It was a big week and this is a great Four Foods on Friday! First, it was St. Patrick’s Day, then it was my birthday, and green is my favorite color!

1. What’s your favorite green food?

Definitely, peas.

2. Do you eat anything special on St Patrick’s Day?

Corned beef and cabbage!

3. Do you drink any Irish beverages – tea, coffee, ale, beer, etc?

Do shamrock shakes count? I haven’t had one in years but I remember them being quite tasty.

4. Share a recipe for corned beef.

My mom is in charge of the corned beef preparation. Vienna has the beef packaged with all the spices, ready to simmer.

We bought a sheet of Costco cupcakes to celebrate the March birthdays in our family (including my own!), and they are taunting me in the fridge…absolutely huge, with the best whipped buttercream frosting ever, and just sweet enough to require a cold glass of milk.

Surprisingly, there’s only 257 calories in a Costco cupcake (if my source is correct), but I’m not considering that a green light to have one for dinner. Maybe a late night snack, but definitely not dinner.

Oh, my sweet, wonderful, beautiful blog! How I’ve missed you! I’ve barely been able to spout off at all during the past week and I’ve missed blogging terribly, so I’m excited to jump back in with this week’s Four Foods on Friday.

1. Olive oil. What kind do you prefer to use?

I buy Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil. It’s not light in calories, just a lighter olive oil flavor. It also has a higher spoke point, so it’s great for sautéing.

2. Meatballs. Do you make them from scratch, buy premade cooked or buy premade frozen?

I’ve been making them from scratch with spinach, feta cheese, and an egg to bind.

3. Do you use napkins at home? Paper or cloth?

I don’t like the texture of paper napkins, unless it’s the expensive kind, so we use paper towels. Generic Target brand, of course.

4. Share a recipe for a white sauce.

I don’t have a recipe for white sauce, but I have a recipe to make your favorite white sauce extra fancy!

Champagne Sauce

To every 2 cups of your favorite cream sauce, add approximately 2 tablespoons of reduced chicken stock. Simmer and whisk sauce for approximately 20 minutes. Prior to serving, add 1/2 cup of champagne, stir and serve.

I missed Four Foods on Friday two weeks in a row, and my weekends just weren’t the same!

1. Coffee. Do you use ground, bean or pods?

I drink whatever Starbucks serves.

2. Coffee filters. Do you use paper, gold or other?

I use whatever Starbucks serves.

3. Tea. Do you prefer tea bags, loose tea or something else?

Teabags. And I hate when I accidently buy the teabags without strings.

4. Share a recipe for something you like to eat with coffee or tea.

Oh, I have the perfect recipe that we just developed for a client!

Apple Buttermilk Coffee Cake

Preheat over to 350 degrees F.

Topping: In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup shredded coconut and 1/3 cup chopped pecans; set aside.

Cake: In a medium bowl, whish 1 egg. Stir in 1 (7 oz.) package instant buttermilk biscuit mix, 1/2 cup cold black coffee and 2 cups peeled and diced Granny Smith aples.

Coat the bottom of an 8×8-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Spoon in cake mixture and sprinkle topping evenly over top. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

I don’t know where my head was last week, but I completely forgot about Four Foods on Friday, so I have some catching up to do!

Last week’s Four Foods on Friday…

1. Potato chips. Flavored? Regular, ridged or stacked?

I’ve given up potato chips, but I do eat Veggie Crunchers (a mix of dried sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, taro, and green beans) which is just as addicting.

2. Cheese doodles. Yellow or white? Puffed or crunchy?

Cheese doodles have to be bright orange and crunchy. Your fingers and lips must be covered in cheese dust when you are finished eating the entire bag.

3. Pretzels? Your favorite shape? Favorite flavor?

Hot pretzels are my favorite. Auntie Anne’s with sesame seeds is my absolute favorite.

4. Share a recipe for salsa or dip.

My favorite dip is a mix of salsa and cream cheese. Whatever proportions suit you.