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Shamrock Shake Facts & Trivia

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I do believe I’m one of the first people to ever try a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. I grew up in East Hartford Connecticut and my Dad loved mint, everything mint. As a little girl going to McDonald’s was a treat, not an every day occurrence. Until we were ten we were not allowed to drink pop or soda so my parents ordered shakes for us at McDonald’s.

I Love Shamrock Shakes
My third shake of the season…

Normally I got strawberry, but I have vague memories of drinking from my Dad’s straw a tangy green shake, and later it was a yearly trip to get a green shake. There was a pony ride in Enfield during the 1970’s and we would stop at the local Mickey D’s for french fries and a shake.

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Shake Your Shamrocks cute and sexy t-shirt for men and womenShake Your Shamrocks cute and sexy t-shirt for men and women

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Shamrock Shake Facts and Trivia

  1. Invented at an Enfield Connecticut McDonald’s  in 1966 (although the McDonald’s website claims 1970)
  2. First called the St Patrick’s Day Green Milkshake
  3. Started selling nationally in 1970 in response to a Ronald McDonald House fundraiser
  4. Calorie Content: 420, Small, 740 Medium, 820 Large (but who really cares?)
  5. Large Shamrock shake provides up to 60% of your daily calcium requirement (oh yeah!)
  6. Available only for a limited time around St. Patrick’s Day
  7. A Shamrock sundae was proposed and tried in 1980, but was a failure (wonder why?)
  8. You can post  Shamrock Shake sightings and  reviews at  Shamrock Shake Locator

If you can’t find a Shamrock Shake at your local Mickey D’s, or it’s not  St. Patricks  season, here is a recipe to make your own minty shake. But, it’s not the same memory or experience. There is just something about those McDonalds straws and sharing with your Dad when you’re six you can’t duplicate.

Shamrock Shake recipe

* 2 cups vanilla ice cream
* 1 cup milk
* 1/4 cup half & half
* 1/2 teaspoon mint extract (spearmint, not peppermint)
* 8 drops green food coloring

Who remembers the old McDonald commercials from the 1970’s, they were a lot more fun back then. McDonalds was a rare treat, they weren’t on every corner, their food was fresh, hamburgers grilled, buns toasted and real chicken in their chicken McNuggets, without the over processing.

Going to Mickie D’s was a destination, and they were the king of fast food. It is still a guilty pleasure of mine and I even have a Grimace glass.

Ladies Mighty Fine McDonalds Do The Shamrock ShakeVintage 1977 McDonalds 6 inch Grimace Glass

Eat and Drink Irish on St. Patricks Day

Ok, I get it, Shamrocks Shakes are NOT irish and not traditional Irish food to eat and drink on St. Patricks Day. My husband loves Corned Beef, but I’m always on the lookout for something a little sweeter, more dessert themed and of course “green” for the Luck of the Irish flair.

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A Catered St. Patrick's Day (A Mystery With Recipes)A Catered St. Patrick’s Day (A Mystery With Recipes)St. Patrick's Day Recipes: 43 Fantastically Fun, Entertaining and Super Tasty St. Paddy's Day Foods!St. Patrick’s Day Recipes: 43 Fantastically Fun, Entertaining and Super Tasty St. Paddy’s Day Foods!IRISH TREATS - 30 Dessert Recipes for St. Patrick's Day or Whenever You Want to Celebrate Like the IrishIRISH TREATS – 30 Dessert Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day or Whenever You Want to Celebrate Like the IrishIRISH DRINKS - 27 Cocktail Recipes for St. Patrick's Day or Whenever You Want to Celebrate Like the IrishIRISH DRINKS – 27 Cocktail Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day or Whenever You Want to Celebrate Like the Irish

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More Information About McDonalds Shamrock Shakes

What’s really in McDonald’s Shamrock Shake?

With more than 60 million sold, it generates almost as much buzz as the popular McRib sandwich. The Shamrock Shake–the bright green sweet treat that signals that St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner– is another long-time McDonald’s cult …

How To Make A Shamrock Shake Faster Than You Can Drive To McDs

Planning to get your green on for St. Patrick’s Day? Don’t stop with your head-to-toe solid color ensemble. Take all that bright green fun into the kitchen too. This holiday is the perfect opportunity to play with your food, and the fact that you have …

Shamrock Shake 101: The popular St. Patrick’s Day drink wasn’t always minty …

Millennials know the Shamrock Shake only as the McDonald’s minty vanilla concoction that it’s been since 1983. Things weren’t always so creamy and dreamy. The Shamrock Shake dates back to 1970 and started out more like a thick 7Up, flavored with …

When Will The Shamrock Shake Be Available? Get Ready For Some Minty Amazingness

Long before the introduction of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, there was one seasonal drink that was eagerly awaited every year: the Shamrock Shake. Released around St. Patrick’s Day every year, this minty vanilla confection with its pastel green hue is one …

We tried McDonald’s classic Shamrock Shake next to its biggest competition …

The Shamrock Shake has amassed a cult following since its inception in 1970; the sight of the minty green shake is a sure harbinger of spring and vaguely Irish themed kitsch. But with Burger King’s release of the Oreo Irish Mint Shake, McDonald’s reign …

Shamrock Shake Dupes: How To Make McDonald’s Famous Green Milkshake At Home

The return of McDonald’s beloved Shamrock Shake usually signals that spring is just around the corner, and it is finally that time of year again! McDonald’s announced the return of the shake on Feb. 9. The Shamrock Shake is one of the fast food chain’s …

Shamrock Shake: Delectably delicious or deceivingly dangerous?

Each year during the St. Patrick’s Day season, McDonald’s brings back that heavenly green minty milkshake called the McCafe Shamrock Shake. These delicious milkshakes are only around for a few short weeks; meanwhile the claims of why you should not …

Covered Bridges in Vermont

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Vermont has more covered bridges per square mile than any other state in the United States. An official covered bridge is not determined by age, but the method on how it is built, by trusses and a covered slanted roof. I have always had a fascination with covered bridges and although I had grown up in Connecticut I had never walked across one this piece of Americana.

Middle Bride in Woodstock, VT
Covered bridge in Woodstock Vermont

Last week I crossed this off my bucket list when I visited Woodstock Vermont and walked across Middle Bridge. I had another surprise as we took the scenic route down Rte 106 and found this picturesque bridge over a small creek.

Covered Bridge south of Woodstock Vermont
Covered Bridge south of Woodstock Vermont

The most famous bridges are those of Madison County in Iowa, so I really didn’t need to travel far from Nebraska to find covered bridges, but there is something special, romantic, and mystical about covered bridges in Vermont.

Facts About Covered Bridges

  1. First covered bridge was built in 1808 over the Mohawk river in New York
  2. Vermont contains 100 authentic covered bridges
  3. At one time the United States has over 10,000 covered bridges, 750 remain today
  4. Covered bridges are painted red because iron ochre was an inexpensive pigment.
  5. Bridges were covered to prevent the wood dry and prevent rot (not to keep horses from spooking over the water)
  6. Town Lattice is the most popular style of covered bridge
  7. There are only 8 railroad covered bridges in the United States, only 2 still function during tourist events.
  8. Only six covered bridges still carry two way traffic all the rest are one way only.
  9. Covered bridges can be found in 30 states in the United States
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Rivers in Connecticut

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Connecticut is where I grew up, however I took the scenery, trees, beaches, rivers and streams for granted. I’ve lived in the Midwest for thirty years and although I love everything about the Nebraska, I do miss the the easy access to water.

In New England the Connecticut River takes center stage. It is the longest river in New England and flows from New Hampshire and empties into Long Island Sound.  It serves as the state boundary between Vermont and New Hampshire and is 407 miles long.

Farmington River in Connecticut
Farmington River in Connecticut in the Winter

Out of the over 50 tributaries of the Connecticut River I spent many summers during high school tubing on the Farmington River.  Even in Connecticut there is white water to navigate to give the challenging adventurer an adrenaline rush. The Farmington River Tubing Company provides a 2.5 miles ride, complete with tubes, lifejackets and a ride back up to your car. Can’t find white water in Nebraska. Tubing in Nebraska is more like a lazy float trip.

I’m spending a few days in Connecticut on family business and thought I would take the opportunity to get some photography in at the same time. Obviously the river in February is a little cold and nope, I’m not going to take the polar plunge and even test the water temperature.