these beautiful kiwis, from the U.S. and look at the package it comes in, not bruised, and battered like the ones that are piled up in the kiwi section.

Aren't these kiwis, gorgeous...laying so carefully in the plastic carton, so well protected. 

So, on to the next project...actually, not a project, it's just a small celebration alone, enjoying a little brunch I made for myself, just before noon. It's always about that time I get around to eating something...not a good habit. I'm totally happy with a large cup of coffee with milk, and wishing I had some nice muffins, or pastry to go with it, which I hardly ever do, not because I don't want to make some, it's just "laziness".I'm not much of a baker, and I try not to bring home so much "goodies" that my daughter Lora makes; just really watching all the "sugary stuff",

Well, since it's St Patrick's Day, I was thinking more of a "Green Eggs, and Ham"...and then I thought...Nahhh!
kept thinking of The Green Eggs and Ham by Dr.Seuss that every child in America knows by heart...or has read.
Here's a small portion of it...still ringing in my head!

I am Sam
I am Sam
Sam I am 

That Sam-I-am!
Than Sam-I-am!
I do not like
that Sam-I-am!Do you like
green eggs and ham?I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.

Would you like them
here or there?

I would not like them
here or there.
I would not like them
anywhere.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.
I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.

I will have to contact Snapple, I love their teas!

A nice vegetarian breakfast...minus the

green eggs, and ham...Sam, I Am!

I started this blog, as a "food and thrift"...just slacked off showing you my "thrift finds"...so here's a beauty. A Panini machine. I don't even toast my bread any more. This is so much more convenient, and just love the crunchy rye bread I make in the "little beauty"...not just any Panini machine, but the real sturdy one, it's a VILLAWARE brand, for $9.99...now, isn't that a bargain? Retails for a lot more, probably about $100.

Just look at the thin grooves on this beauty of a Panini!
...and, the beautiful marks on the bread, so crispy hot, and crunchy. This Panini machine makes the best, ever grilled cheese toast...Yumm!






 Now, on to my giveaway, Cookbook!

Another fabulous thrift find of mine...brand new book; actually a 2008 edition...441 pages. Sheila Lukins is a food writer, and former co-owner of the famous Silver Palate Catering Company with Julee Russo, from the late eighties to the mid nineties...and they had their famous cookbook out, that was so popular. Now, they both individually have written their own cookbooks. I love both of their recipes. At first, I hesitated to give this book up, but I do want to share, and pass on to my food blogger friends, the great finds. This book costs a lot less than what the postage will cost...so why not give it away. Whoever wins it will love it...guaranteed!

This is one of the amazing seafood feast Sheila features.



All you have to do is leave a comment, especially if you heard about this author, or the Silver Palate.
All you have to do is to follow my blog...follow me on twitter. You don't necessary have to follow me on Foodbuzz...most likely, you do. That's all!

One other request: If you are not a follower of mine...don't even bother, because if I don't know anything about you, do not leave me a "snippy" comment, like one other individual did, how they had to follow my blog "mandatory"...and of course I would courteously follow back!...Anyway, just leave your comment as many as 3 or 4 times to get a better chance at winning.That's all. I will announce the winner, by Sunday, March 20 at 11:00PM EST. Only valid in the United States, and Canada.( Sorry for leaving all the other countries out.)

Another winning recipe, from Sheila Lukins' book!