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Like Rice Pudding… only better

But where’s the green?

Although I’ve been peppering y’all with green-themed recipes for the past two weeks, I completely neglected green foods for my own St. Patrick’s Day breakfast yesterday. However, I still managed to pay homage to my Irish roots: with Irish oatmeal!

For these oats, I used the Oatmeal Pudding Method. This cooking technique makes oatmeal so incredibly creamy!

oats

Better-n-Rice Pudding Oatmeal

I also added a few caraway seeds and a pinch of baking soda, to turn it into Irish Soda Oatmeal Pudding. I’m just one of those people who gets really into holidays. Well, maybe not as much as some people…

Ah Colin Firth.

Above, in Bridget Jones’s Diary. Did anyone else think he and Bridget were seriously mis-matched? In real life, she would’ve ended up with Hugh Grant, leaving Mr. Firth available for… me? Wishful thinking. 😉

Okay, on to lunch, where I made up for the lack of green at brekkie:

polentaveg

Vegan Polenta Casserole

But with a twist: Last time I made the casserole, I decided it was too much of a hassle to cook the veggies, cook the polenta, and then bake them all together. So yesterday I skipped the baking step (and had bulgur pilaf on the side, instead of polenta).

Do you get really into holidays?

Do you decorate the house, wear silly clothing, and make holiday-themed foods?

I’m not just talking about Christmas; I mean all the holidays. As I said before, I go all out for holidays. So expect to see quite a few carrot-cake-themed recipes this next month! Not that I’ll be neglecting the non-holiday recipes… Can you say frozen hot chocolate?

Published on March 18, 2011

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43 Comments

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  1. Freya says

    I wish I did get into the holidays, and I do in spirit (aka excitement!) but I hardly ever dress up or cook holiday inspired things…it’s a ‘when I have my own house’ type thing 🙂
    I LOVE COLIN FIRTH!! He makes me proud to be English 😀

  2. Alexandra (Veggin' Out in the Kitchen) says

    I soooo want to make your oatmeal rice pudding!!! It looks way too good!! 😀

    I do normally REALLY get into the holidays (I mean they only come once a year right?), but I admit that I didn’t do anything for St. Patty’s Day this year because I completely forgot!!! Oops :/

    Loving all your green from your last few posts!! I’m sure that at least one of your recipes will be the star of next year’s St. Patty’s Day (if not sooner! 🙂 )

    Have a fabulous weekend girl!!! 😀

  3. Holly @ Couch Potato Athlete says

    We decorate for Christmas, fall and spring. My mother in law goes all out for holidays — with sticky things on her doors, festive wreaths, etc. That is too much work for me!

    I don’t really dress differently though — but around Christmas I’ll wear my super obnoxious Christmas tree earrings (I also have jingle ball ones!)

  4. Picky Nicky says

    Your oatmeal DOES look incredibly creamy 🙂 I love irish oats to begin with so I’ll def be giving that a try!
    And I love holidays too 😀 I just love celebrating anything!

  5. Ari @ ThE DiVa DiSh says

    I didnt do anything festive or wear festive clothes yesterday! Lol BUT on like Christmas and Halloween and things like that I do. oh and I think I need to try that vegan polenta casserole! It looks yummy!

  6. Jennifer JCD says

    Mmmm… rice pudding… but with oats!

    We’re not big into the holidays. We celebrate the ones that are important to us but don’t make a huge statement about it. The only exception is my husband’s Hallowe’en fascination – our house is decked out by the first of October every year.

  7. Liz @ Tip Top Shape says

    I usually get pretty into holidays!! It’s just so much fun to dress and up and decorate everything! Love that Colin Firth was in this post. Have you seen The King’s Speech yet?? It is so good!!

  8. Allison @ Happy Tales says

    Ohhh Colin Firth, he makes me heart melt! Love that accent 🙂 Oh, and I love going all out for the holidays!! I even made Ryan a St. Patrick’s day card to celebrate “him” being irish… lol! Can’t wait to see your upcoming carrotcakes… I love that stuff!

  9. Heidi @ Food Doodles says

    Haha, I must be like the least “into the holidays” person ever. I just really don’t care that much 🙁 Oh well… Gotta say, I was just going to try to make oatmeal like rice pudding, and now I don’t have to guess about what to throw in 😀 Thanks!

  10. Bianca- Vegan Crunk says

    God, I love holidays! Even weird fake ones….like National Pancake Day or Potato Chip Day. Today, btw, is Goddess of Fertility Day, a holiday paying homage to goddesses Aphrodite, Isis, and Freya. 🙂

  11. Jackie @ Baking Charms says

    When I was in college we decorated our house for EVERYTHING! It was fun 🙂 Now I tone it down a bit… a green sweater was all for yesterday.

  12. Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says

    I love holidays….It is so much fun to be goofy and make a big deal out of little stuff….or else where is all the fun in life???!!

  13. Corey @ the runner's cookie says

    I’m not a huge holiday person, but I think it’s fun to do little things to get in the spirit! I sort of forgot about St. Paddy’s Day, but this weekend I am definitely planning to make another of your gorgeous minty creations 🙂

  14. Rachel (tea and chocolate) says

    I tend to only go all out for Halloween and Christmas, but not so much the other holidays. I would like to celebrate more holidays though. It’s a great excuse to dress up, decorate or eat tasty food, ha.

    I’ve made your oatmeal pudding before, but I’m curious as to what the baking soda does in this version. Does it taste any different?

  15. Stefanie says

    I only bake for holidays but do not get to into them. It is fun to decorate cookies/cakes for the different holidays and seasons. Bring on the carrot recipes. 🙂

  16. Carrie (Moves 'N Munchies) says

    i wish i could say i get into the holiday spirit. but im lazy…. i do for xmas though! probably becuz the hype lasts longer!! you have so many oatmeal methods girl- currently im loving your voluminous one.. although last night i accidently left my oats in the microwave all night long… (not cooking though!) just chillin… i guess i was a little too sleepy whilst making them the night before!

  17. Jen says

    I love holidays too! Christmas is my favorite…but it’s also fun to celebrate the little ones. I made a green pasta dish last night!

  18. Hela says

    haha, loving his jumper 😀
    and your Irish oatmeal!! I had greens for lunch, was wearing a green dress and an Irish hair pin 😉
    they were totally mis-matched!!! glad I am not the only person thinking this…
    Me, I LOVE all kind of holidays, too 🙂 sometimes I start especially early with decorations and stuff, so it will stay up as long as possible 😉 I just love the holiday cheer!!

  19. Disturbed says

    I never did much of the holiday thing-except for Christmas. Other than that, things have always been pretty low-key with me and my family.

    O, and a little happy note: I am going to be getting vegan cupcake/cookie cookbooks soon and start a blog to hopefully get the word out about me and my baking for my (future) business in Portland….and of course for trial and error lol 🙂

  20. Namaste Gurl says

    The non- holiday spirit in me comes out, but doesn’t want to be beckoned 🙂
    Yeah, I’m not really a holiday person- ssssh! Unless it Christmas or my birthday, it’s just another day to me 🙂

  21. Alexa @ Simple Eats says

    I love celebrating Halloween, because it’s my mama’s favorite holiday! Christmas has to be my favorite holiday to celebrate and cook for, though…probably because of all of the fun flavors like gingerbread and eggnog!

  22. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says

    I dont go all out for holidays…even FOR big holidays like Xmas or Easter, I try to keep things low key. I know I am in the minority, but I get super overwhelmed by the chaos of things that is going on around me, so in my own home and family, I just try to keep things mellow and calm and not decorate my house with 17 pumpkins for halloween or play xmas music starting in October:) I know, I am probably the minority tho! haha!

  23. Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) says

    I LOVE holidays SO MUCH!! They are the things I look forward to in each year, so BRING ON EASTER already!! 😀

    And lol I think the EXACT same thing every time I watch Bridget Jones! They are SO not made for each other!! And I think that you and Colin would make a pretty cute couple y’know! 🙂

      • Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) says

        EXACTLY. Cos Colin Firth is my neighbour, didn’t you know that?! 😉

        What do you mean you wouldn’t have a chance?!! Who could resist that gorgeous face and sweet personality? And anyway, all you’d have to do is feed him some fudge babies and he’d be all yours! 😛

  24. Kiersten says

    I get into some holidays, depending on what it is. I can’t say that I am particularly into holiday themed clothing, although I must say, Mr. Firth is making that Christmas sweater look pretty sexy.

  25. Tara says

    I love that polenta casserole. I definitely need to make it again.
    I celebrate holidays at a minimum food wise. I love baking the traditional holiday desserts and eating the meals that come with the cultures that celebrate the holidays. Kwanzaa stew is a favorite.

  26. Emma says

    I have a secret love of christmas sweaters….whenever you see them they make a giant smile spread across your face 😀 Your dinner looks yummy! As we say in Newcastle..Colin Firth is lush! I love period dramas. Mr Darcey….mmmmmm!

  27. BroccoliHut says

    I go all out for Christmas, but I totally slack on other holidays. I know it pains my mom, who decorates for EVERY holiday. I’m pretty sure she has salt and pepper shakers for each one.

  28. Albizia says

    I get into holidays. Actually, I am a little holiday freak. Decorations, meals, clothes, movies… the full package 🙂 . But we don’t have many of the holidays you do (well, we have others).

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