Broccoli Florentine Soup

It is official!  I am putting away the soup recipes after I share this last one with you.  I know what you are thinking...You think I am crazy!  After all, I live in the Midwest where winter doesn't end until May.  I put those snow boots away and I am moving on to lighter foods that are perfect for Spring.  So hold on to your hats, one last soup recipe coming your way!

Broccoli Florentine Soup is a creamy soup packed full of broccoli and spinach!

It's perfect for a soup course during Easter or for some green on St. Patrick's Day.

It just screams Spring!

Ingredients:

1 package fresh spinach

4 Tbsp butter

1/2 cup onion, chopped

5 Tbsp flour

4 cups chicken stock (or vegetable broth)

4 cups broccoli florets

1/2 cup heavy cream

Greek yogurt

salt and pepper

pepitoes (roasted pumpkin seeds)

Directions:

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium high heat.  Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until onion is softened.  Add flour, stirring until thick.  Now add the spinach to wilt along with some salt and pepper to taste.  Add chicken stock (or vegetable stock) and broccoli.  Cook all over medium high heat for approximately 20 minutes or until broccoli is soft.  Remove from heat and blend in a food processor.  Ladle soup into bowls and top with Greek yogurt and pepitoes.

 printable recipe

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Places I will party!

You may also like:

Italian Wedding Soup

Berry Chopped Salad with Sweet Poppyseed Dressing

Easy Lemon Chick Cookies

Mint Pea Hummus

I am dreaming of green!  Not just because St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner.  Little green shoots are starting to pop out of the ground.  I can see the beginnings of my daffodils making their appearance.  What a welcome sight those signs of green can be!  Those signs mean the end of winter isn't too far off, flowers will bloom and my garden can get started.  I just love the signs of Spring!  Since we are talking green, check out this twist on traditional hummus.

Mint Pea Hummus has such a fresh, Spring flavor!  You will love the change from traditional hummus.  Besides, wouldn't it be great for St. Patrick's Day?

I left mine kind of chunky, but you can make it as smooth as you desire.  Just serve with crackers or pita chips.

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen peas

1/3 cup tahini

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped

pinch of salt

vegetable broth

Directions:

Cook frozen peas for 2 minutes in a pot of water.  Strain peas from the water.  In a food processor. puree peas, tahini, chopped mint leaves and salt.  Add vegetable broth until you reach the desired consistency (less vegetable broth for thicker hummus).

printable recipe

You know there is a party going on!

Don't forget to check it out and share some great Spring recipes, crafts and fashion.

There is also a paypal cash giveaway to enter...lots of fun!

~ Link Party and Giveaway ~

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Places I like to party!

You may also like:

Reuben Hye Rollers

White Aged Cheddar Reuben Dip

Shamrock Brownies with Mint Buttercream Icing

Potato Recipes

My husband's grandmother left Ireland when she was just 16 years old to head over to America for a new life.  She traveled through Ellis Island and met up with a family member who helped her get a job and transition to her new life in the land across the pond.  Can you imagine doing that?  I think at 16 I was just interested in finding my way to the local froyo...my how times have changed.  I didn't know her very long and so wished I had asked more about that period of time in her life.  But, I was young and the hubby was just a boyfriend at the time.  Other family had asked about her journey, and she just wouldn't talk about it, which makes things even more intriguing.  So today I am sharing some potato recipes that you can prepare for your family for St. Patrick's Day or any day!

  

Let's face it.  March has crazy weather.  Some days it seems like Spring is here to stay and other days it seems like Winter just hasn't lost it's grip.  Loaded Potato Soup is always good in March, especially on those rainy or snowy damp days.  AND, there is a cheater's way to whip this soup up in less than half and hour!

Loaded Potato Soup

 One of the most flavorful flatbreads you will ever make!  Tender potatoes and fresh rosemary fill your kitchen with an amazing aroma!

Potato and Rosemary Flatbread

Red Potato and Green Bean Saute has a buttery garlic flavor that will perk up any main meal!  This side dish says Spring!

Red Potato and Green Bean Saute

In less than a week, the Chicago river will be dyed green!

So it's time to start thinking like an Irishmen with some potato recipes in your back pocket.  Ha!

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

~ Link Parties ~

Follow A Sprinkle of This and That's board Flatbread Fanatic on Pinterest. 

  Follow A Sprinkle of This and That's board The Luck of the Irish on Pinterest.

Orange Lime Coconut Cupcakes

How do you get those Irish eyes a smilin'?

Bake them some cupcakes of course!

I am not a huge corned beef and cabbage fan, much to my husband's dismay.  So, I always find other ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day like these cute spring flavored cupcakes in the colors of the Irish flag!  Can't get more Irish than that!

An orange flavored cake layer followed by a lime flavored cake layer and topped with a buttercream icing that is coated in coconut.  Spring...check.  St. Patrick's Day...check.  Yumminess...check. 

I think we are all good to go!

Ingredients to make 24:

1 box white cake mix (16.25 ounces)

1 1/4 cup milk

2/3 cup melted butter

3 whole eggs

2 Tbsp lime juice

3 Tbsp orange juice

green food coloring

red food coloring

yellow food coloring

Ingredients for frosting:

2 sticks unsalted butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup coconut

3 drops of green food coloring

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners of spray with nonstick spray.

Beat cake mix, milk, melted butter and eggs until well combined.  Divide the batter in half.  In one bowl of batter add lime juice.  Stir in 6 drops of green food coloring.  Set aside.  In other bowl of batter, add orange juice.  Stir in 5 drops of red food coloring and 8 drops of orange food coloring.

Spoon orange batter into 1/4 of the muffin cup.  Spoon green batter on top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 14-19 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool.  Using a mixer, beat butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract.  Frost the cooled cupcakes.  Place coconut and drops of green food coloring into a plastic bag.  Shake until coconut has turned green.  Sprinkle on top of cupcakes.

printable recipe

  

When Irish eyes are smiling, surely like a day in Spring!

Bring it on!

There's still time to join the party and enter the cash giveaway!

~ Link Party and Giveaway ~

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Places I will be partying!

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Key Lime Cupcakes

Coconut Cupcakes

Strawberry Buttercake Cupcakes

Chocolate Pistachio Gelato Sandwiches

With the advent of March, two holidays are just around the corner.  Let's get going with St. Patrick's Day which is celebrated whether Irish or not!  I will be sharing lots of green themed recipes in honor of the wearing of the green.  So, if you don't have anything green to wear, at least you can eat green!

I know, most people, especially the kiddos, would prefer anything but green food.  But, you will want some of these recipes for sure!  Starting with a sweet treat cause those are my absolute favorite!

  

Gelato is delicious any season!  If it is still winter in your neck of the woods (that would be me), just crank up the heat and enjoy these frozen treats!  Homemade chocolate cookies made in a whoopie pie pan and scoops of your favorite pistachio gelato.  Nothing fancy, just simplicity that makes your taste buds water.  Just store in your freezer anytime you want a little frozen treat.

Ingredients to make 6 gelato sandwiches:

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup unsalted butter

2 eggs

1/4 cup flour

3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

nonstick spray

pistachio gelato

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Prepare a whoopie pan with nonstick spray, set aside.  With an electric mixer, beat sugar and butter until creamy.  Add eggs, mix well after each.  Blend in flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.  When well combined, mix in vanilla.  Fill each whoopie pie cup with just enough batter to cover bottom.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and pan.  Cool on a wire rack.  Assemble by placing one cookie face up.  Add a scoop of pistachio gelato and top with another cookie.  Keep in freezer until ready to use.

printable recipe

Ok people, think green and maybe that white stuff will disapper?  You know what else will disappear?  Chocolate Pistachio Gelato Sandwiches!  Probably before St. Patrick's Day.

Don't forget to join the party and enter to win the cash giveway!  

Now that's some green you will want!

~ Link Party and Giveaway ~

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,
Christine

Places I will be partying!

Featured On:

Lots of other St. Patrick's day recipes over on the right.  Make sure to check those out and what I am pinning to my Luck of the Irish board!

Follow A Sprinkle of This and That's board The Luck of the Irish on Pinterest.

Rainbow Smoothie

March has begun and I am ready for some fun St. Patrick's Day recipes 

starting with an amazing Rainbow Smoothie.

You will have struck gold with Rainbow Smoothies!  Such a healthy afternoon treat or even a dessert!  A rainbow of flavors and colors!

Blueberries, strawberries, peaches, kiwi and banana pack this smoothie with a punch.

Layer upon layer of your favorite smoothie flavors, each one better than the next!

Ingredients:

2 cups vanilla yogurt

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup frozen peaches

2 fresh kiwi, skin removed, chunked

1 banana

3/4 cup white grape juice or apple juice

Directions:

In a blender, mix 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 1 cup frozen blueberries and 1/4 cup white grape juice until blended.  Pour into glasses and place in freezer.  Clean out your blender and add 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 1 cup frozen strawberries and 1/4 cup white grape juice.  Mix until blended.  Remove blueberry smoothie from freezer.  Spoon strawberry layer on top.  Return to freezer.  Clean out blender and add 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, frozen peaches and 1/4 cup white grape juice.  Blend until well mixed.  Remove smoothie glasses and spoon peach layer on top.  Return to freezer and clean blender.  Blend kiwi  and banana.  Remove smoothie glasses and pour remaining smoothie layer on top.  Serve immediately.

printable recipe

You will love every last drop!

Don't forget to hop over and join the blog hop AND enter to win the PayPal Cash Giveaway!

~ Link Party and PayPal Cash Giveaway ~

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Where I plan to party!

Featured On:

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Thin Mint Chocolate Donuts

Lil' Stout Cakes

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Banana Split Oatmeal Bowls

Quaker Oats is on the hunt for America's most delicious bowl of oatmeal.  They are hosting a contest called Bring Your Best Bowl, 

using 2-5 additional ingredients to create the next bowl to inspire their newest oatmeal flavor.  

So game on!

Being an oatmeal eating family, I couldn't resist the opportunity to create something fun.  

So here we go....Banana Split Oatmeal Bowls.

All the flavors of a banana split turned into a healthy oatmeal bowl.  Not one worry about grabbing a spoon and indulging!  A fabulous way to start your day!

Honey sweetened oatmeal is topped with fresh strawberries and chocolate chips.  The twist to Banana Split Oatmeal is to use banana chips.  I love the texture and crunch added to the oatmeal bowl.  Besides, just wait until the kiddos hear you are serving Banana Splits for breakfast!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Quaker Oats Oatmeal

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp honey

banana chips

strawberries, chopped

chocolate chips

Directions:

Heat the milk in the microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.  Add to the oatmeal.  Stir until combined. 

Drizzle with honey.  Top each oatmeal bowl with as much or as little banana chips, strawberries and chocolate chips as desired.  Serve immediately.

printable recipe

Start your day off on the right foot.  Have all the ingredients chopped and in bowls so all you have to do is prepare the oatmeal in the morning.  The kiddos can add their own toppings, which you know they will LOVE!

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Places I will party!

You may also like these banana split inspired recipes:

Banana Split Churros

Banana Split Brownie Bites