My Pinterest Menu: Week of March 17th

I am back from Nashville...and I am dragging! Needing my coffee badly : )  That's next, but right now, I have to say I am excited about this week's menu.  Tonight especially, because it is ...St. Patrick's Day!!!!!!

I don't usually include dessert recipes, because my family does not eat desserts regularly, but today warrants one.  And this one is a doozy!  I made the same thing for St. Patty's Day last year, and it was a huge hit, so I thought I would revisit these much loved recipes.  

And since, Monday's fare is a little heavier, I left the rest of the menu a little lighter and little healthier. But you gotta splurge on St. Patty's Day!!!...right?

Here is this week's menu...Enjoy : )

Monday: Bangers and Colcannon with Guinness Onion Gravy

via Closet Cooking

and...Chocolate Stout Cake with Bailey's Irish Cream Frosting

via Closet Cooking

Tuesday: Pomegranate Pear Walnut Salad

via The Mobile Bay Mag 

Wednesday: Greek Chicken Bake with Tzatziki

via Simply Delicious

Thursday: Honey Lime Tequila Shrimp Tacos

via Tartine and Apron Strings

Friday: Honey Balsamic Chicken over Rice

via Comfy in the Kitchen

The Grocery List:

Bangers and Colcannon with Guinness Onion Gravy-

• 1 pound potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1/4 pound bacon, cut into 1 inch slices
• pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 small head cabbage, thinly sliced
• 4 green onions, sliced
• salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 pound sausage (Irish or English bangers if you can get them)
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon thyme, chopped
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 bottle Guinness
• 2 tablespoons mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon sour cream
• milk to taste

    Chocolate Stout Cake with Bailey's Irish Cream Frosting-

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 cup stout (such as Guinness)
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 3 tablespoons of Bailey’s Irish cream

Pomegranate Pear Walnut Salad-
9 ounces mixed greens
1 pear, sliced
1/2 cup pitted sliced Medjool dates
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries
3 ounces goat cheese
pomegranate balsamic vinegar
walnut oil

Greek Chicken Bake with Tzatziki-
8 plump, free range chicken thighs
1 head of garlic, halved
red onions, cut into wedges
100g Calamata olives
olive oil, to drizzle
2 tsp dried oregano
salt & pepper to taste
juice of 1 lemon
Mediterranean Delicacies Tzatziki
warm pita breads
extra lemon wedges

   Honey Lime Tequila Shrimp Tacos-
2 pounds (454 g) raw shrimps, peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
2 tablespoons raw honey
juice of 2 limes + 1 lime
1/2 cup tequila
1 medium onion, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle (optional)
2 avocados, diced
1/2 head of red cabbage, thinly sliced
1/4 cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice [about 2-3 limes]
1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
sea salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup light, neutral oil, such as grapeseed
1 cup (250 ml) sour cream or créme fraîche [low fat can be used]
1 to 2 pieces of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce [canned]
12 – 15 homemade or store-bought good quality yellow or white corn tortilla
a handful of cilantro, finely chopped

Honey Balsamic Chicken over Rice-
4 chicken breasts
4 cups cooked brown rice
2 cups italian dressing
salt, pepper, thyme
4 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
4 Tbsp honey
1 cup feta cheese
½ cup pecans
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup chick peas