If you’re looking for some ways to bring the spirit of the Irish to your table, you’ve come to the right place. For years I have been experimenting with different green recipes for St. Patrick’s Day and here are my current favorites. Some take some time to prepare and some are super quick and easy.
Baked Stuffed Chicken Parmesan
This recipe came about when I was on a low carb diet and had pasta on my mind. I decided to put my favorite pasta filling in chicken. To my delight, it came out fantastic. Serve with a side of spinach linguine and your favorite green vegetable.
4 large or 6 small chicken breast (boneless, skinless) – pounded flat
15 oz ricotta cheese
9 oz package frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
1 egg
2 cups finely shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 garlic clove (minced)
1/8 tsp. onion powder
24 oz jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce (I use Prego traditional)
1. Pound chicken flat
2. Mix ricotta, spinach, egg, parmesan, garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper and 1 cup of the mozzarella.
3. Spread decent amount of spinach mixture on chicken.
4. Roll chicken or fold in half. Use toothpicks if your roll or fold is too fat to stay closed.
5. Place chicken in baking dish and pour spaghetti sauce over top
6. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes
7. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on top and continue to cook until cheese browns and bubbles up.
8. Slice chicken breast in half when serving to show the lovely green filling
Fresh Broccoli Salad
This recipe came from a pot luck at work. I normally don’t like raw broccoli but this looked interesting and I didn’t want to hurt the feelings of my co-worker who made it so I gave it a try. It’s been a favorite of mine ever since. Although it can be on the pricey side to purchase all of the ingredients if you don’t already have them on hand, these are things (except the broccoli and turkey) that you can keep until the next time you’re ready to make this salad again…which I suspect won’t be long.
1 large head fresh broccoli
10 slices turkey bacon cooked and crumbled
¾ Cup raisins
½ cup cashews
½ cup sunflower seeds
1. Cut tops (florets) of broccoli into bit size pieces
2. Combine all ingredients, toss and refrigerate
3. Prepare dressing but do not put on salad until ready to serve (store dressing in an airtight container in refrigerator until ready to use)
Dressing – Mix the following ingredients
1 cup mayo
¼ cup sugar
2 tsp. vinegar
2 drops green food coloring
Green Dream
This has been a favorite recipe in my family for as long as I can remember. My Mom has made this since I was a wee little one and now makes it for the grandkids who won’t let a holiday or get together go by with out it.
16 oz container small curd cottage cheese
16 oz container cool whip
20 oz can pineapple (drained really well)
15 oz can mandarin oranges (drained really well)
1 jar maraschino cherries (drained really well)
3 oz package lime jell-o
1. Mix Cool Whip and Jell-o
2. Combine rest of ingredients in Cool Whip mixture
3. Refrigerate.
Awesome Green Tortellini Salad
Stuffing is awesome when used as croutons and this salad is the best meal to try this crouton alternative. After scouring the cupboards in a desperate attempt to find croutons, I decided to give stovetop a go. I have been using it on my salad ever since.
1 bag iceberg salad
9 oz package Buitoni® spinach cheese tortellini (found in the refrigerated section)
Creamy poppy seed or your favorite honey mustard dressing
Small container or box stovetop chicken stuffing mix
1. Rinse salad and set in refrigerator to dry
2. Cook pasta according to package directions
3. Drain pasta and allow to cool (can be put in refrigerator to cool faster)
4. Assemble Salad – (Salad, pasta, uncooked stuffing used as croutons, dressing)
Fun chicken fettuccini alfredo
If you’re looking for a meal that will please your wee little ones but don’t want to spend hours preparing it, this is your meal. For this recipe, you can buy a green pasta or put a couple of drops of food coloring in the alfredo sauce, you could do both if you’re feeling really festive!
12 oz fun pasta (spirals, shapes, ruffles or whatever)
1 package Refrigerated Fully Cooked Chicken Breast (strips or diced)
alfredo sauce (jar or recipe below)
1. Cook pasta as directed
2. Mix
2. Add chicken and alfredo sauce
3. Heat thoroughly and serve
Alfredo Sauce
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups parmesan cheese
1 clove minced garlic
1. Melt butter in pan
2. Add heavy cream and garlic and simmer for about five minutes
3. Reduce heat, add parmesan cheese and stir until parmesan is melted
Tomato soup with bagels and green cream cheese
If you’re looking for a super quick meal with a touch of green, this one can be ready from start to finish in about 15 minutes.
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 can milk
8 oz cream cheese
4 bagels sliced in half
1. Prepare soup according to directions with milk
2. Toast bagels
3. Add a couple of drops of green food coloring to cream cheese and mix well
4. Put cream cheese on bagels
5. Dip bagels in tomato soup and enjoy!
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie
This is a super easy quick way to celebrate St. Patrick’s day if you’re looking to prepare a festive desert in minutes, this is it.
1 chocolate graham cracker crust (you’ll need the strength of store bought for this)
1 quart mint chocolate chip ice cream
Chocolate Syrup
1. Let ice cream sit out for 15 minutes
2. Soften ice cream by mixing
3. Spread ice cream into graham cracker pie crust
4. Freeze for at least 10 minutes before cutting
5. Drizzle with chocolate sauce before serving
