Irish Soda Bread

I remember clipping this recipe from the newspaper 20 years ago, and still its the only Irish Soda Bread I make.  Its great with the orange zest, golden raisins, caraway and a touch of Bushmills Irish Whiskey.  Enjoy for St. Patrick's Day:
 
2 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbs butter at room temp.
2 tbs honey
"a little less" than 3/4 cup buttermilk and then add in 2 tbs Irish Whiskey
***Make your own buttermilk. Pour a glass of milk, add 1 tbs vinegar, let stand 10 minutes. Makes a great substitute***
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 tsp caraway seed
zest of 1 orange
 
1 egg beaten with 1 tbs Irish Whiskey
 
 
In bowl, add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, caraway and mix well.
Add butter, fork it in or use a pastry blender or your hands  till all it looks like crumbs.
Add raisins, orange zest.
Add honey and buttermilk mixture to blend, knead 1 minute.
Place  dough into a greased round cake pan.  .
Cut a cross on top with a floured knife.
Brush on beaten egg/whiskey mix.
Let stand 10 minutes to rise a bit.
 
Bake 350F hot oven  40 minutes till browned on top.  Bread will sound hollow when "thumped" on bottom. 
Served slightly warm with butter and favorite jam, its great.

 
 
 

Ah now Brother Oyster just a word to the wise-------

Never waste Old Bushmill's on soda bread.  It is fine sipping stuff not to be deluted by buttermilk and flour.  Whoever invented that recipe will never get to heaven----saints preserve us, it's a mortal sin to waste that heavenly nectar don't ya know. 

And the blessed soda bread is simple and should be smothered with real creamery butter and washed down by a cup of tea that was steeped in a kettle.  None of those little tea bags don't ya know.  And ya don't have to wait for St Patrick's Day to make it  ya know, it's good all year long.  It's fine stuff too.

And may ya be in Heaven an hour before the devil knows your gone !!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Great Ancient one:
I am laughing to the point of tears.
God meant the little ones to have a taste of Old Bushmills too, and putting it in the buttermilk and flour is the best and safest way on St. Patty's day.
Erin go Bra-less.

Traveling around Ireland a few years back, we got to enjoy soda bread almost everywhere we ate. It was wonderful. Like, Ireland itself. Wonderful!

the ancient mariner


Ah now Brother Oyster just a word to the wise-------

Never waste Old Bushmill's on soda bread.  It is fine sipping stuff not to be deluted by buttermilk and flour.  Whoever invented that recipe will never get to heaven----saints preserve us, it's a mortal sin to waste that heavenly nectar don't ya know. 

And the blessed soda bread is simple and should be smothered with real creamery butter and washed down by a cup of tea that was steeped in a kettle.  None of those little tea bags don't ya know.  And ya don't have to wait for St Patrick's Day to make it  ya know, it's good all year long.  It's fine stuff too.

And may ya be in Heaven an hour before the devil knows your gone !!!!!!!!!!!

 
Saving Irish Whisky
Two Irish Gentlemen, Pat & Mike, had been friends for life. Pat's on his Death Bed and sends for his buddy Mike.
Pat says, "Mike me boy, You know I'm goin' to be with the Saints in Heaven pretty soon now don't cha?
A saddened Mike says, "That I do Pat and I wish you a speedy journey".
Pat- "Would you be doin me a favor, Mike?"
Mike- "Surely my friend, what would ya be havin' me doin'?"
Pat- " Would ya come out to me grave every day and pour a pint of good Irish Whisky all over me grave?'
Mike thinks a little bit and says, "Surely Pat, I'd be honored to do so, but do you mind if I pass it thru me kidneys first?" 

Ah, that's a good one, Food Bee You-----I didn't know they had Irishmen, or Irish Jokes in A-ree-zona.  But, I can just imagine that being a true story. 
 
Mr Oyster the little ones (the wee folk) will find a way to get into the Bushmill that's for sure.  They are great at manuvering and things of that nature.
 
And Mr Twinwillow, my Sainted Mother could throw together a Soda Bread in seconds and have the tea pot on the table by the time the bread was cooked to a turn-------sit yerself down now and have a spot of tea and a slice of bread, and don't worry 'bout the butter we know the man who owns the cow.  Now what's that ya were sayin' bout the O"Shea's--I never trusted that one, he had shifty eyes. 

Well here's to ya, the first today and here's God Bless Us.