A Wee Bit of Fun With Dishes and Foodies...

Top o' the mornin' to you, darlin's! Today I'd like to share a bit of fun with you in the form of wee green dishes...



When I spotted these particular dishes in Marshall's, I couldn't resist buying them for a St. Patrick's Day celebration (and Trish's March birthday) with two of my favorite "Irish" friends, Trish and Jody...



I mean, who can resist the charms of a leprechaun, particularly one with a flirty little grin and a pot of gold?



Obviously not a shiny-object-loving magpie. No indeed



Those bad dishes simply river-danced their way into my basket!



Yep, you know the drill. ;-)



Then after I started playing with the table, I thought you might enjoy seeing that, too...



So I'm hooking up with Susan and her friends for Tablescape Thursday as well as Gollum and the foodies for Foodie Friday, two very fun events hosted by two wonderful hostesses who are "dishes" themselves...



As I shopped the house for this tablescape, I spotted these green plaid plates in my dish stash. The plates were purchased on clearance at Home Goods some time ago...



Since there are only three of us girls dining, I draped a wee round table to the floor with a white cloth...



And added green straw placemats purchased (75 per cent off) at a going out of business sale last year. I've seen similar placemats at stores like Beall's Outlet and Marshall's...



The nine year old green check napkins hail from Target...



The shamrock cookie cutters came from Marshall's...



For flatware, I chose this dark bamboo-handled pattern found at Ross's last year at $9.99 for four five-piece place settings. (Thanks, Christine, for the heads up!) I thought the handles looked whimsical and a bit like a shillelagh, a nice fit for a leprechaun theme...



So were the garden stools which, though Chinese, have a bit of a leprechaun look about them (though I think they only work for pictures and would be a wee bit too uncomfortable for perching during lunch, OUCH!)...



This year at JoAnn's, I bought these tiny glittered leprechaun derbies (featured on the tea table). I want to put one at each place setting and write an Irish blessing on a piece of paper tucked inside. We could all use a blessing or two...



May the road rise to meet you...



May the wind be always at your back...



And may the rains fall softly upon your fields...



While I debated the blessings to use, Paddy O'Bunny tried on a wee green derby for size...



Then he hopped about in it...



But he infinitely preferred going hat-less instead...



So does Finnegan O'Gander who tried out for the role of centerpiece and lost (looking a tad too much like Scotland's Loch Ness Monster in profile)...



Paddy O'Bunny passed the green derby off to Annie who fancies herself to look rather fetching in it. Hmmmmm, the jury's still out on that one...



Speaking of fetching, I wanted the centerpiece to look fresh and pretty, and because I had bought new dishes, I chose to watch my pennies on flowers. So the centerpiece is composed of silks I borrowed from wreaths. There are bells of Ireland, green hydrangea, and yellow forsythia (not sure if hydrangea or forsythia grow in Ireland or not, but if truth be told, not all of the Irish are in Ireland, either)...



The flowers are tucked inside a green-striped bowl I found at Dockside Imports before it went out of business (sigh), while Paddy O'Bunny-on-a-stick (as mossy green as the Emerald Isle herself) was purchased last spring at Pier One...



The little white bird salt and pepper shakers at the base (also from Pier One) were a gift from my sweet friend Dixie at French Lique ...



I moved the mugs back and forth for picture purposes...



One could use them for beer...



Or for a first course, filled with soup...



I choose soup, and this is the brand I choose, the best split pea on the market...



Yes, I know white potato soup is Irish, but I can't have white potatoes on my diet. Besides, split pea is my favorite...



If calories aren't a concern, you can doctor this variety up with some Boar's Head Vermont Cheddar if you like. It's not necessary, but I will use any excuse to put cheese into a recipe. I use a slice about an inch and a half thick and cut that up into small pieces to slowly melt into one can of the soup...



And then I add a sprinkling of coarsely ground black pepper...



And stir well as the cheese melts...



Then pour the hot soup into a mug and serve...



I like pepper, so I might add a tiny bit more at this point. The trick is to keep the soup away from the Leprechauns who never fail to smell it when it's cooking...



And when you turn your back, manage to pinch not only the soup...



But swipe the spoon as a souvenir! ;-)



The Auto Chef (that would be yours truly or the Irish version, "Herself") has learned the finer points of takeout ease. Publix is supplying the main course (which is chicken salad), and it will be doctored up Gollum-style and will naturally be served on some Irish greens. ;-) Don't forget Mrs. Schubert's rolls, as good as homemade (you will thank me for this tip)! And dessert? When I splurge, I use my go-to cake from Publix, of course. I knew from the minute I first spied this beauty in the bakery case last winter, it would be a love match, and it is. I just wish I had saved some of the gold chocolate coins from Christmas to sprinkle about on the dessert plates, but we don't want to tempt the leprechauns to steal the cake, too...



Because it's been chilly of late in Florida, we'll be having hot tea with our dessert...



Help yourself to a cup from the tea table, mossy little thing that it is...



Basically, this a simple meal that even the foodie-challenged can make happen...



Provided they don't fall over the staircase railing in an attempt to take a glamour shot of the table...



But even Darby O'Gill here approves and hopefully would catch me if I fall ...



(Or not)...



Here's hoping that...



You approve, too!



Now, let's all go join our hostesses Susan at Tablescape Thursday by clicking HERE and Gollum at Foodie Friday by clicking HERE. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank both of them for hosting for us week in and week out. Thanks, ladies, and thank all of you, too, for visiting me here at my blog. I have been MIA due to traveling and other necessities of life, but I want to be sure to get by and visit you today! Have missed you much!

Wishing you a wonderful St. Patrick's Day with all the blessings your emerald hearts can hold! :-)



Warmly,

Mrs. O'Magpie (Sheila)... who will be MIA after this Friday in order to prepare for Claudie's (Bubblin' Over) birthday visit and the other company she's bringing!


XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Tablescape Items

Plaid Plates: Home Goods (clearance last spring)

Leprechaun Plates: Marshall's

Leprechaun Mugs: Marshall's

Placemats: Dockside Imports (going out of business sale, but you can find similar ones at Marshall's and Beall's Outlet)

Shamrock Cookie Cutters: Marshall's

Green Glitter Derbies: JoAnn's

Green Check Napkins: Target (approximately nine years ago)

Bamboo-Handled Flatware: Ross's ($9.99 for four five-piece place settings last year)

Green Stripe Bowl: Dockside Imports (going out of business sale)

Bunny-on-a-Stick: Pier One Imports (last spring)

Bird Salt and Pepper Shakers: Pier One Imports (last spring)

Silk Flowers: Dollar Tree and Michael's

Goblets: Marked France (purchased about fifteen years ago)

Chocolate Cake (ganache bon-bon): Publix Bakery

Amy's Low Fat Split Pea Soup: Publix Soup Aisle

Chicken Salad (with honey, raisins, etc.): Publix Deli

Hearts of Romaine (Publix Variety): Publix Produce Section

Mrs. Schubert's Rolls: Publix Freezer Section