Irish Soda Bread Day.

We celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Irish Soda Bread. It's my son's all-time favorite bread.

There's the recipe...

Adding both all-purpose and whole wheat flour...

Stir up the dry ingredients first...

Cut in the butter and pour in the soured milk...

It all comes together into a big, rough mass...

Pat the dough into a big, round ball and cut a big 'X' across the top...

And an hour or so later, when the craggy mess comes out of the oven smelling of browned butter and sweet floury goodness, you may take one little slice to tide you over until waiting until St. Patrick's Day when the bread is at its best after sitting a spell and it's eaten with jam slathered on its side...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! And don't forget to put a few crumbs under your pillow for the leprechaun!

***A note about this bread... This bread is like a very large biscuit and it is rather dense. It bakes for over an hour until it is almost hard on the outside. It is best if you can let it rest for a few hours before slicing----after resting, it is easier to slice. It's a great keeper and is even better the next day!

Comments

[Mandi]

We had planned to make Soda bread yesterday and didn't get to it due to much cleaning up after those mischievous Leprechauns. I think we'll make it today thanks for the directions!

[kate]

have I stopped by to say hi yet? because I stop by all the time, and afraid maybe I lurk. Hello - and tasty looking bread.

[Allison]

I've always heard talk of soda bread, but I didn't realise it was buttery! I'm going to have to try some now.

[Kelly]

Just what I was looking for, a bit of inspiration for St.Pat's Day! Now that our Beetnik Cake is in the oven ( it 'tis me Birthday, as well! ), we are moving on to our St. Pattie's evening feast...Irish Soda bread first...although, using a non traditional recipe...just had to take a peek to see who was celebrating and how! And as for those leprechaun's...they graciously left a bit of gold behind, as they were meandering about our house in the wee hours of the morn...lucky for us! Enjoy that bread! ~

[sUsAn]

Oh, yum. I did our big "Irish" meal last night with corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. I was too pooped to make the bread then so dh and dd8 made some quickie drop biscuits. I love corned beef! We're having reuben sandwiches for dinner tonight-can't wait! Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!

[AJ]

Looks very yummy!

[Meg]

Well hey, whaddaya know - it's St. Patrick's Day! It almost passed me by. Living in Mexico will do that do you! I'm going to try this one. Now Irish by marriage, I figure I should know how to make soda bread! What book is the recipe from? Is it full of Irish recipes, or just this one?

[Kerstin]

Yay! This is actually the only bread I ever made myself and I was very pleased at the result. Funnily enough I just bought the ingredients over the weekend to make it again this week! Will let you know if I do :) I got the recipe from the beautiful Avoca Cookbook, have you heard about this? It's a beautiful farm/shop/restaurant in Ireland and their recipes are divine.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

[Sarah Jackson]

mmmm.... I'm making this today while the kids are at school. Yum!

[Randi]

Thanks, Amber. I am going to try this for tomorrow!