Post by Jean on Mar 14, 2010 18:33:13 GMT -5
Every year son Patrick has made this bread for our St Pat's dinner.
When he was an infant, I'd have him slap his little hands on it.
As he grew older he participated more & more.
Did you know that in some parts of Ireland it is considered good luck to shake hands with people named 'Patrick'?
Pat found this out when he spent 2 weeks there a few yrs back.
This is a compilation of 2 or 3 recipes.
Irish Soda Bread
Set oven to 350F
Spay, or butter, a 2qt casserole or oven proof mixing bowl.
1. 4 cups unbleached white flour--I use a combo of wheat
2. 1 tablespoon of sugar--try half brown sugar
3. 1 talblespoon baking powder (use dble active)
4. 1 teaspoon salt
5. 3/4 teaspoon fresh baking soda
6. 6 Tablespoons chilled butter or margarine or Promise sticks
7. 1/ 1/2 cups of plumped currants or seedless raisins or combo
Heck I've even thrown in craisins in a pinch
8. 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
9. 2 large eggs
10. 1 1/2 cups butter milk--try to get a fatted type or make yr own*
Mix numbers 1 thru 5.
With a fork & knife or pastry blender, cut in #6. Keep working until it is coarse crumbs.
Add: # 7 & # 8
In separate bowl:
Beat # 9 ever so slightly
Set aside 1 tablespoon of this egg & reserve.
To main beaten eggs: stir in # 10
Mix buttermilk egg mix into dry ingredients.
Don't over mix! Just moisten the flour.
This dough should be very sticky
Now for the kneading--couldn't be simpler & kids love this part!
On a floured surface, knead about 10 or so times--that's it!
Shape the whole thing into a round shape to fit the casserole pan
Throw that baby in there & with a sharp knife, cut a shallow cross on top.
Brush on reserved egg
Into the oven & bake for about an 1 hour & 20 minutes.
Cool on a rack, removing after 10 minutes. Finish cooling on that same rack.
:DGoes SUPER with corned beef & cabbage!
*Emergency Buttermilk substitute;
Add a teaspoon or so 9up to a Tblspn) of vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk & let sit out on the counter for a half hour
When he was an infant, I'd have him slap his little hands on it.
As he grew older he participated more & more.
Did you know that in some parts of Ireland it is considered good luck to shake hands with people named 'Patrick'?
Pat found this out when he spent 2 weeks there a few yrs back.
This is a compilation of 2 or 3 recipes.
Irish Soda Bread
Set oven to 350F
Spay, or butter, a 2qt casserole or oven proof mixing bowl.
1. 4 cups unbleached white flour--I use a combo of wheat
2. 1 tablespoon of sugar--try half brown sugar
3. 1 talblespoon baking powder (use dble active)
4. 1 teaspoon salt
5. 3/4 teaspoon fresh baking soda
6. 6 Tablespoons chilled butter or margarine or Promise sticks
7. 1/ 1/2 cups of plumped currants or seedless raisins or combo
Heck I've even thrown in craisins in a pinch
8. 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
9. 2 large eggs
10. 1 1/2 cups butter milk--try to get a fatted type or make yr own*
Mix numbers 1 thru 5.
With a fork & knife or pastry blender, cut in #6. Keep working until it is coarse crumbs.
Add: # 7 & # 8
In separate bowl:
Beat # 9 ever so slightly
Set aside 1 tablespoon of this egg & reserve.
To main beaten eggs: stir in # 10
Mix buttermilk egg mix into dry ingredients.
Don't over mix! Just moisten the flour.
This dough should be very sticky
Now for the kneading--couldn't be simpler & kids love this part!
On a floured surface, knead about 10 or so times--that's it!
Shape the whole thing into a round shape to fit the casserole pan
Throw that baby in there & with a sharp knife, cut a shallow cross on top.
Brush on reserved egg
Into the oven & bake for about an 1 hour & 20 minutes.
Cool on a rack, removing after 10 minutes. Finish cooling on that same rack.
:DGoes SUPER with corned beef & cabbage!
*Emergency Buttermilk substitute;
Add a teaspoon or so 9up to a Tblspn) of vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk & let sit out on the counter for a half hour