Are you Making your Food Green Today?

In honor of St. Patrick's Day I am going working on planning a menu of green food for dinner tonight...I know I started late! Oh well, better late than not do it at all, right?! It's all about creating memories for my family..... so off to the grocery store I go.

Here are some great green food ideas for you. Let me know if you make any of them!

Who said playing in the "mud" wasn't a good idea? Made from a combination of chocolate cake, chocolate milk and frosting, these St. Patty's Day delights are dipped in colorful candy sprinkles and shamrocks for added luck - a festive twist kids will love.

Preparation Time: 20 mins
Cooking Time: 35 mins
Cooling Time: 1 hr refrigerating

Servings: 24 mud balls

Nonstick cooking spray
Wax paper
1 box (18.25 ounces) chocolate cake mix
1 bottle (16 fluid ounces) NESTLÉ NESQUIK Refrigerated Ready-to-Drink Chocolate Milk, divided
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 container (16 ounces) prepared chocolate or white frosting
24 foil or paper standard-size baking cups
1/4 to 1 cup green candy sprinkles and/or shamrocks for coating

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Spray 13 x 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line baking sheets with wax paper.

COMBINE cake mix, 1 1/2 cups Nesquik, oil and eggs in large mixer bowl; stir until moistened. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes or whisk by hand for 2 minutes. Pour into prepared baking pan.

BAKE for 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Frost cake. Now for the fun part, drag fork across cake so that the cake is crumbly. Pour remaining 1/2 cup Nesquik over cake and stir well to form a cakey "dough."

SCOOP "dough" into 2-inch balls using ice cream scoop; place on prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll dough into firm balls (use plastic gloves, if desired), then dip tops (or roll entire ball) into candy sprinkles. Place in baking cups. Refrigerate until ready to serve (will hold 1 day). Serve cold.

Big Shamrock Cookie

Celebrate the 'eatin' of the green' on St. Patrick's Day with this edible shamrock.

Preparation Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Cooling Time: 30 mins cooling

Servings: 12 servings

1 pkg. (16.5 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Bar Dough
Frosting, decorator icing, sugar sprinkles, candies and/or melted chocolate (optional)

PREHEAT oven to 325° F. Grease large baking sheet.

PLACE whole bar of dough in prepared pan. Allow to soften for 5 to 10 minutes. Using fingertips, pat dough gently to form an 8- or 9-inch shamrock shape.

BAKE for 20 to 23 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes; carefully loosen cookie with a spatula. Cool completely on baking sheet on wire rack.

DECORATE as desired.


Tropical Avocado Smoothie

Refresh yourself on a hot day with this delicious drink from the Pacific Ocean coastal city of Buenaventura, Colombia.

Preparation Time: 5 mins
Cooking Time:

Servings: 4 to 5 servings

Pulp of 1 medium avocado
2 cans (12 fl. oz. each) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk, chilled *
1/4 cup granulated sugar or to taste
1 teaspoon grated lime zest (optional)
Crushed ice (optional)

PLACE avocado, evaporated milk, sugar and lime zest in blender container; cover. Blend for 30 to 45 seconds until smooth.

SERVE in tall glasses. Top with crushed ice, if desired.

NOTE: If a thinner drink is desired, blend in 1 cup ice cubes with drink ingredients.

* May use 2 cans (12 fl. oz. each) CARNATION Evaporated Fat Free Milk instead of Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk.

Easy Cream of Broccoli Soup

This simple and satisfying soup, which can be made in less than an hour, is a good way to get broccoli into the tummies of fussy eaters. (Great for the lunchbox thermos, too!)

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins

Servings: 6 servings

1 pkg. (16 oz.) frozen chopped broccoli
3/4 cup water
1 can (14.5 oz.) chicken broth
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk

BOIL water in medium saucepan. Add broccoli; bring to boil. Cover; reduce heat to low. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender; drain. Place half of broccoli and chicken broth in food processor or blender; cover. Process until smooth.

MELT butter in same saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in flour. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Add broccoli mixture and remaining chopped broccoli. Heat through.

Hot Spinach Dip with Cheesy Chips

Nothing quite beats the combination of rich and creamy spinach dip and crunchy warm tortilla chips. Serve this at your next party or as a midday snack on a cool afternoon.

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins

Servings: 6

1 package (9 ounces) Spinach Souffle, prepared according to package directions
1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon (about 2 1/2 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
Tortilla chips
TOPPINGS: diced tomatoes, chopped green onions and shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Green Bread

*makes 2 loaves

1 yellow cake mix
1 pkg instant pistachio pudding
4 eggs
1/4 cup oil
1 cup sour cream
5-10 drops of food coloring (or more)

Mix above well. Generously grease 2 loaf pans. Dust with a mixture of 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon. Reserve remaining sugar mix.

Pour batter into loaf pans. Sprinkle remaining sugar mix on top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. (or til done)

Remove immediately from pans and place in plastic baggies and refrigerate!

Of course there is always the obvious green foods you could use like;

pickles, lettuce, green olives, cucumber, green jello, pishachio pudding, kiwi, broccoli, etc...

Hope that helps you get creative with your St. Patty's Day dinner tonight!


Darlene