Easy St. Paddy's Supper ...

Tom doesn't care for the "traditional" corned beef and cabbage Irish dinner, but I still wanted to fix something festive for supper tonight, especially since he's about 98% Irish! I decided to put together a green menu instead ... Irish grilled cheese sandwiches, Green Pea soup and little green Baked Snapea Crisps from Calbee (purchased at Trader Joe's). I thought I'd pick up the pea soup at Target, but the only brand they had was by Bear Creek, which I've never purchased before. I bought it anyway and added matchstick carrots. Next time, I might make my own, although Tom really loved this soup. Turns out, Tom loves any pea soup. We've been married for 39 years and I just found out!!! Where have I been? I wonder what other things I've missed ...

Irish Grilled Cheese
Mash 4 tablespoons softened butter with chopped chives, parsley and green onions. Spread the mixture on 4 slices wheat bread; top each with sliced Irish cheddar cheese. Cover with 4 more bread slices. Spread plain butter on the outside of the sandwiches and fry in a skillet until golden on both sides. Slice into quarters.

Mmm ... mmm ... good!

I wanted to make dinner for my daughter and son-in-law, the proud parents of my brand new granddaughter, Nora. I wanted it to be hearty and nutritious and easy. I ended up taking them a big pot of this wonderful soup. It's chock full of good ingredients and it's pure "comfort" food. They can heat up a bowl in the microwave at any hour of the day (or night). I brought along Rosemary bread sticks to round out the meal. Mmmm ... mmmm ... good!
CHICKEN ROTINI SOUP WITH WHITE BEANS AND SPINACH
Ingredients:
Matchstick carrots, as many as you like
1/2 large onion, diced
Olive oil
64 oz. chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
3 cups uncooked rotinni pasta
3 baked chicken breasts, diced
1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp. dried leaf thyme
1 can cannellini beans, rinsed & drained
1 can Great Northen Beans, rinsed & drained
3 cups baby spinach
Preparation:
Saute carrot and onion in small amount olive oil. Add chicken broth, pepper and bay leaf. Bring to a boil; add pasta and boil for 5 minutes. Add chicken, poultry seasoning and thyme, simmer for 5 to 10 minutes longer, or until noodles are tender. Remove bay leaf. Add beans and spinach. Serves 6.