A Bit O’Green

Fundraising alert! Today marks the countdown – one month until the Boston Marathon! I am at 41% of my fundraising goal for The ALLY Foundation , and I have a really great donation incentive from the amazing people at Zipcar. They’ve given me 30 passes for $50 in free driving credit for new members AND a $100 gift card toward membership/driving credit. The next 30 $25 donations I receive will automatically receive $50 in driving credit (after joining, doesn’t include membership fee), and anyone who donates in the next two weeks will be entered to win the $100 gift card.

Here’s how you can enter: http://www.crowdrise.com/RunAllyForAChange/fundraiser/MeghansBostonMarathon

Happy Friday before St. Patrick’s Day! While I can’t beat last year’s stellar photos of my youthful trips to Ireland and study abroad, (And my hair in some of those photos!), I thought that sharing a few pretty Ireland pictures would be a nice way to close out the week.

We don’t have plans 100% set for St. Patrick’s Day yet. We may take in the Ireland vs. England Six Nations rugby match at our local, The Banshee, but my father-in-law is also in town from Galway, so we also want to spend time with him.

If you’re cooking up a St. Patrick’s Day feast, here are a few favorite Ireland-inspired recipes. Note, there’s nothing called a Car Bomb! I had a mini rant on Twitter yesterday about this, but I don’t understand how it’s acceptable to name a food or drink after something that has caused so much bloodshed and in such recent history. A quick trip to Belfast would cure anyone of ever ordering a Car Bomb, I am pretty sure.  Hopefully we can somehow make that name change sometime in the future. . .

End rant. Time for recipes! I won’t claim that any of these are 100% authentic (well maybe the bread), but they use some of my favorite Irish ingredients.

Whiskey and Brown Sugar Salmon – SO GOOD!

Irish Brown Bread

Guinness Ice Cream Floats

Smoke Salmon Platter – smoked salmon is the one thing I eat the most of in Ireland; their salmon is some of the best I have ever had!

What are your St. Patrick’s Day plans?

{ Clare Island, County Mayo }

{ Sheep in Clare Island, County Mayo }

{Musicians in Galway with a Tiny Dancer }

{Wild Gorse in Connemara, County Galway }

{ Wildflowers in Ireland }

{ Mannin Bay, County Galway }

{ Lough Corrib, County Galway }

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!