recipes

Truth be told I never liked Irish soda bread at least not until I went to work for a software company in New Jersey some 30 years ago and someone (wish I could remember who) brought in the most delicious, moist and sweet soda bread I had ever tasted. 

I was fortunate to get the recipe and made the bread for the very next St Patrick's Day dinner at my parent's house (somewhat afraid I might get ousted from my Irish heritage for not bringing the dry, crumbly, slightly stale version). My Dad, like me,  loved it so much that he started making it regularly.  In fact,  the rest of the family came to know it as "Dad's Irish Soda bread" not realizing he had gotten the recipe from me. I was just happy that I got to introduce him to something that he had fun making and received lots of praise for. Everyone loved it and he was like a proud little kid every time he made one.

As weird as it sounds I now realize that recipes, oddly enough are a way that we sort of immortalize ourselves. Here's what I mean: earlier today I made the beef stew that my first husband, Joe, had put in our newlywed recipe binder back in 1993 or 1994 (yes I'm that old ) and of course seeing his handwriting brought back memories of him and our many adventures. I'm guessing that every time my Dad made that soda bread,  following my hand written recipe he probably thought of me too.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raisins
• 1/2 stick melted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 3 cups flour (regular or gluten free)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• To make this recipe without sugar: use 1/2 cup pure maple syrup or honey and reduce buttermilk to 1 1/4 cups

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Plump raisins by boiling for 1 minute, then drain
3. Cream together butter and sugar then add egg, raisins and buttermilk
4. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt
5. Add flour mixture into liquid mixture. It should be sticky and moist
6. Bake for 1 hour (or until a tester comes out clean) in a round, stoneware pa