Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Day from the McKee Clan and lots of friends.  

We gathered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for our annual family reuinion and parade watching party.

That is MissAllyAnn saying "Daddy pick me up, please!!"

 The food table and decorations were set and ready.  My fudge was a hit!

 Look how great my Mom can multi task.  Talking and manning her Irish coffee bar.

 

We had rain gear ready, but with our Irish luck the rain waited until the parade finished!

 We will be in the same spots next year enjoying the family fun!

I CAN make fudge

I have tried for years and years to make any kind of fudge....and failed every time.  This recipe is a keeper, White chocolate pistachio Irish cream fudge!  It is only four ingredients and I bet you could easily substitute any flavor of chocolate and ingredients.

St. Patrick's day is this week, try a batch and share.

All of your leprechans will be very happy!

Maybe one will leave you a pot of gold.

I used Ghiradelli white choclate morsels

 32 ozs. I used three bags. 

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup chopped pistachios

1/2 cup Bailey's Irish Cream

You basically combine morsels, add canned milk, Bailey,'s and start stirring in a sauce pan.  No thermometer needed.  Just constantly stir, then remove from heat and add chopped nuts.

Pour into an 8x8 pan (line with foil and lightly greased)

I did not have an 8x8, so I used my 7 x 9.

I also refrigerated overnight before I sliced.  But, I think room temperature slicing would have worked better and made nicer slices.

Recipe found on Pinterest, my board "a wee bit Irish".

or here Bailey's Irish Cream and pistachio fudge

Sharing with:

Poofing the Pillows

The Country Cook

When Irish Eyes are Smiling...

Looking forward to the upcoming holiday.  I am getting ready around the house.

I ordered this print from Dear Lilly.

Tumbling Irishmen from ~ Fitz and Floyd

Napkins I'm using and little pitchers are from TJMAXX/Homegoods. 

....and another Pick Your Plum online purchase.  The button pillow was on sale last year at Joanne's.

Little trivia....
I was talking with a friend from Ireland, now living in New Orleans.  Did you know in Ireland they are offended if you call the holiday St. Patty's Day? She also told me that the US embraces the colors green, orange and white for St. Patrick's Day.  She really likes that and they don't use those colors so much in Ireland on the holiday.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Beach Babies

Sorry, but when the grands are around I tend to forget to take pictures of the before shots.  But, when the kids came over for dinner on Sunday there were three beach bags waiting.  One for each Layton, Hadley and Raylyn (arriving in May).  There was a cute card attached asking them to go to the beach with Lala and Poppa this summer and to bring along Mom and Dad too!

Why are babies so cute with sun glasses they can't even stay up on their nose?

Each beach bag consisted of a sand bucket and beach castle building toys.  Plus sun glasses and beach hats.  

The same night we worked on tutu's for St. Patrick's day weekend in Baton Rouge.  We are thinking we are just too too (tutu) Irish.  I don't think you can ever be too Irish.  

Baby tutu above and mine below, yes mine, is ready!  

We used ribbon for the waist band and will just tie them around our waist.  We used layers of sheer fabric, netting and then added ribbons galore.  

Hadley says,"thanks Lala and Poppa and we will bring Mom and Daddy along with us to the beach!  Hmmm, what does sand taste like?"

The big 5 0 ! Fifty years of Marriage

If you have been following along, my favorite Aunt and Uncle invited us to Minnesota to join them in celebrating  their 50 years of marriage.  

Saturday was the day for a great lunch and fabulous dinner.  We were all told to wear something golden for the dinner.  My aunt wore something golden all weekend long.

Lunch started with Chicago Hot Dogs.  Why.. because after six years of dating Carole moved to Chicago for a new job.  No ring on her finger.  Well, Walt quickly moved to Chicago as well and as they say, the rest is history.  50 years of history later,  YAY, Aunt Carole, way to go.  One smart man, Uncle Walt.

The Nelson's, Carey, Walt, Carole, Sue, Mike

Beads imported from Louisiana from St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Me and my Aunt and cousin Carey.  Colleen bought the gold hair additions that I later cut short to match my hair length.  It was driving me crazy.  I kept thinking bugs were on me.

The girls found a salon in Stillwater that did their eye makeup.  

Paul and Donovan ready for Chicago Dogs.  They were delish!

More eye treatment.

Next up the golden dinner....

Crawfish Boil sort of, no boil, but crawfish for sure

The night before the St. Pat's parade day always has crawfish involved.  Either we would go to a restaurant, boil it ourselves or our newest version, order it cooked and pick it up.  We are much older and wiser and can afford the extra $1.00 per pound to have it boiled for us.

100 pounds ordered and eaten this year.

You need these two things, the crawfish and the keg and then you are pretty much ready.

Oh and the corn and potatoes are cooked with the crawfish.  Paper towels a must and don't wipe your eyes once you start eating these spicy little critters.  

The gang waited patiently and visited while the guys picked up the crawfish.  

The grandmother's joined in the fun as well.

Chris's Dad Leo created this genius contraption, you place the edged table on two saw horses and then place a trash can under the center to throw crawfish heads and shells into.  

Let the fun begin...

Tara (how Irish is she) showed off her Irish Dance skills.

Sorry my first video to try and add to my blog.  I don't think it worked.  And I held my camera the wrong way obviously, so if you can play it, turn your computer or your head sideways, but she was fabulous.

She and my niece setting up the music... my niece has the same curls in brunette.  

If you want to see another version of a crawfish boil go here.  Melissa over at Made in the South gives an authentic version of the whole procedure.

Parade day, oh the fun!

Baton Rouge, LA has one of the largest St. Pat's parade in the USA.

Luckily my sister and her husband own a home at the beginning of the parade route. 

There were icy refreshments.

My Mom and her signature Irish Coffee station.

Family time is the best time of the weekend. Lynn below in his parade day outfit got him an article in the local newspaper.

Just a few pictures of the 90 floats in the parade.  The city asked them to narrow it down from the 120 they had last year.  

They call this street Hundred Oaks for a reason.  Gorgeous tree lined street in an old historic neighborhood of Baton Rouge.

I guess the guy in the purple and gold thought it was football season and he came ready for the tail gate party.  The people on the floats do throw as many beads as you could want.  Or can pile around your neck.

Rachel got roses and carnations, Sydney got the cabbage (plastic) adorned necklace.

Tiger eared hat from the theme of the one of our family float years.  Yes, we used to have a float in the parade for about 9 years.  

After the parade we ate yummy chicken and sausage pastalaya and most everyone takes a nap.

Up next how to put on a great crawfish boil.