Cream o' Spinach Soup - St. Patrick's Day Dinner

When you have the last name Murphy,
March is a time of luck and leprechauns, celebrations and of course, clovers.
Everything seems more glorious and green, not only in our surroundings but in what we eat.
I am kicking off the season with a special pot at the end of the rainbow...
Cream O'Spinach Soup.

It's creamy, delicious and the perfect addition to your spring menu.

This version is not only fresh and vibrant but it's also lactose free!

We all know the leprechauns are tolerant of many things, 

but sometimes lactose is not one of them.

The addition of Clover Sonoma Lactose Free Milk, 

makes it so rich and smooth,  you get all the flavor you love without the lactose.

Clover Sonoma Lactose Free Milk is the first and only Non-GMO Project Verified lactose free milk on the market. It is backed by the Clover Promise of Excellence, which guarantees delicious and nutritious dairy that is rBST-free, non-GMO and American Humane Certified. 

Lactose intolerance is caused by the body's inability to produce enough of the lactase enzyme to fully break down lactose, a natural sugar in milk.  McGill University recently published a study that examined plant based dairy alternatives and found cow's milk is the most nutritious option.  

People who might have chosen plant-based "milk" alternatives due to lactose intolerance,

may want to choose lactose free milk for a more balanced nutrition profile.

I have a big batch ready, and once it is topped with a 4 leaf spinach clover, 

all the Irish eyes will be smiling.

I hope your day is full of clovers!

Cream O'Spinach Soup

1 quart chicken or vegetable stock
4 tablespoons butter
1 large white onion, chopped
2 shallots, chopped
3-4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/4 cup all purpose flour
24 ounces baby spinach (or 4, pre-washed 6 ounce bags)
1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup Clover Lactose Free Milk (I used 1% but any of them work wonderfully)
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste

In a large stock pot, melt butter over medium low heat.  Add onion, shallots and garlic and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.  Slowly whisk in flour and make sure fully incorporated before whisking in stock.  Add spinach and gently stir until wilted, then simmer on medium low about 10 minutes.  Add lemon, nutmeg, salt and pepper and stir to combine.  Using an immersion blender (or transfer carefully to a blender) puree until smooth, then return to stock pot over low heat.  Stir in Clover Sonoma Lactose Free milk and heat until warmed.  Taste to see if more salt and pepper are necessary and serve.


Thank you to Clover Sonoma for sponsoring this post.  You can find out more about all of their amazing products here.

Lucky Farms - St. Patrick's Day Crudité

It's always a good day at the Farmers' Market but around St. Patrick's Day, 

it's all about the Luck of the Irish.

So many shades of green and so much bright, fresh produce that I'm calling it, 

Lucky Farms and putting together a St. Patrick's Day Crudité.

 I gathered bunches of green goodness like

Av o' cados...

Celtic Cucumber...

Shades of Shamrock Sugar Snap Peas...

 Rainbow Chard...

and of course, the customary cabbage...

I started this emerald endeavour with sliced avocado,

 a touch of fresh squeezed lime...

then topped with Everything Seasoning.

It is bursting with flavor and character, 

just like many irishmen I know.

Spiralizing veggies makes anything cooler and more fun to eat, 

and it's not blarney that it tastes better too.

Cucumbers and zucchini have never looked better...

A wee bit of spicy red pepper flakes and olive oil 

added to sugar snap peas will have you ready to do the jig.

We are all looking for rainbows on St. Patrick's Day.

Swiss Chard stems add just a punch of color...

and crunch when the leaves are made into Sea Salt and Vinegar Chips...

A day celebrating the Irish isn't complete without a touch of cabbage...

Our's is front and center,

 filled with Toby's Ranch Dip

So try the Lucky Farms, 

they're magically delicious!

Do you want to grow a rainbow? St. Patrick's Day Gifts

This St. Patrick's Day we're taking Rainbows to a new level.

Not only are we making them, we are growing them.

It takes just minutes to make these festive gifts that will last for months...

Play-Doh Rainbows that lead you to a Pot 'O Veggies!

All you need are:

an assortment of Play-doh containers

(I used the mini ones from a starter pack of 8)

potting soil

colorful seed packets

Select 4 colors and roll into thin strips...

Using the Play-Doh lid as a size guide, 

mold the rolled strips into a rainbow shape...

and trim the edges.

Poke a few holes on the bottom of your Play-Doh container for drainage,

 and fill with potting soil

then place your Play-Doh Rainbow on top of the soil.

Pair with your favorite seed packet...

and they are a leprechaun approved St. Patrick's Day gift.

St. Patrick's Day Pub Salad with Irish Soda Bread Croutons

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, 

so I'm gathering the girls for a Celtic Celebration.

A lasses' lunch celebrating some of the fun of Ireland, 

with lighter fare and Cambria chardonnay.

Irish Pub Salad is crisp, fresh and tangy 

with fresh vegetables, creamy eggs and sharp Irish cheddar.

Drizzled with a zesty dressing, 

it's the perfect combo that makes your "Irish eyes smile".

But my favorite part of this salad are the soda bread croutons.

Like many of the Irishmen I've met, 

the bread is a little course and rough on the outside but soft on the inside!

It makes the most perfect croutons.

Crunchy and golden brown, but the center is a light and delicate.

They melt in your mouth, especially when paired with...

 Cambria Chardonnay.

A little luck of the Irish for the lasses who lunch!

Irish Pub Salad with Irish Soda Bread Croutons
Serves 4
for salad:
2 heads of Butter or Bibb Lettuce, washed and chopped or torn into bite size pieces
3 cooked Red or Golden Beets, sliced
1/2 lb of green beans, blanched and cooled
3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
2 hard boiled eggs sliced
2 large cucumber, sliced
8 oz. Irish Cheddar cubed
Lay lettuce on a platter or individually on plates.  Top with vegetables and cheese, drizzle with dressing and top with croutons.

for dressing whisk together:
1 Tablespoon stone ground mustard
3 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
7 Tablespoons light extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot finely chopped


for the croutons:
4 Tablespoons butter
4 cups cubed Irish soda bread (I use a boxed mix that can be found at most speciality food stores, but many stores have soda bread available around St. Patrick's Day)
Kosher salt to taste

Melt butter in a large saute pan.  Add cubed bread and toss gently to coat the bread.  Cook over medium heat until browned adding more butter if necessary and gently turning cubes frequently. Sprinkle with salt and place in an air tight container until ready to use.


Thank you to Cambria Wines for sponsoring this post and for your support as I work with brands to be able to keep creating.

5 last minute, 5 minute St. Patrick's Day ideas

When your last name is Murphy, 

obviously St. Patrick's Day is a big deal.

I like to keep it festively green and simply silly.

I've got 5 fun and quick ways to fill your day with 

the Luck of the Irish!

Try a fresh way to serve corned beef and cabbage...

recipe here

Enjoy a minty Blarney Cone...

details here

Give the gift of Green Thumbs...

favors here

Whip up an Irish Coffee Body Scrub...

DIY here

and share an ice cold beverage with some of your favorite Irishmen...

silly straws here