Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I'm a big fan of holidays and special occasions. They break up the week-to-week routine and get everybody celebrating together - there is a reason why they date so far back in human history! St. Patrick's Day is a great occasion for people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate together. You don't have to be Irish to appreciate a great party, some good pints and yummy food.

Yesterday I posted this idea for Shamrock Spinach Pizza. A simple way to change a cultural favorite into a festive dinner.

Last year I posted this recipe for a traditional Irish Soda Bread that is not only easy to make, but delicious too. 

 Pair the bread with simple Irish Carrot Soup that you can make from scratch in no time!

If you're looking for healthy start to your St. Patrick's Day, then kick it off with this Mint Chocolate Green Monster Smoothie. A cold, creamy breakfast that tastes just like its a dessert :)

 Speaking of dessert, if you're looking to treat yourself then make this Baileys Marble Cheesecake using Baileys Irish Cream. Thick, rich, smooth and with a little kick!

Whatever you do this year, I hope that you have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

Shamrock Spinach Pizza

With St. Patrick's Day coming up tomorrow, it seemed like a great time to make this Shamrock Spinach Pizza for a little festive spirit! I got the idea from Kristen, cutting the shamrock shapes, much like you can cut pepperoni into heart shapes for Valentine's Day.

I love adding spinach to pizza and this is a fun way to do it!

I used baby spinach that I already had in the fridge.

Using kitchen shears, I cut the leaves into shamrock shapes.

I had one of my favorite Dr. Oetker frozen pizzas in the freezer and it worked out perfectly with the little spinach leaves.

A pizza fit for a leprechaun!

This is a great way to add some healthy veggies to a pizza and get kids eating them. Just think of the possibilities :)

Baileys Marbled Cheesecake

For sixteen years this recipe has been sitting in my mother's binder of magazine clippings, just waiting to be mixed, baked and enjoyed. With St. Patricks Day coming up this week, it seemed like the perfect time to bake with a little bit of the ol' Baileys Irish Cream. 

This is a rich, decadent dessert, that you won't regret making. Serving this for friends this week and it will be gone in a flash.

What you'll need:

Crust:

1/2 cup Butter, melted

1/4 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Cocoa Powder

2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs

Filling:

2 (250g) packages of Cream Cheese, softened

2/3 cup Sugar

3 Eggs

1/2 cup Baileys Irish Cream

2 squares Semi-sweet Chocolate, melted

Combine butter, sugar and cocoa powder.

Stir in crumbs.

Press evenly over bottom and 1 inch up sides of 9 inch spring form pan.

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in sugar.

Beat in eggs one at a time at low speed of mixer.

Blend in Baileys. Steal a nip from the bottle for yourself ;)

Pour about 1/3 mixture into bowl and stir in melted chocolate until well blended.

Pour half of plain mixture into prepared crust.

Drizzle with half of the chocolate mixture. Repeat layers.

Make a marbled design by gently swirling batter with a small knife

Bake at 325° for 50-55 minutes or until set. Loosen cake from rim of pan. Cool on rack; chill.

If you're a fan of cheesecake, I think you'll really enjoy this. It was just the right amount of chocolate and a lovely hint of Baileys Irish Cream.

I definitely went back for seconds :)

Makes about 10 servings.


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