by beth on March 17, 2010
in in life
Today is St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick is the patron Saint of Ireland.
I feel a deep affinity to Ireland. Even though at this point I’m less than a fraction Irish, Irish blood still runs strong in my veins. My mother always celebrated St. Patrick’s day in our house. We will do the same thing in my home today with an Irish-American feast, complete with my homemade Irish Soda Bread. It is my mother’s father’s side is Irish. When I was young I thought the picture of President John F. Kennedy was of a family member, at 5 I remember learning that he was not. At least not that they knew of but he was Irish Catholic & that meant they had arrived.
While they may have felt like they arrived here in the States. I dream of one day visiting Ireland. A visit to Ireland is something I’ve always wanted to do. My husband, who doesn’t believe he has an ounce of Irish heritage, also has always thought Ireland would be a beautiful place to visit. All that history & beauty, the culture & the people, it just calls to us.
In honor of this St. Patrick’s Day. I thought I’d share some photos via Discover Ireland of Ireland’s beauty.
Can’t you just hear the call of country side?
Is there anywhere in the world you want to visit?
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This St. Patrick’s Day I will be making this bread. I’ve looked at many recipes over the years & this one is what I always go back to. I got it from an Irish friend who liked to raise a glass of Jameson. Kindred soul of ours here at casa de confusion. Given I love this bread I made it the other day to have with our soup. It is simple, easy and beyond belief good.
Irish Soda Bread
4 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
2 Cups Buttermilk
½ Cup of Butter
2 Tablespoons White Sugar
Sift all dry ingredients together. Create a little circle in the center of them (in your bowl) add softened butter & the buttermilk.
Mix together quickly, it won’t look like white bread with yeast. Instead it will look more like biscuit dough. In fact, the finished product if you asked my Hubby is like a perfect Irish biscuit bread showing how our own American heritage has been so deeply infused with all that is Irish even one has never thought of the rolling hills and lush land of Ireland.
Kneed it for no more than a minute. It does not need to be worked to death.
Then shape into a round cake (you could even bake it in a cake pan if you like). Put it onto a floured sheet pan (or in a cake pan) & carve a cross into the top of it.
Bake in a preheated over at 425 for 40 minutes
When it’s done fight family for a piece because you will find this to die for. Really. No. KIDDING. It’s perfect, it’s our heritage, even if we have not a drop of Irish blood in us. Whether we are here or there. Whether we fall back to the past, enjoy the present or look toward our future. This is a bread to break at the table with loved one, share stories and laughter over as family & friends from all backgrounds & cultures have down throughout the ages.
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